We noted at first a very pale fino sherry type colour on pouring but the sweet fruity scent of apples, pears and apricots permeating the air focused our attention on the aroma. A rich fruit parfait as well as a foamy syllabub dessert combining lemon and fragrant rosemary made this a real showstopper.

We tasted it – warm, mouth-coating and syrupy on the palate neat with hints of tobacco, chili and pepper. A drop of water and an invigorating spicy and fresh aroma of lemongrass, eucalyptus and cinnamon appeared while on the palate lemon-poppyseed Linzer cookies and a mango, pineapple and kiwi salad.