Simon Field: Rich and regal color; plum, prune, figs, and compote; expressive sweet fruit, spice, and a stern regiment of tannins, foolish to defy at the moment. Powerful and hitherto somewhat authoritarian, yet another excellent voice from a most impressive vintage, its palette of kaleidoscopic color, its potential great indeed. | 92

Andrew Jefford: Very dark saturated black-red in color; just a little leggy than some. Sweet, warm, complete scents of sweet brandied black fruits, warm stones, fine leather, orange peel, and perfumer’s spice. An animal touch with time. On the palate, this is richly and ripely fruited, so ripely that you barely notice the tannin at first—then it comes crashing in like a wave afterward, and you can gauge its power, depth, and searching force. Very grand Vintage Port, very tall, very mighty! Mouth-filling for now, and so much in there; and in slightly warmer, more volcanic style than some—once again, this is the vintage that permits so many different styles of excellence. Super- sweet compared to some of the other vintage greats—but balanced withal. A monument. | 95

Richard Mayson: Deep, dense, and very suave on the nose, though still closed in and withdrawn; gloriously rich, suave, spicy fruit, supported by powerful yet fine-grained tannins, which leave a wonderfully fresh vibe on the finish. Long, lithe, and expressive. Perfect poise. For the long haul. | 97