HAMPDEN LROK White Habitation Velier

Nose : fine, subtle. The very ethereal initial nose wavers between flowering sugarcane, citrus fruit (orange, mandarin), heady florals (dahlia, gardenia), fresh fruit (plum liqueur, Williams pear), exotic fruit (lichee, kiwi) and spices (coriander, star anise). Allowed to breathe, it becomes honeyed, delicately roasted (tobacco, tea) and herbaceous (alfalfa). Next, the fragrances of geranium, vetiver and root ginger fill the entire aromatic palette.

Palate : complex, rich. The very fruity (pear, apple, peach) attack also wavers between dark chocolate and bourbon vanilla. Rich, like a vanilla flan or a verbena-lemon tart. With lots of freshness, the mid-palate knocks the tasting up a notch. Candied apricot, walnut, cumin and tobacco bring lots of energy to the end of the palate.

Overall : long, concentrated. Freshly cut grass, coriander, sweet chestnut, kiwi, strawberry, geranium blossom, iris butter and many other flavours illustrate the extreme complexity of the flavour palette. Not to be outdone, the retronasal olfaction brings lime, cinnamon, rosemary and mint leaves. The empty glass reproduces the notes of still warm cane sugar, saffron and vetiver.