Macallan 25-year-old Sherry Oak

Merlot 56%, Cabernet Sauvignon 41%, Petit Verdot 3%Palmer brings a truly great wine to the table this year. The blend has some more Merlot than usual; thanks to the unique gravel soils here, mildew was less of an issue than elsewhere in Bordeaux. The nose offers soft dark-fruit aromas with hints of graphite, sweet spices and violets. The delicacy of the nose is set against an intriguingly complex palate, owing no doubt in part to their low-yielding old vines (22 hl/ha this year). Layers of ripe blackberries, blueberries and damsons vie with vibrant red cherries and raspberries. Undertones of tar, black pepper and a mouth-watering burst of salinity emerge on the finish. The tannins are sumptuous and silky; the finish goes on and on.Our score: 18.5/20Berry Bros. & Rudd