Intensely fruity and dripping with luscious dark cherry, blackberry and blueberry flavors, leading to touches of sandalwood. Medium-grained tannins carry through to the lush, spice-and chocolate-filled finish. This shows fine grip and balance, with a very modern feel. Best from 2020 through 2045.

Now with a couple years in bottle, I am erring to the Taylor? over the Fonseca (although these can always change!) The Taylor? show more delineation and refinement with pure black currant, cassis, pencil box, hints of marzipan and a hint of dark chocolate. The palate is full-bodied and sumptuous with super-fine tannins, very pure blackberry and boysenberry notes interlaced with cedar, dried fig and a touch of black pepper on the beautifully refined finish. Excellent.

Inky black with purple rim. A nose of great purity opening on a vigorous note of concentrated black woodland fruit laced with raspberry and plum. Around this dense fruity core, with its attractive vibrancy and minerality, is a fragrant and complex aura of citrus fruit blossom and wild herbal scents of mint and lavender. Supported by a tight warp of thick sinewy tannins, the palate explodes with concentrated ripe black fruit flavour which surges into the long finish before being gripped in a tight tannic embrace.