Simon Field | Precocious ruby-going-on-purple in color, shimmering onyx reflected into the depth of the glass; through a dark glass will come perception, one hopes. The nose marries ripe dark fruit (blueberry, myrtle, and loganberry the first to come to mind), then an almost medicinal sappy gorse-like character: jambon cru, undergrowth, and pressed flowers, held in this year’s novel. Ripeness informs the palate and cuts an elegant swath through the tannic power, the shape of the wine eloquent and persuasive. | 90

Andrew Jefford | Dark black-red, and just losing opacity at its core. Straightforward sweet tea-leaf scents exert a modest charm. This is quite deeply flavored, and very pure-fruited, with ample length and purity; spot-on Malbec from the high country. It isn’t an ample wine and doesn’t even seem to be a hugely ambitious one, but by its own light it is very successful, and I love the ring and resonance of its pure, pristine fruits. | 91

Anthony Rose | With a good, youthful, bright ruby hue, this has a traditional feel about its aromatic profile, and the same is true of the fruit quality, with a certain density of dark cherry fruit bordering on the rustic, thanks to a fairly hefty level of fruit extraction. But there is nothing wrong with traditional as long as it’s well executed, and this traditional Cahors does what it says on the tin. | 89