Nose

First nose is peppermint, cherries, and of course deep, loamy earth—almost the scent of decaying leaves.

Palate

What I’ve loved best about the Cigare Réserve wines is their texture—utterly seamless and sleek, and secondarily, their quality of umami, no doubt a function of the glutamate released from the autolysis of yeast cells during the élevage. The wine has a very satisfying richness, an aura of confident power and authority, but it is in noway overbearing.

Appearance

Beautiful, deep violet robe, not quite saturated color, but nary a trace of rust.

Food Pairing

I wish I could propose a vast range of dishes to pair with this special wine, but it is a lonely warrior and best stands alone, possibly consoled by an extremely large wedge of Stilton cheese.