Description
When to drink: 2020 to 2040
Parker: 96/100
Psychologically very tough harvest. They started to pick on 10 Oct but had to stop when it rained heavily on 12 Oct. Temperatures fell. We went through the vineyard to tidy up to avoid rot. Started picking again 1-10 Nov - one of the latest harvests ever which cost them a third of production. Confident that their 1999 is the best in the region in terms of ageing potential. Not yet ready. With 1998 it suffers from misunderstanding because when they were bottled they were pretty brutal and austere but both wines are now less tense (stark contrast to the more generous 2005 and 2004 which are arguably less representative of our region). Dark ruby colour. Mellow on the nose - smells much more evolved than the 2000. Good freshness and tightness. Lots of acidity and balsamic notes on the finish. Just starting to charm though it seems to have the structure for a much longer life. Jancis Robinson
Deep, dark ruby colour, violet reflections, delicate watery rim. Inviting bouquet, a hint of liquorice, orange zest, floral nuances, black berries, underlaid with precious wood spice. Very powerful and full-bodied on the palate, extract sweetness, compact texture, well-integrated tannins, fine chocolate touch on the finish, lingers for a very long time, a great promise for the future. Those who open this wine already are depriving themselves of some pleasure.
