Tasting notes

2009:  A blend of 82.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and a dash of Petit Verdot.  Fine, fragrant and very complex aromas, showing spice, smoke, minerals, plum and cassis.  The wine is surprisingly powerful on the palate, with no hint of brutishness though.  There is plenty of fresh acidity to balance the substantial-yet-incredibly fine tannins, and dense, sweet but elegant fruit.  This is a wine about harmony and balance.  Very complex already, yet quite light on the palate - in a graceful way - for a wine with such latent power.  97-99 points, drink 2020-2040.  (April 2010).

2007:  A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot.  Aromatically complex yet

quite reserved, this immediately announces itself as a serious-yet-understated wine.  Aromas of tobacco, iron-filings, plum and blackcurrant which follow through on to the palate.  While the wine is very elegant in style, there is plenty of power, complexity and stuffing.  On the (long) finish there is a hint of iodine, although it’s very polished.  Very delicious and noble in style, which should age superbly over the medium-term.  94-96 points, drink 2015-2030.  April 2008.

1999:  Wow – a stunning wine!  Intense, exciting and compelling flavours of spicy oak, cedar and tobacco, ripe berry fruits and a rich, mouth-filling, enveloping textural finish.  Great intensity and purity of fruit in a long, satisfying finish.  93 points (October 2002).  Another bottle (June 2008) was similarly impressive, showing beautiful spice and tobacco aromas, some dark, minerally plum and berry on the palate.  Long, fine, very complex, there is a great deal to like about this wine from an often-overlooked vintage.  94 points.

1996:  This is a masterpiece in elegance.  Tasted three times, with consistent notes, most recently November 2007.  Very fine, precise aromas of plum, minerals, cedar, tobacco and black currants.  These follow through on to the palate, which has layers and layers of flavour - very complex - and surprisingly dense given the wine’s elegance and balance.  There is wonderful spice and minerality complementing the ripe, sweet-but-refined fruit.  The finish seems to last and last.  This is a magnificent wine.  100 points.

1995:  Somewhat elegant, yet still powerful aromas, minerals, spice and very fine, wonderfully-structured tannins.  This wine has lovely complexity and a very long, fine and complex finish.  Incredible balance.  95 points (August 2005).

1993:  Slightly herbaceous, cedary aromas showing some development.  On the palate the wine is quite fine, with mature flavours of cedar, graphite, some development.  A softer vintage, with a little ripe fruit remaining, well-balanced with the structure giving the wine depth.  89 points.  Drink now-2010.  May 2006.

1990:  Really wonderful aromas of minerals, tobacco, smoke, soft dark berries and plums.  Layers of complex flavours, wonderful length and intensity, a beautiful savoury style with a warm, powerful and fine finish.  97 points.  November 2005.

1988:  Quite beguiling aromas, very earthy and savoury, with minerals, cigar box, tobacco and leafy flavours.  Similar flavours develop on the palate, which is long, fine, elegant and complex, although without particular depth or intensity.  A lovely, old-fashioned, elegant style of wine.  92 points.  (March 2002).

1972:  Somewhat dried out and past its best.  There are some interesting tertiary flavours, a little woodspice and some aldehydic notes.  Drinkable for interest’ sake only.  82 points.  August 2005.

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