Stephen Brook | Charming smoky nose, with cherry and raspberry aromas. The attack is fresh and graceful, and the palate is finely tuned with intensity and finesse. A touch of leather on the mid-palate and sturdy tannins that give the fruit firm support. There’s spice on the finish, keeping it lively. Good concentration of fruit surges onto a full and weighty finish. Admirable length. | 93

Andrew Jefford | Dark garnet red. Warm, exuberant, packed with glowing, sweet red fruits. Very attractive fruit-first aromas—though there is a little woodland spring growth to bring a complexity. Just a touch green. The palate is fruit-first, too, and duplicates the aromatic profile with great precision: pure plum fruits with some freshening green tones. Vivid, lively acidity has the upper hand over the discreet tannins. Fruit-first—but no one will complain about the concentration and depth, which are excellent. | 87

Michael Palij | Delicate nose, with medium intensity that is dominated by volatile acidity. Pale color confirms that perhaps it has seen better days? Cork failure? Second bottle identical. Makes me think that there is a “natural” winemaker in Montalcino. Finish is drying, and there is insufficient fruit. | 86