(Tasted & scored four days after opening)
NOSE: Dry ashy notes, tar, old tarry and salty ropes, then some fat, oily notes. In the background something fruity is trying to break through; lemons, green apples. Smells bone dry. Rich and fairly intense nose, but a "long" (or perhaps "deep") rather than "broad" nose. More structure and elegance, less punch. (90-91p)
TASTE: The arrival is salty and bone dry. Then on the mid palate arrive lots of limestone minerality and preserved salty lemons (Moroccan style) fruitiness. And more austere dryness. (90p)
FINISH: This is so salty and austere, it's just wonderful! So much so that even the modest pepperiness struggles to catch my attention. Long after I've swallowed, I'm also chewing on the most wonderful dry wood ash... (89-90p)
OVERALL: A bone dry gem. Nothing less. And, I would think, the exact opposite of a crowd pleaser. TOTAL SCORE 90 points.