JAMES SUCKLING: "Attractive violet-like flowers and fresh plums lead to a palate that has a juicy and succulent core of ripe red plums. Right at the limit of ripeness and balance. A blend of 85 per cent merlot and 15 per cent cabernet franc. From organically grown grapes. Try from 2022."

ROBERT PARKER - THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Grand Corbin-Despagne rocks up with exuberant notions of wild blueberries, Black Forest cake and plum preserves with hints of lavender, underbrush and cloves. Full-bodied and with great concentration, the palate delivers bags of perfumed fruit layers, finishing with excellent persistence."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Exotic, with a range of well-steeped raspberry, plum and boysenberry flavors that have a compote feel, while anise, wood spice and roasted apple wood notes step in on the finish. They wind up dominating a bit in the end, but in the short term there's enough fruit detail here to manage it. Best from 2021 through 2030. - James Molesworth"

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, reife Pflaumen, Nuancen von Kirschen, dezente Edelholzwürze. Mittlerer Körper, reife dunkle Beerenfrucht, integrierte Tannine, Nougat im Abgang, bleibt haften, ein vielseitiger Speisenbegleiter. - Peter Moser"