Nose: Ginger cake, brambles, dark chocolate, mixed peel, golden syrup, apples, cinnamon & cocoa. Mild alcohol prickle that enhances the nose. Evolves into classic rich sherried fruitcake with a delicious nuttiness. For lovers of sherry-driven drams (like myself), this is an enthralling nose. Not a trace of sulphur, either.
Palate: Richly-flavoured with great, but not overbearing, weight. All the elements from the nose are present, with the fruitcake and hazelnut dominating initially and the spices remaining gentle but firm. The fruit / spice / oak balance is spot-on: this is a real charmer.
Finish: A long slow fade of the above, with the ginger and clove becoming more prominent as the fruit gradually diminishes.
Comment: No need for water, which introduces a slight dustiness to proceedings. Take this one at strength, it's a beauty.