2014 batch. Quiet creamy smell with a faint earthy funk. Some vanilla and almost bourbon notes (vanilla, caramel) scent the glass. The flavor is silky and crystal clear sweetness with a smooth and subtle marine note. Highly refined and exceptionally balanced.

The nose is green, earthy, herbal, marine, balanced nicely by creamy sweet fruit notes. Fresh root vegetable pulled straight from the ground freshness which I’ve smelled only on the best of karwinskiis. The palate opens up with floral and herbal flavors, a medium cool mouthfeel, and sweet rainwater. There’s that subtle savory grilled fruit on the palate which I believe is Don Goyo’s signature. A smooth developing finish that leads with sweet and salty pepper followed by dry earthy pine. A little of that fresh root vegetable aftertaste long after the last sip, which completes the experience beautifully. Amazing stuff.

The nose is pungent cheesy barnyard funk with sour rotten fruit in the background. After this incredible nose I was expecting something savory and enticing on the palate, but unfortunately this is where things depart. For me the palate consists of a slight black pepper note followed by an explosion of intensely sweet and strangely zesty (almost sour) flavors which I would describe as sweetarts and other cheap artificial candies (runts?) dissolved in water. The flavors are sharp edged and high pitched with a lack of freshness and a relatively thin body. Finish fades fast leaving some slight bitterness and a little of that artificial sweetness and sour funk. The nose is great but everything that follows is not my cup of tea. Extra points for uniqueness.