LONGROW 1987-1997 SAMAROLI

Among the 1987 vintages, this Samaroli bottling left a particularly vibrant impression. LONGROW LONGROW 1987-1997 SAMAROLI 45% one of 780 bottles The aroma is strong, featuring citrus, cheese and damp leaf mold, raw ham, a moist and intense peat, subtle pickled flavors, wet leather. On the palate, it begins with a soft mouthfeel expanding into citrus, syrupy sweetness, pronounced briny notes, savory cheese and barley depth, with a dashi-like umami. Earthy, coating texture, long finish. 【Good/Very Good】 This Samaroli LONGROW 1987 is a 1997 bottling. As many may know, Samaroli filled numerous casks of LONGROW new make in 1987, resulting in many releases of this vintage. This is approximately 10 years maturation. Like other LONGROW 1987 Samaroli bottlings, it strongly exhibits citrus notes, pronounced cheese and lactic acid elements, raw ham, peat, and an overarching damp, steamed nuance. I recall some having a more reserved aroma initially, but this one immediately stood out with its bold intensity. The cheese and dashi umami, as well as the strong salinity, all met expectations. Previously, I wrote about an extremely young 1987 bottling, but this series shares common characteristics from the new make stage. Though maturation years vary significantly up to the last bottling in 2007, it's interesting how little difference feels apparent. All exhibit plain cask impressions, suggesting minimal influence from barrel aging. It would have been fascinating to compare if some casks showed distinct personalities. This bottle was kindly gifted by IAN at Mitsukoshi. #LONGROW (LONGROW)