This powerful, tannic, structured effort from Mouton-Rothschild’s stable is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by an earthy nose dominated by black currants and toasty, smoky oak. Medium to full-bodied with relatively high tannin, decent acidity, and a fine finish, it should be at its best between 2014-2030.

Dark, narrow rimmed red; fresh, sweet, cedary early bouquet; very nicely balanced, rich, vital, middleweight claret with a fine textured tannin; vivid red fruit flavour, nice length to taste, juicy, sweet, spicy, long and satisfying. Not grand, but very good in a traditional, well defined, gently muscular Pauillac style. Good value. 2017-27+

D’Armailhac’s 2005 offers notes of cedar wood, forest floor, black and red currants, spice box and earth. It is medium-bodied, relatively soft for a 2005, and best drunk over the next 12-15 years.

Bright ruby-red. Blueberry, chocolate and leather on the nose, which suggests a wider range of ripeness than the 2006. Unusually sweet and lush for this wine but in a youthfully sullen stage, hinting at sexy oak tones and some leafy high notes. Densely packed but tight and tannic today, with its structure dominating. This needs patience.