Description

Appearance : golden yellow.

Nose : refined, distinguished. The very peppery first nose shows huge personality. Behind peppercorn aromas, we glimpse heady florals (broom, iris), meaty notes, chocolate and the fragrance of absinthe. Allowed to breathe, the increasingly ripe and exotic fruit (William’s pear, pineapple) and an extremely medicinal character rival each other in intensity. Notes of curry and quince recall a venerable Pierre Overnoy Vin Jaune.

Palate : concentrated, rich. Continuing on perfectly from the fruit found on the nose, the attack is pleasure in its purest form. White peach, fresh walnut, iris butter, a deliciously sandy mouthfeel and a remarkably refreshing salinity make up other pathways leading to a hugely smooth mid-palate. The very end of the palate rests on tertiary notes, alternating between shaded (moss, mushroom) sunny (candy cane, dessicated grape, straw, date).

Overall : long, well-rounded. Inseparable from the palate, the finish is liquoricey and roasted (coffee, back tea). A true invitation to travel, it invites us to discover the world of rare sake. Scents of flowering cherry trees and sour cherry flavours (Morello cherry) bring lots of subtlety to this extraordinary Chichibu. The retro-nasal olfaction is a free association of ripe fruits (Mirabelle plum, yellow plum), aromatic plants (chamomile, verbena) which takes over the entire palate. The empty glass is nobly woody, spicy (clove, nutmeg), milky (almond) and chocolatey (cocoa powder).