Gorgeous white chocolate, black currant, sweet cherry, caramel, and spice notes are evolved as well as impressive. One of the vintage’s great success stories, this fleshy, medium to full-bodied, expansive, silky smooth Pomerol will offer delicious drinking now and over the next decade.

Red-ruby. Smoked meat, caramel, spice and tobacco on the nose, with pepper and herbal nuances emerging with aeration. Moderately dense and sweet, with modest fat but very good intensity of flavor. Still a bit tight today, with the herb and pepper elements carrying through to the firm finish. Will this blossom in bottle?

This has a more defined, less opulent nose than recent vintages of Hosanna at en primeur and I think it lends it more clarity and vibrancy. Blackberry, a touch of espresso and singed leather. The palate is medium-bodied, the tannins just a little coarse at the moment. But good weight on the middle with a touch of briary and dried herbs on the finish.

Unusually rich nose for a 2007. Almost New World ripeness on the nose – and very deep colour. Mouthfilling fruit. Almost verging on dried fruit/curranty – most unusual for 2007. The fruit really seems to have ripened well here. Some may want just a tad more acidity…! But it’s certainly impressive. (JR)