Matured for 33 months in French hogsheads, bottled Oct '10. Has soared above the reputation for toughness the vintage has always had. It is positively juicy on the mid-palate with plum, sour cherry and black fruits, the oak and tannins sewn into the fabric of the wine.
96 points James Halliday winecompanion.com.au
There’s a real freshness to the aroma upon opening, which becomes more and more sophisticated with every minute in the glass. Black pepper, herbs, clove and stewed plums come forward, then they make way for the complex characters that only come with age. Dark soy, leather, chocolate and roast beef gravy. The palate is tight, fresh and sprightly. It shows spice, developed berry fruits, chocolate and savoury meats with hits of earth and coffee. There’s fresh, clean acidity on the finish giving the wine a youthful brightness that will live on for quite a few more years in the cellar.