The ripening starts 10 to 12 days before the Pinot Noir begins to ripen. The grapes are medium to large, tightly packed with deeply coloured thick skinned berries. Flowering and ripening are early, yields medium high. The early ripening means it needs only a medium quality site. Our Saint Laurent is planted in top riesling site in a 30 deg.
Lighter soils are advantageous for it.
Some wind is helpful to prevent rot. The tightly packed bunches are susceptible to botrytis. It ripens just after the Portugieser, but at least 10 days before the Pinot Noir. The Wines Deeply coloured with a fine bouquet, a good Saint Laurent has a characteristic ripe cherry aroma, and can be equally fine as a Pinot Noir. It is particularly suited to barrique maturation, and its dark colour is very welcome in our latitudes.