In contrast to the general style of the vintage, this is still aromatically austere though with coaxing, reveals wonderfully complex aromas of an incredible array of black fruits, earth, spice, crushed herbs and notes of chocolate. The imposingly-scaled flavors are huge but refined, powerful but subtle and rich yet detailed with a stupendously long finish that offers intense minerality where the only nit is a hint of warmth. This is genuinely stunning juice and not to be missed though I underscore that it is most definitely in need of further cellar time.

Deeper colour than the 2002 served alongside. More youthful and drier. This is serious rather than charming stuff at the moment with a distinctly green vegy topnote on some extremely rich and slightly dusty fruit. Work in progress but it will surely have a very long life. 17.5+/20 points (JR)