Andrew Jefford: Deep red. Warm, autumnal, burry and tarry scents: glowing and resonant. A very attractive aromatic profile. There’s some freshness, too, and a little subdued spice. Ample wealth and vivacity on the palate, and time-softened agreeably, though the comely tannins are still palpable (indeed the tannin-shy may find them clumsy); it’s slipping into its secondary phase without going through any of the muteness some of the other wines of ’16 and ’15 are showing. Gratifying and choice, even though the fruit qualities aren’t quite sublime. | 90

Jasper Morris: Full color, beginning to mature, very slightly vegetal on the nose and fully ready to drink. Coconut and lactic notes at the finish suggest an over-ambitious oak regime. As my friend Mel Knox (retired barrel broker in California) would say, the barrels have been under-wined. The fruit component, however, has not entirely given up the fight. On second thoughts, there is enough wine in the glass, but it has been unbalanced by the use of the wrong wood. I would certainly have preferred this wine with less—or different—oak. | 85

Catherine Petrie: A bright, medium crimson. An elegant application of new oak frames the impressively concentrated fruit. The palate has articulate expression, where both fruit and tannin give their structure, and shape the wine into a long and satisfying length. This could show impressive development with some more years in the cellar. Understated, but not to be underestimated. | 91