Tasting Notes
The Panel were pleasingly perplexed by initial notes of aged sparkling red wines, strong Earl Grey tea, ripe figs, lemon peel and toasted hazelnuts. All manner of notes emerged from the depths: roasted peanuts, spicy young dessert wines, fresh apples, banana liqueur, bubble gum, gunpowder, spiced dark fruit chutneys and freshly picked wild mushrooms. With water it became more balanced and aromatically cohesive. Aged rioja, lemon barley water, touches of dried lavender and damp earthiness. The palate opened with spicy chilli and tannin laced with sweet raisins and prune eau de vie. Notes of caramelised onions, aged balsamic, almonds and sticky treacle pudding. Reduction once again soothed things and brought orange blossoms, fragrant waxes, apricot preserve, thick wood spices and a menthol eucalyptus aspect.