Tasting note

A very fine vintage in the region. A glossy hue, with a dark tinge, all black cherry and dusty substance. A little reticent in the nose, but it has a glorious if rather restrained aromatic profile lurking here, with smoking charcoal, black cherry and damson stone, detailed with a little black pepper and clove spice, along with a little toasted edge. A finely poised texture on the palate, fresh with supple substance, but simmering beneath the surface is the 2010 structure, a tight seam of ripe tannins wrapped tightly around a fresh spindle of acidity. Around there is a more exotic flavour profile than the nose suggested, with vanilla flower, cloves, black cherry and a touch of rose petal and violet. Most importantly this all seems integrated within a beautifully elegant and seamless composition. This is quite brilliant, the whole package. The finish is a gently fading melange of ripe tannins and fruit, just shifting out of its primary phase. A truly excellent wine.

Score: 96

Chris Kissack, The Wine Doctor, January 2018