Big and round and with lots of acidity. Beefy and almost like beef extract with richness on the finish. Actually, the more I think about it, the more like a beef consommé that is slightly sweet because so reduced (ie concentrated) it is!
Mahogany in colour. The nose is generous here, intense, broad and piercing all at once. Notes of old wood mingle with Christmas spices, sultanas, roasted chestnuts and dates. The palate starts broad, a rush of flavour and full body a hit of pure joy. Then, the acidity takes hold, tightening the screws, focusing the flavours and refreshing the senses. The concentration is high as expected, but it is the balance, the gloss and the vibrancy that make this such an outstanding wine. Formed like a reverse teardrop, the finish feels dry, the sugars falling into the fruit and sheer weight of age. But there is a suppleness, a darker tone and a hedonism over the equivalent Sercial. Outstanding.
