SF | Tenebristic with a suitably dark and smoky nose; wet stones and undergrowth, with little by way of primary fruit in evidence. The palate reverberates classicism, its shape and construction loyal to both the appellation and to the vintage, thereby ensuring the prospect of a reluctant generosity and of pleasure deferred. 91
AJ | Deep, dense, opaque black-red. Reduced on the nose, though with ample swirling you find something in ripe and enticing (spicy) style. Plenty oak. The 'elemental' quality of St Estephe wines this year won't be to everyone's taste. This is vibrant and exuberant but a little bit stark. The wine has concentration and depth but a more settled ripening cycle would have paid dividends here. The acids in the end are over-dominant and a better aromatic profile would have lifted the wine.Drink Dates: 2026 - 2034.