Tim Atkin | Dense, muscular color. Oaky, almost Barossa Valley-like nose, with lots of vanilla and coconut sweetness. High alcohol, ripe (for Blaufränkisch) flavors, which are saved from ponderousness by a backbone of (limestone-derived?) acidity. Lots of flavor, lots of oak, but a little over the top. | 14

Alex Hunt | Very Pinotesque in its aromatic mixture of precise, almost tart berry fruit and sweetly spicy oak. Supple and fluid in the mouth, with almost imperceptible tannin. All very pleasant, but the finish lets it down, being rather sweet and caramelly. Had it ended tauter, the generosity up front would have been neatly resolved. | 15

Stephan Reinhardt | Dark ruby. Very oaky on the nose, which announces a ripe, rich, sweet, and powerful wine for an international market. I don’t get much Blaufränkisch character here. Silky and elegant in texture, with a powerful finish, evident alcohol, and a chocolaty, sweet aftertaste. Overdone. | 14.5