Simon Field: Deep, uncompromising purple, with an alcoholic sheen and seductive ebony varnish; very attractive nose of ripe blackcurrant, spice, and liqueur de cassis. The palate profile has savory resonance, tannic authority, and rigor at the back; a very composed and complete wine, and a great ambassador for this rather forgotten vintage. | 89

Andrew Jefford: Saturated, inky, purple black-red: very promising. Lots of crimson trails on the glass. Beefy and bustling, with ample black fruits; earthy, fresh, and fragrant, too. A terrific aroma, very complete. Creamy, as well as beefy, indeed: a real sense of nourishment and richness here. On the palate, the wine is rich, dense, chewy, with profuse falling tannins and a very hot, sweet style, almost like 2003 recalled. There’s huge volume and force here, and the wine will endure very well, but you have to like the ripe, sweet, brandied style of fruit rather than the cool, fresh, pristine blackcurrant style of fruit in order to go for this. | 91

Richard Mayson: Deep color, still very young and raw on the nose, tight-knit, with ripe berry and dark-chocolate fruit concentration showing through; big, ripe, and round in style initially, with solid, ripe tannins building in the mouth, full, complete with lovely, firm, dusty berry fruit reappearing on the finish. | 91