VALLEIN TERCINIER 1987 Single Cask TTG 3.0

Nose : elegant, distinguished. A subtle mixture of quince, apricot, heady florals (carnation, hyacinth), vanilla, greengage plum and noble spices (clove, cardamom), the initial nose is also delicately woody. Allowed to breathe, it becomes increasingly tertiary (forest floor, mushroom, lichen) and honeyed (heather, lime blossom). Of particular interest are the notes of vanilla that zig-zag through the aromatic palette.

Palate : clear, lively. The slightly medicinal (camphor) attack reveals lots of citrus fruits (orange, kumquat, mandarin). The mid-palate prefers to take side paths to more heady (rose petal, peony) and spicy (nutmeg, ginger) registers. The end of the palate wavers between freshly cut grass, quince jelly, sweet chestnut and salted butter caramel.

Overall : gently tannic. At the start of the finish, bourbon vanilla release deliciously astringent flavours. These are accompanied by praline and nuts (almond, walnut, hazelnut), a handful of dates and exotic fruits (mango, persimmon). The oxidative (corinthian raisin, leather, chocolate) retronasal olfaction has a very dense texture. It evokes emery cloth and papier d'Arménie. The empty glass wavers between dried leaves, melon, apple jelly and apricot rancio.