Simon Field | Midnight black, dangerous to know; the nose is austere, dark fruits writ large, a chorus of spice and pepper, a basket of unbridled potential. There is an emphatic, assertive, and quite raw patina to the mid-palate. Today it’s hard to say which path it will follow, but one should always keep one’s glass of such things half full. | 92

Andrew Jefford | Another super-dense, super-deep red Port, which veers from black at its heart to purple at the rim. Pure, lifted blackcurrant and fresh privet or box aromas; a mist of vanilla sweetness, too, and even a meaty undertow behind. Impressive and complete, though with air, oddly enough, it clenches up and seems to grow a little more cardboardy and less articulate. Admirably mouth- filling and complete, once in the mouth: powerful, driving, spicy, and long, with some of the finest tannins of the vintage. This is a big beast. It isn’t “sorted” aromatically yet, but there is enough of delight there to suggest it will come true with time, and the tannins (which are promisingly flavor-packed) will carry it far. Bravo. | 94

Richard Mayson | Semi-open ripe berry and plum fruit on the nose, with underlying intensity; soft and plummy initially, good ripe tannins building in the mouth, leading to a broad, gravelly, tannic finish with bittersweet cherry fruit. Mid- to heavy weight and good balance. | 92