Because of the heat and drought stress up to harvest, we picked earlier than normal in the flavour ripening profile, and moderated the influence of the new wood to emphasise freshness and elegance which might have been at risk under these conditions. The colour is light gold with hints of green, and the nose smells of dry straw with a soft coconut expression to the wood and gentle citrus through to peach fruit. The palate also shows the more delicate wood handling, with coconut and mealy flavours allied with citrus through to peach, and a mineral aspect adding freshness and structure. It has a lingering, spicy aftertaste. We would expect that drinking it at 4-7 years of age should allow considerable benefits from good cellaring conditions. |
