2003 Thermenregion trocken Daniel, Lower Austria/Niederösterreich, Austria

Black berries, dark chocolate, dark roasted oak and dried herbs on the nose. Polished style, lots of tart roasted oak, quite prominent acidity, fruit is in the background, but develops with aeration, fine sandy, slightly astringent tannins, lively on the palate, and has bite, fairly deep, creamy, smoky and roasted notes, slightly astringent on a rather oak-dominated finish. At this stage, the oak robs the wine of some of its charm, but it looks as though the fruit will prevail with time.

Best to drink: 2007-2011+. What our ratings mean