The ’06 Langhe Ripe Tuo is the second incarnation of a much wetter stored offering. There aren’t any signs of humidity in the aroma, which is woody and ever-so-slightly vegetal. There are also some nice sweet vanilla and milk chocolate notes. The wood notes are a bit like wet leather.
This wet-leather-wood note carries over into the taste of the Langhe Ripe, along with a complex of light camphor and sugar. There’s an interesting sour effect in there, along with dynamic astringency. Both pique the cheeks in the huigan for a measure of salivation and mouth numbing. Leather and resin resonate in the mouth with hints of sweetness and camphor. The qi sensation arrives early and its clarity is beyond reproach.
Even though acquired from a Guangdong vendor, it doesn’t seem to have been stored there very long or was stored under a controlled climate. Either make sense in terms of basic Mainland preferences. The end result is less camphor, petrichor, and sweetness and more resinous wood and leather with saliva stimulating sourness. Much more cured by conditions than its larger offering. Stored in Los Angeles since Nov ’21. 100g.
42¢
