Taster

Nose: Sherry, ground coffee. Morello cherries. Grapefruit juice. A distinctive sourness combined with dry oaky notes. Liquorice. Opening on sweet creamy custard. Hint of damp wall.

Palate: Sweet but oaky. Sherry is in control. Burnt caramel. Bitter tang.

Finish: Dry, oaky, dark chocolate, liquorice.

Comment: Another example of sherry domination. Where's the balance?

Score: 7.5

Taster

Nose: Ripe and sweet with dried fruits, nuts and candied peel shifting into marmalade, persimmon. Shows good balance with a sweet blackberry note cut with saddle soap.

Palate: Once again, really piercing concentration which goes into a mix of dry, crisp oak this time with cigar leaf, oak and sandalwood.

Finish: Red grape skin, redcurrant tartness.

Comment: Good, but again not quite the extra dimension that's needed.

Score: 7.8