Cask of Yamazaki 1990/2008 Sherry Butt

Review by Serge Valentin (August 2008)
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"The Cask of Yamazaki 1990/2008 (61%, OB, cask #0N70646, 2nd fill Spanish oak sherry butt, 504 bottles) Another brand new one, bottled in June.
Colour: Mahogany.
Nose: Very punchy and very chocolatey. Hints of old books and old roses and a little strawberry jam. Needs water! With water: much, much nicer. Beautifully vinous and ‘roasted’. Old Port, green cigar like they make in Indonesia, Smyrna raisins, dates and hints of aniseed (or Ouzo/Raki). Superb but really needs water.
Mouth (neat): The winey notes are rather big here, with quite some strawberry liqueur, backcurrant crème and a little rubber. Heavy wine influence it seems, but the whole is very strong. Water needed again. With water: once again, it’s way better at roughly 45% than at cask strength. Complex development on tobacco, dark chocolate, rum, prunes, cocoa powder and overripe strawberries. Fruitcake. No more rubber. Finish: long and spicier (cloves, pepper) which is quite normal.
Comments: Another one that really needs water but that gets truly wonderful when reduced. Super sherry.
SGP:651 – 90 points."(Serge`s scoring system is explained on this page.)