Taster

Nose: Soft and comforting. All-butter shortbread with dark chocolate, packets of rum and raisin fudge pieces, vanilla pods. A touch of leaf mulch and fresh cut oak.

Palate: Follows on from the nose with that lovely soft character. Oaky creaminess and vanilla sweetness. There’s a little allspice and rum-soaked raisins too.

Finish: Long and lovely, lingers for a while with that raisin sweetness.

Comment: Deep and rich, and well worth taking your time over. Would almost say sumptuous too.

Score: 8.9

Taster

Nose: Warming and delightful. Stewed apples and pears with cinnamon and raisins, hot buttered toast and a McDonald’s ice cream sundae with warm caramel sauce.

Palate: Baked orchard fruits and warm apple pie with cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla ice cream. A toasted oaky dryness keeps things nicely grounded.

Finish: Warm caramel sauce with nutmeg and raisins as well.

Comment: Warming, comforting, delicious: sometimes only a hug in a glass will do.

Score: 9.1