Fischer’s sumptuous “Privat” blends the very best fruit from his various sites, picked at Smaragd-level ripeness and aged a full year in used 500-liter barrels. Even in a wine such as this, which offers borderline lavish fruits and mouth-filling richness, the freshness of these southern-Danube sites shines through, and Joe’s inherent understanding of balance fosters a wine of elegance and detail which blossoms with bottle age.