Drank this over the last two days, and as expected, changed quite a bit and settles down by the second day.
Initial nose had way too much VA and took some time (till the second day) to blow off). However there is still quite a bit of alcohol spike there due to the 15% alc.
Nonetheless, a typical Popes nose (scusa me) of meaty savouriness and vanillan oak with a touch of almond meal around the side.
The palate is all typical with a lovely sweetness to combat the meaty earthiness. Very mourish wine with sligtly grainy/chewy tannins that coat the mouth nicely. Balanced acid and ripe fruit finish it off. Suprisihngly, the palate handles the 15% quite effortlessly.
A good Nine Popes, certainly better than the '00, but a tad behind the '96 & "98.
Rory