Fantastic deep ruby core gradually lightening to amber, looks only 8-10 years of age. Nose still has some high flowery tones, but most of the interest is lower down with tea, leather and smokey notes. Palate has excellent acidity with still furry background tannin. Surprisingly vigorous, excellent density of stewed red fruits and a ‘marmite’ finish. The wine lost none of its intensity during the 90 minutes it was open. Given the still robust tannin I would guess that this wine was no charmer in its first 10+ years, but frankly, I couldn’t have expected it to be so excellent.

The colour is just a little darker than the 1998. The nose has a little more pronounced blueberry fruit together with the red cherry and a little flowery at the top, smells quite sweet too. Wow ! – What a fruit concentration, this wine is just so fat with a mixture of red and black fruit – really intense. The acidity is good and the tannin smoother than the 1998, but the finish is much, much longer. This wine rates as outstanding !

Dark cherry still with purple hints. Nose is reticent but there is red cherry in there somewhere. The palate is cool and silky with very good fruit density, lovely acidity and perhaps slightly harsh finishing tannin. Good, pure length too, I find this an excellent wine, but it will be much better in 3-5 years.