Longrow Red 7 years Pinot Noir

Score: 69

Longrow Red 7 Pinot Noir is smoky, jammy, and just a little offbeat—like a campfire breakfast with raspberry compote and smoked ham. It spent 4 years in bourbon casks, then 3 in fresh Pinot Noir barrels, and it shows: sweet red fruit meets earthy peat, with a coastal breeze running through it. It’s got a bit of funk, a bit of fruit, and a whole lot of character. Not trying to be polished—just bold, tasty, and doing its own thing. CLUB TASTING NOTES "Ooooooo this bottle is flashing all its eyelashes at you, and you fall for it. Takes you home and cuddles you gently. But does not finish there, asks you to make breakfast, then says they need $50 for the cab home, thank you very much. "Slight depth in the nose, a little funk. Some depth in the taste. Short finish, a muted sharpness too? - ooooof, intense cask notes on the nose (due to 57% of your best cask strength). Nose is Chocolate & toffee sweetness covering up the peat but not the dunnage musk of the underlying spirit. No obvious tannins which is nice. Palate reveals more of the earthy peat note, and sweetness on the development. Very little nip beyond that of the regular Longrow - notable absence of the orchid fruits though. 4-5 mils water releases slight sour notes but loses nothing of the initial confectionery sweetness. Still light peat. Time is adding a grain element once again. Scotch mist obvious. Another 3-4 ml of water finally released the orchard fruit notes but nicely balanced with a reduced confectionary sweetness. Probably the option for those less keen on peat."