Schramms - Red Agnes (batch 2)

Schramms Red Agnes is a red currant melomel that clocks in at 14% abv. Batch 2 of this mead was released in October of 2016 for a retail of $32, so this particular bottle was drank about a month after release.

Full disclosure I've had both b1 and b2 Red Agnes multiple times so I'm not new to this mead.  However it is always a treat, and each time I drink it I take a little something different from it.  First the color on this mead is stunning.  It's a very robust red.  The above picture doesn't give it justice, it gives it a dull reddish-brown tone, but this mead is a striking deep red.  And the clarity is beautiful too.  The nose is also lovely.  It's not overpowering but there's a nice fruity tartness to the sweet honey smell.  The taste follows the nose but in a much fuller way.  The flavors are bursting.  Juicy red raspberry-like tartness from the currants.  It seems that red currants are slightly less acidic and tannic than black currants, so I taste a more juicier, fruitier berry.  I also love the balance of the tart and sweet, nothing overpowers, everything is in perfect harmony.  I can't stress this enough with any mead, but this mead really shines as it warms from a cool 50 degrees up into room temperature in the 60s.  As the mead warms in opens up more layers of flavor and complexity.  A truly enjoyable mead and a wonder example of a well balanced melomel.