Trust Tawse to take a metso-metso year and weave gold from it … the nose is alluringly fruit driven: cherry, raspberry and other red and dark fruit with elements of red licorice and cigar tobacco. The palate plays with those aromas and adds plummy and smoky-tobacco flavours which take center stage all while being backed-up by a cast that includes cherry, raspberry and nice balancing acidity. You will find some aggressive tannins on the finish but that should subside within a year or two. Price: $26.95 – Rating: ****+