MARS 2012 Komagatake - 60 ans LMDW

Nose : firm, powerful. Bursting with lyricism, the initial nose is delicately peaty and floral (vetiver). On aeration, the smoke takes over from the peat. It brings with it notes of vanilla, caramel, malted barley and beeswax. Gradually, the peat and smoke give way to the fruity notes in the aromatic palette, offering lemon, pear, pineapple and mango. _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_

Palate : taut, lively. It begins exactly where the nose ends, with fruit and vanilla. Rapidly gaining in creaminess, some spices also emerge (pepper, clove). The peat then appears with a saline, liquoricey character. Increasingly floral (lily of the valley, iris), the palette of flavours gradually becomes oily and earthy. The chromatic palette varies between immaculate white and intense yellows. _x000D_

Overall : long, very mature. Assertive tannins coat the palate, while dried fruit and nuts (walnut, almond, apricot) and liquorice provide plenty of substance. The end of the palate lingers with notes of honey, noble wood and spices (ginger). Milky retronasal olfaction (chocolate éclair). The empty glass is deeply malty, with a hint of peat and smoke. And then just for a moment, a captivating scent of peonies floods the very end of the palate._x000D_