Medium ruby red. The nose starts with a little deep oak and mainly red shaded fruit – just a little heavy and cumbersome. Slowly the oak fades (about 90% gone) and the impression becomes more high-toned and just a little more refined – by day two it’s quite fine. The palate is quite concentrated and dense with lightly grained tannin and just a hint of bitterness – but this seems derived from the faint toasty oak. The finish is faint but long. Overall this is no shrinking violet, rather a relatively powerful wine that could do with a little more delicacy. Certainly has a long life ahead

Medium, medium-plus core of cherry-red colour. The nose is forward, deep, faintly oaky, a little savoury and initially a touch reduced. The palate is effusive and rather intense – pulled along with wouth-watering but balanced acidity. It starts better than the 2001 started, but not as good as the 2001 finished. Given enough time (about 90 minutes) the nose is dark, wide and soft, with brown sugar and eventually a fine red berry. The palate becomes more elegant, though like the 2001 is edged with a trace of dark, bitter oak. Overall I marginally prefer the balance of this to the 2001.

Medium-plus cherry red, little fading. The nose starts in a lovely fashion, deep but still red cherry, faintly fading creme brulee too. Initially the palate is very tasty and succulent, good acidity and slightly dry tannnins. At a tasting this would stand out but actually became a bit wearing as the tannin seemed to get more pronounced. Then as the bottle was fading it really started to sing again with super red fruit and currants on the finish – there’s a little oak too, but not at all jarring. So starts great becomes disappointing then finishes with a flourish 2 out of 3 isn’t bad! I bought a couple more for future reference.