With the vintage in Roman numerals—MMXVIII—the Elena Walch 2018 Cuvée Kermesse is a blend of Petit Verdot, Syrah, Lagrein, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Production is 6,000 bottles. The wine reveals hints of tertiary evolution, with tobacco, smoky tar and toasted spice with dark fruit and plum. This full-bodied red offers an elegant approach with special care maintaining the balance and freshness that we can expect of a cool-climate red.

This is an IGT blend of equal parts (20% each) Petit Verdot, Syrah, Lagrein, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2015 Cuvée Kermesse has its vintage in Roman numerals, MMXV, on the front label. This fascinating mix of international and indigenous grapes offers large scale, but ultimately very balanced intensity. The bouquet releases dark berry aromas with spice, grilled herb and campfire ash. This is a big wine with broad shoulders and firm structure at the back. You taste some of those sour cherry characteristics that I associate with Lagrein. All varieties used in the blend are harvested on the same day and fermented as a blend. The wine ages in barrique for 18 months. Production is limited to 6,000 bottles.

The 2013 Cuvée Kermesse is equal parts Petit Verdot, Syrah, Lagrein, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. All the grapes used in the blend are harvested on the same day and vinified as one. The only exception is the Cabernet Sauvignon that ripens a bit later than the rest. The wine is aged in French barrique for 18 months. This is an impeccably crafted red that shows seamless and rather surprising balance. It's impossible to make out any of the single grapes used here. The bouquet is fragrant and dark with black fruit, tar, spice and tobacco. The finish shows some bracing acidity in this slightly cooler vintage. Give it a year or two of extra bottle aging.

The 2012 Cuvée Kermesse (MMXII) is a massive blend of equal parts Petit Verdot, Syrah, Lagrein, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is the proverbial "big boy" and is almost too much of a good thing. The heavy bouquet lazily emits pulses of church incense, sweet rose potpourri, chocolate, cinnamon snap and cherry liqueur. The wine's texture is extra thick and concentrated (it is aged in oak for 18 months). The wine should evolve slowly over the next ten years.