Michel Bettane: Tired sample. Difficult too assess. NS

Thierry Desseauve: Elegant definition, precise structure, length, and good balance. Classy. 17.5

Michael Schuster: Ripe fruit and clear new wood to smell; fairly full-bodied wine, where the new wood tannin dominates the gentle Merlot fruit, making the wine predominantly dry and tough to taste. Not a great deal of palate pleasure for me—a pity, because the basic ingredients are clearly very good. Don’t think this will ever harmonize. 15?