The 2022 version of Longrow Crimson is a 15 12 months outdated. A pleasant step up from final 12 months’s Longrow Crimson 10 Years from Malbec casks. This single malt has been matured for eleven years in bourbon barrels adopted by 4 years in contemporary Pinot Noir barriques. The wine casks come from Grant Taylor’s Valli vineyards in New Zealand. As regular, the whisky is bottled at cask power.
It’s the primary time I discover the native distributors are talked about with their addresses on the again label: The Nectar, Hawe Bremen, Beija-Flor, Fourcroy, and so on.
Longrow Crimson 15 yo – Pinot Noir Cask Matured (51,4%, OB 2022, 9400 btl.)
Nostril: a somewhat mellow begin. Bramble jam stands out towards a background of smouldering barbecue smoke. Loads of tobacco leaves and outdated materials. Smoked ham. Even a bit manure and hints of a musty wine cellar. There’s additionally a brighter aspect of purple apples and redcurrants. It’s mature, with a barely subdued profile, however exhibiting good aromas and no off-notes (both sulphury or winey) for me.
Mouth: plenty of smoke and moist earthy notes come out at first, shortly adopted by winey notes. Undoubtedly extra wine affect than I anticipated from the nostril. Toffee and strawberries. Then astringent notes begin to take over, like burnt Mediterranean herbs and a hint of leafy bitterness. Extra cranberries now. Hints of saline soy sauce and smoke because it fades.
End: lengthy, smoky and candy, with purple fruits and salinity.
After nosing this Longrow Crimson, I anticipated an amazing version, properly built-in and mature. Nonetheless, on the palate it loses a few of its steadiness, changing into barely tough and never solely in sync with the wine. Not essential version in my view.
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