Tim Atkin: Dense, concentrated, quite alcoholic. Some brown at the rim. Plummy, faintly overly alcoholic nose. Oak and high alcohol on the nose. Smoky, high acid, rather lean. Not pleasurable. Raw tannins and acidity. Rather green. 11

Gerard Basset: Medium-deep ruby. Fairly pronounced. Slightly medicinal at first, black fruit, blackcurrant with plum. Foursquare, firm but ripe tannin, wild spices and black fruit; long finish. 17

Anthony Rose: Good, dark ruby hue, youthful in appearance; fresh dark cherryish perfume; good dark-fruit richness and concentration on the mid-palate, nice flavors and well-integrated oak with some bittersweet chocolate; rather heftily extracted and chunky on the back palate, with some drying tannins that just detract slightly from the wine’s charm and fruit. This should come around but will need lots of time. 16