Nose: I’ve spent all week drinking dirty chais. Julie bought me pumpkin chai tea bags from the clearance aisle, which I promptly threw into the trash. But she encouraged me to go find a solid chai tea bag. I prefer to make the concentrare from scratch but this month has been maxed. So, one chai tea bag, two spoonfuls of acacia honey, one shot of espresso and then fill my thermos to the top with oat milk. An earthiness, nearly tobacco. Goji berries and golden raisins.

Palate: Sharp and bitter for a second … morphing into bright fruit forward sweetness. Raisins. An orange herb drop. Prune juice. Black tea tannins and 80% dark cocoa, which Julie loves but I barely find palatable. Black peppercorn. Minutes later the palate lingers, like chocolate espresso beans. Despite all these potent and dominant flavors, the mouthfeel is thin and slightly strained.

Rating: 5 / 10 – I really like the nose on this, and all the elements to capture my imagination are there, but the palate just didn’t carry it through. For the ABV there was no lack of flavor, it just missed a roundedness in my mouth which would have made it worth pouring again. I wish I knew why this isn’t my jam.

Nose: I struggle to love Welch’s grape juice. Only because it was one of only two options as a kid until snapple finally burst onto the scene. And yet decades later, I remember the smell so distinctly. Bright and vibrant, with a touch of tannins and must. Frankly, a note I find more typical in cognac than armagnac. Underneath, hints of an herb garden, lemon balm and catnip. Sage.

Palate: Pretty spot on from the nose. Grape jam n herbs. Which could be pretty cool. A mouth drying effect, like eating pear skins. Even a touch of moist tobacco. A baking powder vibe, tannins balanced like tangerine peels and dried cherries. Reminds me of the mass-produced panettone that carrefour has during the holidays. I can eat a whole one of those things all by myself, and then often regret the indulgence.

Rating: 5 / 10 – too herbal for me, but this will appeal to the right crew.