Simon Field | Raven-black, inscrutable on deck, inscrutable even on the forecastle; proud, outstanding, rigorous, powerful, but oh so young! The palate is very generous and rich; gâteau, damson, and a hint of eau-de-vie. A seductive Botero style, a come-hither clarion call. And then what? Wait and see... | 93

Andrew Jefford | Saturated dense black-red in color, with a purple rim. Sweet, fresh, and refined in aroma: elegant, creamy, smooth, unusually precise blackcurrant and brandied plum, as well as crushed pepper, herbs, citrus peels, and spice. Aromatically complex. Brilliantly deep, close-textured, fine, and aromatic on the palate: devastatingly good Vintage Port of great assurance, style, and composure. The fruits (as is typical for ’17) are emphatically sweet, the tannins prolific and ripe, and the wine draws on its vegetal sappy force rather than acidity for balance. Outstanding. | 97

Richard Mayson | Closed, tight-knit on the nose, underlying intensity; firm, mid-weight, with well-defined berry fruit, a touch of hedgerow, firm tannic focus with good definition all the way through on to a long, linear finish. Not as broad as most of the 2017s but a lovely, well-defined wine, nonetheless. | 92