Richer and more rounded on the nose than I was expecting. Crisp and cool attack with some depth and breadth behind it. Long and nuanced. Richer and a little more evolved with a touch of vanilla too. ****

Classic, slightly reductive smoky DP nose. Nicely rich on the mid palate with vinous, long finish. Very young. Floral top notes as it opens up. ****1/2

A slightly hazy deep full garnet. Nose a touch volatile. Slightly lifted sweetness on the attack with a drier finish. A bit of bite too. ***1/2

Deep full garnet. Lovely nose, gently autumnal. Gorgeous on the palate. There's a sweetness to the fruit. Nuanced, mellow and with a vibrancy too. Long and glorious. Just spot-on. *****

Deep, full ruby. Quite dense. Quite dark and plush on the nose, almost velvety. Yes, dense and plush on the palate. Lots here upfront but doesn't quite have the staying power on the finish. Quite new-worldly fruit profile. ****

Similar colour to the Angelus. Nose a little softer and dustier with a hint of Brett. More vibrant on the palate. Not quite as composed as previous bottle last year. A touch of spearmint and the fruit drying a little on the finish. ****

Deep mid ruby. Dense and really rather gorgeous nose. Ripe and full with a nuanced, floral, suave nose. Quite rich on the palate without being fat in the slightest. Possibly again, just a little dry on the finish. ****

Dense. Dense and a touch more savoury. Almost a touch of licorice. Shows well on the palate. Again a denseness but also a dryness. ****

Corked.

Drier nose, but also something spicy, savoury too. Carroway almost. Quite densely compact on the attack with vintage character but a denseness to the fruit too. A slightly prickley wine on the finish. Some nuance though. ****

Quite bright and reasonably dense and fragrant. On the palate this is a bit of a bruiser but it is mellowing and pulling itself together cf a bottle five years ago. Mellows with air. Should be super but needs far more time. **(**)

Another big nose. Dense. Dark. A touch of mulberry. Very young and full. A pinch of dryness on the finish but this is far more together than the slightly volatile reductive bottle here a couple of years ago. Needs a long long time. (****)

Served blind. Far more of a bruiser than the same wine served blind at the same do a couple of years ago. This seems far denser and portier initially. I think it's an ambitious St Em, possibly 89 Tertre R or similar. Feels a little overdone though it does mellow in the glass. **(**)