Andrew Jefford: Saturated black-red. Very serene, warm, and harmonious, full of dusty black fruits; almost elegant, even—which in this context is unusual. The Grenache sticks its nose above the parapet withatouch of raisiny sweetness. Very Grenache on the palate, too: rich, broad, sweeping, a great regal train of ripeness with the usual extractive force that only Châteauneuf can seem to provide. There is huge density here: a great woof of flavor that, like an explosion, almost seems to suck you in with it afterward. Lovely throbbing tannins. For me, it is a little bit sweet and marooned up on that plug of sweetness… but I’m still astonished by how much else there is in there, packing this wine, and (like Stonehenge) it should be visited and wondered at, even if you don’t fully understand why it is there. 18.5

Simon Larkin : Deep and brooding on the nose. There is a dusky intensity to the fruit. Layered on the palate, with sweet spiced raspberry and loganberry flavors. Grippy tannins start to assert, too. This is a powerful wine that will need patience—slow out of the block but a more brooding example. There is an almost moist fruitcakey element on show here. Much more evidently structural than most in its flight, but patience should be well rewarded. A fine showing. 17

John Livingstone-Learmonth: Healthy dark robe; stylish, rounded bouquet, bears black fruits, a simmered touch to them, in concerto with the elegance of the vintage, has subtle depths and corners to reveal over time. The palate washes well with fluid, tasty black fruits, cherries, an engaging ease in them, with a good layer of support from its ripe content. Very good, immediate-appeal wine that will be all the better if left until 2016. It has balance and cohesion for the future. Aromatic fruit brings up the close. Holds good tannins, too, with clear, mineral flecks in them. 2031–33. 18.5