There's maybe a hint of earth on the nose, but otherwise nothing. The palate is quite bland. It's generally neutral, but there's some bitterness. It's quite peppery, with a hint of white pepper herbaceousness. The earth brings in a bit of nutty richness too. It isn't bad, but it's not exciting. I'd have trouble going much above a 12 or below a 10. It lacks the soft roundness of the Chopin Wheat, as well as the subtle grain. In comparison, this is much more peppery and it has a nice hint of fruit. There's also a faint hint of petrol, but it's not too bad. The pepper makes it fairly harsh though, so it isn't as hedonistic as the Chopin. Its flavors are good though. I'd say this is more on the 12 end than the 10 end. The earthiness suggests a potato base for this vodka. I can't put this above a 12 because it's so harsh, unfortunately. I might have been off-base with that potato comment. This is less earthy than Kirkland French vodka (the red one) but also less rich and more harsh. This isn't as good by a fair margin because the harshness is substantial and the flavor isn't better.