| Rich Howard | the nose is sweet with raspberry coulis, spicy with white pepper, and savory with maple-glazed root vegetables, also some candle wax, distant fields of heather, leather gloves, maybe a trace of sour peat water on the finish, and plenty of wine-soaked oak throughout. the palate follows suit, with an initial hit of sweet and tangy fruit punch, then some mulled wine with cinnamon and clove, some rope, turning savory and oaky, a handful of dry twigs and wine-soaked charred wood on the finish, quite tannic. a drop of water accents the sweeter notes on the nose, plenty of berry reduction now, some orange marmalade, ginger candies, milk chocolate and a dash of vanilla. the savory notes are less pronounced and nicely integrated. the reduced palate is very spicy and tannic now, plenty of mulled wine spices, but also a hint of strawberry balsamic vinegar on the finish. summary: sweet, spicy and savory, fairly heavy on the wood... plenty of room to work with water here. [tasted blind for the 2011 Awards] |
