Cahors: panel tasting results

Stephen Brook: Very ripe toasty nose, sweet yet not jammy. Suave and silky, very concentrated. This has limpidity and finesse, but it's also spicy and lively. The tannins are polished, and the only fault is a slight lack of persistence. But overall a very graceful and stylish wine. Ben Llewellyn: Intense black cherry ginger spice, lovely resolution. So bright, clear and expressive on the nose, but showing restraint too. Tightly wound. The palate is completely seamless, with concentration of fruit, fabulous tannins and vital acidity. The fruit goes on and on, never cloying or losing interest. A great wine to age over 3-10 years. Anthony Rose: There's an underlying fresh herbal element to the juicy ripe sweet mulberry fruit. Powerfully rich and concentrated red whose red berry opulence is beautifully shot through with juicy fresh acidity and fine succulent tannins. Very elegant, magnificently stylish red.

Stephen Brook: Sumptuous plummy nose, seductively oaky, Indian spices, lifted and charming. Rich velvety attack, but underpinned by excellent acidity. This has abundant fruit and real tension too. Lifted, with drive and vigour. Still youthful and impeccably balanced. Long peppery finish. Ben Llewellyn: Expressive blue fruit, spice, lovely high notes which make it aromatically inviting. The palate has ripe concentrated fruit with ripe nutty tannins and sappy acidity. The fruit keeps coming and coming in a well-honed attractive fashion. A beautifully crafted wine. Anthony Rose: Typical bright Malbec scented nose, with fragrant cinnamon and clove spice oak and very ripe fruit that's nicely held in check. Supporting rather than overwhelming the bright blackberry fruit quality whose sinewy tennis and freshness give this wine lovely vibrancy and brightness, promising a good five to seven year future. Barolo in Cahors.

Stephen Brook: Sweet ripe damson nose has some purity of fruit despite the power. Medium-bodied, sleek and velvety, very concentrated but not too extracted. Shows good underlying acidity and there's no sign of heat from the alcohol. Sumptuous, hedonistic, and surprisingly elegant. Ben Llewellyn: A bright expressive initial nose, underpinned by camphor and incense. The palate is full of black fruit and spice with sweet mulberry and notes of violet. The finish is long, well-honed and leaves a very attractive perfume of violet and pruneaux. Anthony Rose: Huge colour, lots of sweet blackberry, cinnamon, camphor, and spicy fruit on the nose. Good, ripe, sweet rich mid-palate of black cherry and blackberry fruit concentration, firm sinewy structure behind it, big-boned and intense, still almost elemental for its age. A chunky powerful monkey to be sure. Lovely.

Dense colour, beautifully scented with liquorice spice, incense and black fruit. Very rich, dense and concentrated, yet enough acidity to give limpidity and freshness. Balanced and long, with a chewy but not tough finish.

Rich heady black fruits nose; quite savoury with menthol and liquorice. Good concentration of pure, black cherry fruit with a layered textural quality that's rather pleasing and has a healthy vein of acidity.

Very dense nose; brooding and spicy. There is tension between richness of flavour, fine-grained tannins, and succulent acidity. It’s tight, elegant, and peppery with balance and a natural feel.

Sumptuous damson nose, with some torrefaction, and the oak gives vanilla tones. The sweet cherry fruit quality is nicely supported by juicy fresh acidity and a suppleness of texture that's refreshingly moreish.

Vivid colour, fine floral aromatic quality, densely concentrated blackberry fruit tinged with spice and floral notes. The palate is concentrated and well-formed with ripe, structural tannins; quite long.

Lovely sweet nose incorporating spice, dark fruit, chocolate and a touch of smoky sausage. The palate is a dense, brooding affair with noble aspirations. There is balance and quality in the wine and it should improve.

Aromatic notes of ginger and honey behind the ripe, dark fruits. The palate has the sweet lick of oak and there is enough fruit to take on the oak in the finish and the wine’s natural tannins win out in the end.