A pretty nice Grande Dame. This had a very sweet nose of ripe apples, red berries and flowers, earth and yeast. Mousse had died down, but the palate was still juicy with lemony acidity, which gave a decent balance to rich, ripe flavours of yellow fruit laced with a bit of honey, all this leading into a long, round finish laced with a nice bit of warm spice. Drinking really nicely now.

Always enjoyable - this had a nice nose as always, sweeter than normal, with cream, white fruit and flowers, stony mineral and spice coated with a little bit of oaky vanilla. This really smelt like a white burg. The palate was much more opened and developed than previous bottles, with sweet lemons and apples wrapped in a creamy mousse. Lovely definition and precision as always, all the way into a detailed finish with a lovely mineral tail. Yummy.

A pretty nice village - this was drinking well young. The nose had a nice melange of red cherry, earth, stony mineral and a touch of florals. Very nice - subtle and masculine. The palate had a nice shape to it - juicy and pure, with cherries seasoned with mineral and a bit of spice, all playing against an earthy backdrop. The finish was still fresh and grippy, with fine tannins and citrussy acidity adding a nice length to it. A nice village.

A nice wine. This had a fragrant, masculine nose of mineral, earth and subtle dark cherries leading into a fine, sinewy palate, with firm tannins and bright acidity framing pure, primary notes of black cherries lined with stony, earthy mineral flavours at the finish. Surprisingly advanced, I think this will drink very nicely in 3-4 years time.

Absolutely lovely, this had a classic Lalande nose of fragrant tobacco, tea leaves, cedar and sweet cassis. Lovely. The palate was just about coming into its own, with a velvety cloak of really fine tannins and really fresh acidity draped over pure flavours of cassis, cedar and smoky tobacco drifting into a long, exotically spiced finish. Beautifully integrated and drinking beguilingly well - this will be drinking wonderfully over the next decade.

Last wine of the night, so short notes. Honey, nuts, dried apricots on the nose, with a soft, velvet palate of golden honey, dried fruits and a lovely spiciness, still with a lot of bright Barsac acidity. Enjoyable, especially with poached lobster.