Medium, medium-plus colour still. The nose is full of sweet-edged undergrowth and below there’s still a dark edge of oak-toast. In the mouth there’s a silkiness and good, if not totally seamless acidity. The dark flavours mirror the nose but have a nice extra creamy dimension, there’s still a bitter-chocolate edge to the tannins too. No sharp edges and only just beginning to enter its drinking window, despite its oaky beginings being still on display, this is becoming a very above average 1997.

Medium-plus ruby-red. The nose starts with deep, musky oak, only very slowly does a lovely red berry note start to come through – actually it becomes very nice indeed. The palate is lithe though concentrated and shows balanced acidity. The tannin is there but you must search hard to find it. The finish is long, but like the nose, rather oak driven and, hence, just a little bitter. A good wine that is not at all easy to spot as a ‘97 and needs at least another 3 years to start coming into maturity.

I’m ashamed to say, that this is a wine I bought solely based on a Winespectator review – 93 points or something, however, it’s not all that bad! The colour is medium ruby red fading slightly to amber. The nose is a blast of creamy, toasty oak that fades slightly though never quite enough to show the fruit. Ripe fruit, some fat, creamy length and little in the way of tannin. The finish is reasonably long. This is a nice wine that needs a little longer to let the oak fade a little more, but is an excellent drink now if you like the style – me I’ll let the oak fade a little more.

Medium-plus ruby, still with a cherry highlight. The nose starts predominantly with medium toast oak, gradually there’s a lovely pure cherry note that develops. Lovely smooth texture, finishing long and creamy with grainy tannins. Good acidity and very nice fruit. Very tasty and quite elegant, drink now or save 5 years – no problem.