Bruno Besa: Garnet to tawny. Open, earthy, and spicy on the nose, with road tar, petrol, black berries, prunes, and forest floor. A touch aggressive on the palate, with greenish tannins. Challenging now, but may just need time. 88

Andrew Jefford: Deep, dark garnet, though translucent. Sweet, fragrant, and enticing scents. Very pretty, ripe cherry and currant, sublimated by the aging process; something almost thyme-like here, too. Uninsistent but haunting. A fine palate: concentrated, with a cascade of bright fruit; ample flavor intricacy, with classic cranberry and pomegranate. The acidity is forceful but carries an inner sweetness or roundness, and is less sheer and axe-like than for some of the wine’s peers; beautifully ruffled tannins. A very classy wine. 93

Michael Palij: Finely judged nose with just a whiff of pleasantly baked red fruit including cherry compote, strawberry, and red plum, with a supporting role played by the blackberry and dark cherry notes. Lovely balance and concentration, with lingering notes of cherry and plum carried on fine tannins and lemony acidity. Not one for the cellar but it shows the best of this warmer vintage. 94