June 6, 2020 - Strong nose with cherry, on palate already flatter with well integrated tannins, finish with resin flavor. Overall still enjoyable, but already over peak.
December 31, 2018 - Smelt awesome on pouring but by drinking some of that awful South African rubber had arrived. High quality despite that but questionable if one offsets the other.
February 14, 2018 - Wow, I was expecting a good wine but getting a truly outstanding bottle. Intense cedar, tobacco nose. Powerful, yet balanced in the mouth with cedar, leather, vanilla, tobacco, chewy, ripe and almost jammy red fruit, hints of menthol, liquorice, caramel. Long and inviting for more. At its very peak. Playing in upper Bordeaux league. Chapeau.
December 25, 2017 - Took a while to get going but this is a proper wine. At first that slightly pinched quality I get from from SA wines. Left for an hour or so it slowly disappeared to be a generous an giving Bordeaux-a-like but with more charm than most Medocs. Leather, mahogany, a touch of pencil, tobacco too. But a wine to sink into like a warm bath. Really very lovely indeed and a better wine than the previous night's 1996 Chateau Lascombes. A first class wine.
July 21, 2017 - Full bodied, smooth, elegant. At its peak - perfect to drink now.
April 11, 2016 - Excellent wine that has aged splendidly. Extremely big flavored with distinctive earthly tones. Wet finish that lingers. I was saddened to hear about their recent fire. Let's hope they bounce back quickly.
November 8, 2015 - Tasted next to the 2011 this shows how impressively this wine ages. Lovely forest notes on the nose, dark fruit, a whole spice cabinet, very complex and layered. On the palate open and smooth, still good grip, lots of ripe fruit, good acidity and very nice length. In a great place right now, but there is no rush drinking this. 91-93
December 19, 2014 - Nice wine, tannins have mellowed by now.
July 15, 2014 - Dark red colour with a brickred hue.
Nice and showing lots of maturity. The tannines have softened a bit too fast with fruit taking over. Still drinking very nicely showing moulder leaf, leather and sweet cherries.
At it's best the first couple of hours after opening.
February 1, 2014 - Nothing to add to Fatcat's review which is spot on