226. Château Lamothe-Cissac, Haut-Médoc, 2001

£??; 12.5%

Medium-depth garnet body with narrow bricking rim. Smoked-meat nose reminiscent of the jamón Serrano I was eating with it, which developed into cigar and roasted barley notes (similar to the air at St James’s Gate when they’re running the coffee roasters!). Tannic, cigary, smoky palate, with ‘correct’ acidity and a medium-long, smoky, spicy finish. Medium-bodied and a little light on concentration, but nice for a gift! Hard wine to match to food – smoked meats, perhaps?