Andrew Jefford | Dark black-red, though translucent. Sweet, supple, and refined aromas of absolute classicism, without any hint of menthol or mixed ripeness. Good complexity already, too: Havana leaf, underbrush, white mushroom and milk chocolate qualify the ripe blackcurrants. It’s not a dark wine, but the aromatic profile sings out. On the palate, it is vivid, fresh, close-knit for the vintage, with amply poised, deftly tapered fruit and a vivid, lively finish. Classicism of this sort probably comes into its own best in bigger vintages, when the force of contrast with more baroque wines is more marked, but this is still deliciously graceful, fresh, lively, and rewarding. | 91

Michael Schuster | A fine combination of fruit and gravel aromas to smell on the nose; an elegant, complete, fresh, and finely tannic mid-weight. Crisply ripe, subtly juicy in flavor, long and fine across the palate, and very persistent; classy, refined, complete Pauillac. Likely, as so often, to be excellent value. Its sinew needs time, but this will give a great deal of pleasure at a more-than-fair value in the current Bordeaux context. 2028–42+. | 92+