Simon Field | Smoky yet pure, rich yet deftly structured; an impressive example, the weight of dark fruit held in check by dextrous acidity and an attractive perfumed yet discreetly creamy texture. The tannins carve out a persuasive peroration here. | 91

Andrew Jefford | Dark, dense black-red though not quite opaque. Fragrant, spicy, and minty over bright, lifted raspberry fruits; just a hint of tar and frankincense to offer some exoticism. Brooding, deep, and close-knit aromas. Dense, full, deep, gutsy, almost explosive; it’s almost hard to believe that [the Palacios L’Ermita and Palacios Finca Dofi] are sourced from the same region as this wine, but all three are very good. This is packed with plum, raspberry, earth, and brambly richness and lent dignity by both dark-chocolate sweetness, as well as the crushed-stone notes that take us away from both fruits and foods. The tannins are ample but softened with beautiful softness and tenderness; there is no shortage, either, of juicy, fruit-rich acidity. Haunting tea leaf and the earlier frankincense hover over the finish. Superb wine, brilliantly judged. | 93

David Williams | Rich, dark, black fruit; oak; it’s impressive enough on its own terms, but it’s considerably more “international” than some of the other wines in this class; it feels as if the fruit has been pushed a little further than it needed to be—too much extraction, too much alcohol, the origins feel a little obscured. | 88