Der Pfannenstiel · St. Magdalener Classico DOC 2017

  The “Der Pfannenstiel St. Magdalener” from the Pfannenstielhof farm is an impressive testament to the power of South Tyrolean origins: it consists of 95% Vernatsch and 5% Lagrein, comes from old vines on moraine and quartz porphyry scree soils near Bolzano, and has been deliberately aged for an unusually long time—fourteen months in stainless steel tanks plus at least six months in bottles, making a total of around five years of aging before release. This extraordinary aging process gives the wine a particularly confident character—a bold step away from the lightweight image of Vernatsch toward an elegant, long-lasting red wine with profile.

In the glass, the wine is a deep ruby with garnet red reflections, a visual promise of its concentrated style. The nose reveals dense aromas of ripe heart cherries, blackberries, and a subtle hint of laurel and cocoa—noble spice without wood dominance, as explicitly intended by the producer to let the Vernatsch variety speak for itself “without ifs and buts.” On the palate, “Der Pfannenstiel” impresses with its velvety structure, clear fruit, and elegant tannins—the minerality of the soil is noticeable, and the length is impressive. A wine that claims a place in South Tyrol's little Burgundy and is recommended with hearty dishes or on its own as a meditative pleasure. - Gerardo [TS10/18]