Nose: Plenty of sherried funk at first, with hazelnut, dark chocolate, ripe blackcurrants, soft peaches and Christmas pudding. Lean gamey savouriness and a touch of spent firework keeps things interesting. A powerful hit of warm out of the oven gingerbread is joined in the backdrop by sweet tobacco, waxy leather and browning apples.
Palate: A ripe and refined mix of red and black fruits initially, followed by cherry cola, dried orange peel and creamy fudge. Nutty oak, exotic honey and bittersweet herbs develop, alongside winter spice and cherry blossom.
Finish: Dried mint and thyme linger among salty butter and resinous sherry notes.
Overall: Generous, elegant and rewarding on every return. This is serious stuff.