Deep, slightly dull gold. Very full, pungent nose. Oaty, appley. Quite spritzy on the attack, an astringency too. Grabs one by the throat. Lots of freshly cut green apple, and a slightly cider vinegar note too, through the middle and finish. Not much weight/development/complexity through the middle. Searing acidity. Hmm 50 years too late or just not my thing? * for historical interest.

Pale gold to mid straw. Nicely interesting nose. Slightly waxy lanolin. Very clean, quitecomplex and long. Good line and length. ****

Fairly advanced colour. Adelhydic nose. Not as badly gone as it could (and will) be, but just off the top of the cliff and starting its freefall. A replacement 04 has more of the same.

Opened to replace an oxidising 02. Even further off the cliff.

Pale straw with a slightly lemony tint. Lemony on the attack too. Linear and elegant with really quite prominent acidity. Needs to calm down a bit - a slightly gawky teenager but I think there's something here. **(*)

Nicely maturing, mellow nose. A touch of sweet fruit with some caramel and sous bois. Cherry fruit poking through. Wet hedgerow too. Proper! Lovely attack, a little light on the finish cf the attack but this is very nice indeed. Sweet-fruited and overall a very nice style. ****

Possibly a little reduced initially with a slightly rubbery nose, but this soon blows off. Nicely mineral, quite grippy, but there's a lacy elegance through the mid-palate to the finish. An edginess/nervosity here. Lovely but a little shy at this stage. ***(*) This has tightened up since last tasting in 09 and is showing far more class.

Slightly caramel, orange peel and a little volatile initially. Proper old Rioja. Sweet fruit, long and lovely, but I do like this style of wine. ****

Quite a plush, full nose. Ripe and rounded. Can't quite place it but a fairly complex and nuanced nose. Really lightens up with an hour or so of air to show really well and with plenty more in reserve. ***(*)

Quite a redcurranty nose. Surprisingly bright red-fruited on the attack and across the mid-palate. Sweet redcurrant jelly through the finish. Surprising and really quite engaging. Pretty. Long, fresh and elegant. A different style to the Verité but just as engaging ****

Blackcurrant leaf nose. Cool and leafy. Slightly dusty even. Similar on palate. Cool, fresh, leafy blackcurrant, interesting and refreshing but no real depth or complexity. ***

Wow, a very distinctive, slightly cool, minty mouthwash nose. Interesting, cool and quite complex but I keep coming back to the mintiness. Minty fresh attack with a nicely mellow dark red-fruited background but I can't get past the eucalyptus/mint thing. I wonder if this would I've been better in a different shaped glass? (ie not burg). *** but more if this is your thing

Fairly deep burnished old gold. Deep, quite dense barley sugar nose. Obviously sweet and ripe. Lots upfront but it lacks development and persistence through the mid-palate and finish. A bit too ripe really - needs some acidity to hold its line - doesn't liv up to its initial promise. ***1/2