ROYAL BRACKLA 11 ans 2008 20 Rue d'Anjou Signatory Vintage

Nose : refined, ethereal. Moving from white florals (lily of the valley, lilac) to vanilla notes, and from fresh fruit (pear, apple) to herbaceous sequences (cut hay, lucerne), the first nose is remarkably refreshing. Revealing gentle liquorice and spice (pepper), it becomes increasingly medicinal (ointment) once allowed to breathe. Malted barley then gradually takes the reins with resplendent honey (acacia), vegetal (verbena) and herbal (green tea) tones. Spectacular!

Palate : clean, sharp. Continuing the tasting with the same syrupy and herbaceous notes found on the nose, the attack is mature and serene. Next, nuts (almond, walnut) and coconut milk bring lots of consistency and juiciness to the mid-palate. The incredibly lush end of the palate takes us across countryside fields to breathe in harvest-time aromas (straw, cut grass). A handful of citrus fruits (lemon, grapefruit) also appear to titillate the taste buds.

Overall : long, balanced. The aquatic and floral start of the finish reveals notes of water lily and yellow iris bloom as grains of salt fill the palate. The sweet bitterness of malted barley, courgette flower and Calisson d’Aix then literally transcend the very end of the palate. The retro-nasal olfaction is a real sweet treat, inviting us to bite into very ripe fruits (pear, peach). The empty glass is warm, sunny and spicy (ginger, cinnamon).