SPRINGBANK 12 ans Samaroli

Nose : rich, concentrated, complex and endless. Oriental at first glance. Characterized by nutty notes (walnut, almond, honey-coated pistachio), the nose gracefully develops into beeswax and polish. It remains no less rich with petit beurre biscuits and crème brûlée, and a hint of coconut (broom) and orange blossom. But it’s really all about fruit, whether it is dried or juiced, exotic (passion fruit, banana, mango, gold kiwi) or Mediterranean (date, dried fig, grape, Agen prune). Fairly undefinable, it is at once a liqueur, a jam and a jelly (quince, apricot). With time, the dark side of the aromatic palette is revealed, developing dark chocolate and roasted coffee, before becoming empyreumatic with tar.

Palate : lively, rich and solid. Citrus fruit jam and jelly (orange, lemon) make way for a souk spice rack (ginger, cinnamon, clove). Other herbs and spices are never far away. In harmony with the nose, abundant dried fruits are present and the rancio becomes more precise. We now find ourselves in France. A hyphen is drawn between the Bordeaux region and Alsace, with precise notes of Sauternes that open up into refined mineral and hydrocarbon notes.

Overall : mysterious, captivating. The oak becomes drier, but the length is incredible! The finish echoes the nose and further develops this hidden dark side, with leather, beef stock, peat smoke, coffee grounds and bitter chocolate.