Medium-plus cherry-red with purple reflections. Soft, dark cherry fruit, a hint alcoholic but initially just missing some depth – that definitely improves with time. Very good intensity. Whilst there are none of the obvious oak characters, there is an ashy accent to the fruit. Just a little lift to the acidity and indeed the mid-palate where there’s just a hint of gas (that’s probably the reason). The finish that falls away relatively quickly. For most of the bottle I thought this a ’so what?’ wine, but the last half of the last glass was quite engaging.

Medium-plus ruby-red colour. The nose started blocky with a little dark oak and roasted dark fruit – a little uncouth – but five minutes in the glass and it is transformed with very pretty flashes of red and black fruits. In the mouth it starts in a similar fashion; muddled dark fruits and oak but quite silky. This improves no end, though never becoming as captivating as the nose. Smooth dark fruit and an ever-present but not unfriendly dark oak flavour as undertow. Smooth and easy drinking once it’s open.