- Nose
- Brown sugar and molasses. Vanilla and milk chocolate. Raisins, grapes, currants and dark plums. Red licorice and swedish berries. A bit of orange zest. Peppery at first. Thick layers of Port sweetness develop, with a light hint of vanilla-rich malt at the centre. Incredibly aromatic with loads of beautiful dark fruits, cherry, citrus notes, nuttiness, and Port aromas. Nice oak spices.
- Palate
- Sweet, with the candied fruit notes amplified, along with the grapey and plumy characteristics. Luscious mouthfeel, thick and syrupy. Oaky backbone asserts itself mid-palate, with wet oak, vanilla, nutmeg, and touch of pepper. Burnt brown sugar, with a bit of ginger and coffee showing up as well (plus the chocolate is still there). Citrus zests, brown sugar, sloe berries, a touch of sugary shortbread with raisins in the dough. Rich and complex, deep dark fruits, plum, dark cherry, rich dark chocolate, sultanas and plum and tingling spices. Grape and brown sugar smeared on toast and wow is it heavy. Layers of malty sweetness, nuts, blackberries and copper hide beneath but they're faint. Satisfying fruitiness blended with quality chocolate aromas that melt delicately.
- Finish
- Long. The fruity, candied characteristics return initially, and then fade into the more oaky elements (love that burnt sugar note). Classic Kavalan astringency shows up. Citrus forward. Caramel and fizzy strawberry laces. Oh so long, and evolving as dark chocolate softens while dried dark fruit elevate along sweetening spices. Oak, tobacco, spice most prominent. Very slight dried red fruit again. A bit of astringency lingers. Long and satisfying, with lingering notes of dark chocolate, dried fruit, and a gentle nuttiness.
