| Rich Howard | loads of fresh cherries, quite some milk chocolate, strawberries and ripe apples, olive oil, white button mushrooms drizzled with balsamic vinegar, over a backdrop of charred wood soaked in wine, with whiffs of freshly-lit cigarettes and gunpowder from recently exploded firecrackers. more smoke (and gunpowder) in this expression than any Port Ellen i've had (dare i say almost more like a Karuizawa...?) after a few minutes, fresh plum and a handful of dark raisins emerge. the palate is quite brisk, even a little biting, very oaky and smoky, moving quickly to singed cherry cobbler with oatmeal crust. a couple drops of water sweetens up the nose, bringing out cherries jubilee and citrus cough drops, and easing up the savory notes quite a bit, still some olive oil and a hint of balsamic though, and the charred wood and gunpowder do not yield much. the palate has similarly softened a bit, semi-sweet cherries now, blood orange and overcooked spice cake. a few more drops of water, and the nose is now a beautiful blend of fresh and candied berries, citrus and vanilla, with an undercurrent of toasted oak and a drift of smoke. the palate follows suit, although it's somewhat short on the finish other than the wood smoke and hints of sulfur lingering on the tongue. summary: quite nice, if you like them sweet and smoky; water is definitely required... |
