Picked on Ash Wednesday, but the wine does not exhibit fume flavours! Instead, we have again a firmer, tannic style: good acid backbone (pH 3.40) subtle new French oak nuances, immense fruit flavours – more blackberry than cassis this year, from the drought affected, quicker ripening fruit. Drink now if you like, but cellar for a few years if possible.

Medium deep colour. Almond/ dark chocolate/ touch leather aromas. Hint of wet stone. Dark cherry/ almond/ wet bitumen and sweet fruit flavours and dry desiccated tannins. Finishes brambly dry, but long. Very muscular wine. Now. 83 points.

Medium deep colour. Intense paneforte, espresso, mushroom aromas - almost some sake notes. Richly flavoured , but slightly stale and soupy, meaty, fine slinky dry tannins. Some leafy iodine notes. Finishes chalky dry but long and soupy. Now - 85 points

Medium crimson. Advanced beef stock slightly oxidised aromas and flavours. Well concentrated beef stock tobacco, oxidised amontillado flavours, fine looseknit slinky textures. Finishes chalky firm. Not a good bottle. 13.5% Alc78 points Now