Stephen Brook | The nose is rich and juicy, with cassis, as well as cherry aromas. A plump style that’s quite forward, with succulent fruit and hefty but not coarse tannins. There may be some oak here, since there’s a slight dryness on the finish and a touch of bitter chocolate. Overall, a touch coarse rather than polished. | 87

Andrew Jefford | Dark, promising garnet red. Warm, comfortable, companionable aromas of compote and autumn and distant bonfires and plums in the dryer, too. Subtly enticing, drawn out with deft economy, rich, textured, and deep. This is a wine that certainly needs longer; the tannins are still firm and grippy, and the deep plum fruits behind almost craggy, brooding, dark, with cool, sustained acidity. A hugely impressive wine, with first-class raw materials. It’s just a little close-drawn and brooding right now, but give it time, give it time. Very sensitive handling here; bravo to its creators. One of the very finest of our 2016s. | 94

Michael Palij | Curious mix of TCA, fish oil, oxidation, and coffee. May have been interesting at some point but not just now. | 80