Warm, ripe, gentle, vinous scents. Incisive, edgy, thrusting flavour, but without the firm core and breadth of the 1997 vintage; sherbetty, brittle, glittery style.

Very pale in colour, with light, teasing, ivy-leaf scents. This wine shows the typical taut aromatic restraint of young Blanc de Blancs, but everything is in place for a successful evolution.

Pale honey-gold. Elegant, light, bready aromas jewelled with vine fruits: impeccable. On the palate, great intensity and great ripeness.

Pale, with a fine-beaded mousse. Aromatically, the wine still has a long way to travel: it is promisingly taut, with hints of orange and chalkstone over an understated floral brocade.