Pfaffl : St. Laurent Reserve ALTEN 2018

19-year-old vines on loamy loess soils near a forest, giving cooler night temperatures. Fermented in tank and aged 18 months in new and used barriques. TA 5.3 g/l, RS 3.4 g/l. Deep cherry red. Rich in blackberry and blueberry fruits as well as sweet oak spice. Very oaky on the palate, for now at least, with the effect of thickening the (smooth) tannins and giving lots of sweet oak flavour and a very slight sweet-sour quality on the finish. I find the oak overpowers the fruit here but perhaps the oak will recede? The aroma was less obviously marked by the oak than the palate. (JH)