Inky dark, opaque and richly concentrated, the Elena Walch 2019 Alto Adige Lagrein Riserva Vigna Castel Ringberg offers a classic interpretation of this popular red grape that is enjoyed by those who live in the Italian Dolomites, especially in snowy winter months. This is a brooding red wine that is packed with blackberry and plum. The tannins are soft in this 9,000-bottle production, and the wine is thickly layered and textured.

The Elena Walch 2017 Alto Adige Lagrein Riserva Vigna Castel Ringberg offers an equal dose of dark plummy fruit and oak spice, and both sides of the wine come together to create intensity on the bouquet. The aromas are rich and deep with ripe blackberry fruit, leather, tobacco and fragrant potting soil. The Lagrein grape tends to produce raw and vinous black-fruit aromas, but this wine offers additional oak spice to even out the final results. Some 9,000 bottles were released.

The 2015 Alto Adige Lagrein Riserva Castel Ringberg opens to an inky dark color with super thick concentration. The bouquet presents dark fruit, pressed blackberry and cherry liqueur. Despite the enormous fruit density and richness, the alcohol feels contained and moderate at 13.5%. This is a full-throttle red wine with soft tannins but enormous textural richness. There is some sour cherry on the close. Drink this wine while the primary fruit is still fresh and intact (within the next 5 to 8 years). This Riserva sees 20 months of aging in French barrique. Some 9,000 bottles were made.

Here's a fine Lagrein from the far north of Italy. The 2012 Alto Adige Lagrein Riserva Castel Ringberg is seamless and smooth. It does not show those rustic and somewhat wild aromas you sometimes get with this grape. There is a touch of bitter astringency on the close but generally speaking, the expert winemaking team has ironed out any rough edges. Twenty months in French barrique has contributed to the wine's bold richness.

Chocolate, spice and Maraschino cherry emerge from the 2011 Alto Adige Lagrein Riserva Castel Ringberg. This is a thick and creamy red wine with luscious lines and soft, chewy extraction. Lagrein offers soft tannins and that theme of plushness is repeated here thanks to the spicy oak notes that define the finish. A velvety texture is this wine's strongest card. The wine is aged in French barrique for 20 months.