At first opening, a bit muted and cold. Upon warming this gave off an enticing nose of hazelnuts, mushrooms, baked apples, honey and butterscotch. Even later there were tennis ball notes. The palate was very fresh tasting. There were clean lemon and baked apple notes coming together atop ample acidity and providing a long silk finish. Delicious

Rich caramel color. Nose of marzipan, caramel, rich citrus fruits and apple, coffee and toffee. Fine, tiny bubbles for great mouthfeel. Someone said this reminded them of a mocha milkshake.

Primarily lime, peach, apple provided the base of an intense nose that included notes of perfume and orange blossom. The palate was striking being rich and at the same time with obvious striking acidity. Richer than lemon - like sour orange with a touch of yeasty notes. A very long finish. Spectacular

Nose of citrus, apple honey and petrol/valve oil. Very dry on the palate and an impressive and precise wine. Beautifully balanced between the racy acidity and the rich honeyed fruits. This is a wicked pisser of a wine.

Light intensity nose that leaned more to pear and grapefruit than to baked apple; there was a touch of new oak evident. The palate showed great acidity and was remarkably fresh with apple, grapefruit and lemon notes. Certainly no premox and seemed younger than it’s age. All in all well balanced and long finishing for a great bottle of wine.

A very smoky nose - bacon, plums and cherries with a touch of black pepper. The palate is structured with grippy tannins and high acidity and, hence, provided skeleton for spicy plum/cherry fruits. A very dry style with a good finish and a movement toward more savory with time. Excellent wine.

From the group:Fussier than the 1996 and a soft blend. Nose was reductive fruit, cow’s backside and cigars. Tannins are in a good place - still rather prominent and providing structure for a complex and sweet fruit. Super enjoyable.

We were mixed on this one. From “flimsy”/“I don’t like it” to “delicious” and “genuinely wonderful”. Round structure that was missing tannins mid palate (“a donut”). Savory cherry fruits to some - no fruit to others.

Good red fruits with cherry and especially strawberry. Oak well integrated and no heavy presence here. Perfumed and smoky with good balance. Not over the hill but showing some age. Very enjoyable bottle.

Brilliant color. Musty nose, smokey, “stinky as f**k” (someone said) red fruits (cherries and plums) were slightly stewed. This fell apart quickly.

Very fresh and delicious. Recently released.

Fresh acidity, red plums, soft grainy tannins and not a lot of tertiaries. Nose sang of black fruit (black cherries, black plums), chocolate, earth, clay, barnyard, smoke. All in all there was great structure and a good finish. Lovely wine.