Colour: bright gold.

Nose: refined, distinguished. The slightly empyreumatic first nose (rubber, sleet) also reveals very delicate notes of smoke, ash and vegetal peat. Allowed to breathe, candied citrus fruit (lemon, grapefruit), vanilla pod and aromatic plants (rosemary, sage) form a gentle yet energetic transition. Gradually, aromas of schist and slate emphasize the aroma palette’s mineral side.

Palate: subtle, resolute. A mixture of fresh fruit (pear, apple), peat and kelp, the attack is salty (sea spray, salt) and honeyed (acacia). The heady mid-palate (iris, honeysuckle) sees the peat become more powerful, developing extremely appealing liquorice and mentholated notes. The end of the palate focuses on the flavour palette’s spicy (cinnamon, clove) and fruity (lemon, grapefruit) temperament.

Finish: long, well-balanced. The milky start of the finish (coconut, almond) has moved considerably closer to barley, which has become omnipresent and is found in green, malted, peaty and fermenting forms. The delicately tarry end of the finish is also deliciously rich (flan). The retro-nasal olfaction is clearly medicinal (ointment, mustard poultice) and the empty glass like a sweet treat (Calisson d’Aix).