CHICHIBU 2012 Pinot Noir Finish The Little Big Book

Nose : full-bodied, delicate. An array of jams (orange, red currant, apricot) literally escape from the glass. These are followed by notes of noble wood and cherry brandy. This gentle oxidative note quickly cedes to cocoa bean, candied ginger and pipe tobacco. As a whole it shows huge cohesion and maturity. Gradually, spices (saffron, nutmeg, clove) highlight the aromatic palette’s noble character.

Palate : enveloping, silky. For its part magnificently oxidative (bramble and strawberry purée), the attack has a very voluptuous mouthfeel. The ethereal mid-palate invites us to conquer particularly exotic lands (mango, guava, persimmon, lichee). Beeswax and black liquorice then gradually coat the taste buds. The end of the palate is marvellously heady (rose petal, lavender).

Overall : long, invigorating. Willingly differing from the palate, the finish is first medicinal (mustard), camphoric and hot (paprika). Notes of corinthian raison then beautifully underscore the red wine cask’s influence. Little by little, dried fruits (date, sweet chestnut, fig) illustrate its development into a more autumnal register. The rich (mocha, Liège coffee) retro-nasal olfaction then takes on coppery, twilight tones. The empty glass reveals citrus fruit (bitter orange), the fragrance of old woodwork, cherry jam and cocoa powder.