A fine-grained, more elegant and tightly knit cabernet than has been released under this label for some vintages, with a dusty, cedary fragrance of cassis, dark plums and dark chocolate over suggestions of black olives, dried herbs and capsicum. Surprisingly firm and structured, its long and grainy palate of dark plum, cassis and mulberry flavour finishes long, savoury and slightly herbal, supported by pleasing new oak and powdery tannin.

Finely crafted, firmly structured and elegant, with a deep, dark presence of small berries dark plums and cherries whose slightly baked fruit just marginally attenuates its length of flavour. ItÕs handsomely supported by dusty, dark chocolate/vanilla oak, with undertones of dried herbs and bubblegum. A more restrained and linear wine than recent vintages that requires plenty of aeration to emerge, its generous and succulent palate of deep, dark berry/cherry fruit is underpinned by a very fine-grained spine of tight-knit and drying tannins.

Long, measured and superbly focused. Lifted by scents of violets and cherry liqueur, its minty bouquet of violets, cassis, mulberries and dark plums knits tightly with aromatic, fine-grained oak and has a wild, earthy aspect. Underpinned by fine, crunchy tannins of genuine firmness, it presents an alluringly deep, dark presence of cabernet fruit smoothed out by polished oak and backed by gamey, menthol-like nuances, finishing with persistent flavours, fresh acids and faintly minty, herbal notes. Just a fraction confectionary for an even higher score.

Lacking its historic polish and conviction, with a greenish, minty bouquet of meaty small dark berries and plums knit with rather stale, cedary oak, it’s rather dull and menthol-like. Medium to full-bodied, with assertive but rather raw and edgy oak influences somewhat dulling its ripe flavours of small black, blue and red berries, it’s supported by a fine, dusty spine. It finishes without great length, but with an edgy note and a suggestion of formic acid.