2018 Billigheim Venusbuckel Spätburgunder trocken, Pfalz, Germany

Smoky and a hint of tobacco nose of ripe red and black berries with dried mushroomy tones, some earth and soot. Powerful in the mouth, ripe, tart and juicy, already a trace of developed fruit and nutty, also slightly toasty and cocoa-spicy wood, coffee grounds in the background, crumbly-sandy tannin, good persistence, noticeable, warming alcohol, a little dark caramel, good to very good, albeit somewhat woody and very slightly drying finish.

Best to drink: Bis 2026+. What our ratings mean