BENRINNES 20 ans 1997 The Chronicles Signatory Vintage

Nose : ample, deep. The very empyreumatic (burnt wood, blood orange) initial nose also reveals numerous stone fruits (apricot, peach, prune). Allowed to breathe, its fruity register is enriched with red fruits (strawberry, raspberry) and black fruits (bramble, blackcurrant). Its exuberance is magnificently highlighted by notes of brandied cherries, Russian leather and wilted rose.

Palate : both lively and smooth. The start of the palate is livened up by the refreshing acidity of the brandied cherries. It is also smooth, as powdery notes of cocoa gently coat the taste buds. The mid-palate is elegantly fruity, reproducing with masterful precision wild peach and the rough texture of its skin. At the end of the palate, a few exotic fruits (mango, guava, persimmon) appear alongside heady florals (freesia, lily).

Overall : long, delicately tannic. The palate's powerful expression makes it impossible to tell when the finish begins. It takes a few minutes for notes of ginger, cocoa powder, peach stone and tobacco to appear and mark the evolution towards a more tertiary register. This is confirmed by the sweet chestnut that suddenly appears at the back of the palate. On the retronasal olfaction, mushroom and dead leaves evoke forest floor aromas. Providing harmony, the empty glass also reveals autumnal shades.