Well, a Red Wine cask (finished??) 2002 Port Charlotte. Must say, I've doubted some time before buying this rather expensive bottle, but 5 people rating average 92 pulled me over. There's a song by Jim Diamond; I Should Have Known Better, and that's exactly what this Port Charlotte is all about. Makes me wonder about rating whisky's once again. Is it because the 92 raters never had a real 92p dram? By no means does this come even close to the pretty brilliant Blackadder 2001 Port Charlotte. Is it bad? No, it's not, but definitely not worth € 180, it would have been a ok deal for € 90. Why?? Well, 1st of all it lacks the typical Port Charlotte 'power' and peaty, oilyness that PC fans love that much. It is a rather 'thin' dram, not by ABV, but it simply lacks depth, pretty one dimensional. Makes me wonder if this is matured in a bourbon barrel and finished in a rather average red wine cask. It does have some sourness that red wine matured whisky's sometimes have, which is't a bad thing, as long as it's not overwhelming. (this isn't overwhelming) 

I won't bother to describe all flavours as there aren't too many. 

Save you money for something worth € 180. 

Very good Port Charlotte which doesn't need any water, but definitely not worth the € 180 it's been sold for!

Nose: right at the beginning there is a versatile aroma: not too intense red fruits (strawberry) paired with smoky ashes, some citrus, gherkins, caramel, white pepper, if you warm it by hand, it is getting oily and the peat smoke goes Direction campfire, the alcohol is clearly noticeable and not perfectly integrated

Taste: the first onset in the mouth is not particularly intrusive, beautiful sweetness, red fruit, then the peat hits with all its might and laps around the mouth with a long-lasting peat smoke.

Finish: long, also here, of course, intense peat smoke aroma, to the Rotwin and behind the oak, which is clearly dry.

Water: The calls for the water, he screams, do wim but sometimes the favor - yes, with water he twas softer, much more caramel and the red wine is more intense, the oak tends towards pencil abrasion, The pepperiness he loses by the Not water.

Conclusion: Yes, I promised myself a lot, and maybe a bit too much, so I'm a little disappointed now. But not really, let's say, he failed because of my high expectations. Because in the end it is a great malt, plus a successful combination with the red wine barrel. The wine is not too intense either, so I'm guessing a finish or a refill keg. But somehow there's always something missing, so I could say: He's really good. And face the pretty proud price of 179 EUR is in my opinion also overpriced - 87 points