2018 Assmannshausen Frankenthal Spätburgunder VDP.Erste Lage trocken, Rheingau, Germany

Firm and quite deep, tart, nutty, a little tobacco and dried-vegetable aroma of ripe red and black berries with peppery spice, a hint of smoke and mineral hints. Ripe, again firm, tangy, youthful fruit, smoky wood spice and peppery aromas, a little dried herbal, fine sandy tannin, persistent on the palate, hints of smokiness, salty and chalky mineral notes, some depth, bitter chocolate nuances and coffee, also dried herbs, very good, tangy, firm, spicy finish with a hint of aubergine.

Best to drink: 2023-2028+. What our ratings mean