Ppaperboat.fox2 Oct
The oak is easy to follow here: sweet oak and toasted oak sit alongside vanilla and bright fruit on the nose, while the palate brings oak back among caramel, cinnamon and dark cherry. I like that connection between the wood and the sweeter notes; it gives the oak a clear role without making it the only point of interest. The finish shifts the balance, with lingering oakiness and soft spice following the sweet, creamy palate. That is the part I would weigh most carefully. Someone drawn mainly to the brighter fruit may prefer it to remain more prominent, while an oak-focused drinker may welcome the way the finish develops. For my taste, the oak and vanilla make a persuasive pairing, with that finish as a reasonable reservation.
Nose: Sweet oak, Vanilla, Bright fruit (apples, pears, cherries), Toasted oakPalate: Caramel, Vanilla, Oak, Cinnamon, Dark cherryFinish: Soft spice, Hints of black pepper, Lingering oakiness
