After a necessary two-hour aeration, the nose projects with strong

After a necessary two-hour aeration, the nose projects with strong amplitude a complex array of black cherry, plum, eucalyptus, coffee, minerals, and toast. What was on release some sharp charcoal notes have faded to enchantingly subtle smoke elements. (Left overnight, more floral elements also come into play.)

The opulent palate shows a fleshy/milky body, rich black fruit, tobacco, nicely integrated wood, sweet tannins, and amazing persistence. (It is not often that I’m tempted to engage in the Parkereque exercise of timing a wine on a stopwatch, but I confess I clocked Palomero’s finish at over 90 seconds.) The wine’s structure and concentration suggests a capacity to develop further.

The constant movement of this wine between primary fruit scents and tastes and secondary elements nicely engages the senses and the mind. It seems for a split second that you have grabbed hold of pure black cherry or even some straightforward grapiness but, as you try to pull it in, it morphs into something ineffable, intangible. A wine of impressive refinement, expression, and verve.