Simon Field | Deep hue, nearly opaque at the inky core; plenty of grip evidenced. The nose descants fruit and smoke, dark fruit and gentle smoke; a distant bonfire at the end of summer; peat and quinine, incense and charcuterie; plush but not overbearingly so. The oak has been administered with care, the acidity enduring no interference but still resonant and persuasive. The tannins are taut and threaten to overwhelm; the vessel stays afloat, however, the craftsmanship evidenced in the detail and the mid-palate concentration, the capacity to evolve resonant and impossible to gainsay. | 91

Andrew Jefford | Dark, dense black-red; just off opaque, with purple glints. Promising. Aromatically, this is sweet and full-fleshed, voluptuous, anis-tinged, very deep southern; lots of charm, though. An enticing aromatic profile. There’s a huge amount on the palate, too—here you realize that this is very serious and ambitious wine. You’ll find great wealth of damson and sloe fruit and aromatic, forest complexities; colossal density, too, and ample tannic grip allied to proportionate acidity. Everything is good and promising, and the fruits are wild and confit by their very wildness—elderberry or sloe after a sunny summer. The wine has enough intrinsic power to carry its élevage; the forest complexities infuse the fruit. A virtuoso Terrasses du Larzac, totally of its place. | 93

Anthony Rose | Behind the vivid depth of ruby color, the aromas of red fruits are complemented by a density of ripe, dark, red-berry fruit, at this stage of its life encased in quite a firm fist of tannins. But the tannins, while quite obvious at this stage, are just starting to soften even if, overall, this is quite a big wine that needs food to tame its walk on the wild side of tannins and alcohol. | 89