One of the highlights in this range, the 2016 Saffredi is a hugely promising wine marked by a beguiling combination of vertical structure, energy and concentration. Black cherry, lavender, spice, plum, sage and lavender all pulse with remarkable energy. Massive and yet remarkably vivid for such an intense wine, the 2016 is shaping up to be a real jewel of a wine.

Incredible aromas of dark berries, lavender, rosemary, licorice and dried flowers. Spice. Full body and fantastic tannin texture with great length. Goes on for minutes. Muscular yet wonderfully formed and refined. A glorious Saffredi. Drink in 2022.

The 2016 Saffredi brings full-throttled intensity in a very well-balanced wine. The blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (30%) and Petit Verdot (10%) spends 18 months in mostly new oak. This vintage is compact, firm and precise, with lovely floral aromas on the bouquet in front of blackberry and plum. Long oak toasting gives the wine tasty notes of spice and cinnamon and rounds the bouquet off nicely. The mouthfeel is soft and velvety. This is a complex, integrated and absolutely beautiful wine. ML

This red is dark and brooding, revealing plum, blueberry, tar, iron and leafy underbrush flavors. Intense and burly, yet persistent, refusing to quit on the firm finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. BS