L'Encantada Domaine Del Cassou 2000

Tastes of grape jelly, musty oak, light maple syrup, cherries, nutmeg, and German black licorice. Sweet but not overly syrupy. If this were bourbon, it would be most similar to Maker's 46, but with fewer chocolate notes and more herbs. It starts with a nutty, maple sweetness that is well-balanced by oak. A hint of perfume or potpourri follows, then a touch of maple syrup, clove, and licorice. There's a very faint sulfur note if left on the tongue too long, but it's barely perceptible to someone usually sensitive to it. The finish lasts a very long time but isn't particularly dynamic or complex. Fans of Pedro Ximénez will likely enjoy it. I'm moderately pleased but not amazed. The aroma and finish are reasonably strong but somewhat bland. The palate attempts to compensate but falls slightly short. It's good, but I wouldn't reach for another bottling of this particular expression when 30+ year old bottlings are available for a similar price and are likely more interesting.