Nose: Sweet, soft and inviting. Mild at first; rich and dense, with traces of spice and sweet wood from extra oak aging. A chocolate note introduces concentrated fruit, as with sultanas and hints of bittersweet orange in a fruit cake mix, spiced with cinnamon. There’s milky coffee too, with just a trace of beeswax. Water brings up that note as polished leather to back the dry chocolate but also allows a big, sweet vanilla/butterscotch character to come through, reminiscent of peanut toffee or nougat.
Palate: Vibrant; sweetly fizzing with juicy citrus character and soft fruit. Vanilla becomes more pronounced in the mid-palate then lightly tightens its grip as a spiced edge comes through with coriander, pepper and lemon. With water it’s smooth and easy to drink. Soft and lightly sweet now, with more of the buttery fruit cake mix and a balancing hint of acidity leading towards the drier finish.

Finish: Smooth, with light toasty oak, which becomes more mellow if water is added. Well balanced, with the peppery spice leaving a spicy tingle and a creamy, violet-scented aftertaste.