Great varietal definition on the nose with grapefruit and herbal undertones. Rosemary and thyme along with a ripe citrus character. Lovely juicy cool green fruit flavours balanced by a strident minerality. Hard to find a better example of Sauvignon; well worth the money. A metaphysical wine with a lingering finish.
A beautifully crafted sauvignon blanc that marries the fruity, herbal, vegetal and mineral aspects of this grape to create a seamless and complex masterpiece. So pure, so elegant and refined, yet also invigorating, thanks to its Alpine freshness. Very long, crystalline finish. Drink or hold.
Again, I am so excited by this beautiful wine. The Cantina Terlano 2020 Alto Adige Terlano Sauvignon Quarz (with 58,000 bottles made) is always one of those bottles I bring to the table when I am lucky enough to have it in the day's tasting lineup. This vintage is especially fragrant and citrusy with passion fruit, unripe nectarine, crushed quartz (which gives inspiration to the wine's name) and hints of floral bergamot.
A vibrant white that deftly integrates chiseled acidity and salty minerality with notes of ripe green apple, chive blossoms, nectarine, star fruit and pickled ginger. This is like an Hermès scarf, with the focused flavors painting a detailed pattern on a silky, featherweight palate. Drink now through 2027. 5,000 cases made, 250 cases imported.
From top to bottom, the Terlano portfolio continues to be one of the brightest shining stars within Alto Adige. The Tradition line is priced remarkably well for the value it represents, seeking to provide a pure expression of variety and terroir. Readers can get a very good feel for the region and house style of these crisp, transparent yet wholly satisfying wines. As you work your way up to the Sauvignon Blanc Quarz and Winkl, you’ll find a deep and prestigious expression of the varietal from the first and a younger yet richer and easier drinking one from the latter. The Pinot Bianco Riserva Vorberg seems to be fighting to compete with the best whites of Burgundy. If I had to point out any weak point in the portfolio, it would be the two Lagreins, yet this is splitting hairs as these deep expressions simply don’t communicate their price point to me; that said, I’d never turn down a glass. The real highlight of their portfolio is their Terlaner blends. At the entry level, the Terlaner Cuvée, is a serious wine that over-delivers. The Terlaner range blends Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc to varying degrees, starting with the Terlaner Riserva Nova Domus, a showstopper, and then moving up to the Terlaner Grande Cuvée Primo, which can compete with some of the top white wines around the world. How do they age, you might ask? Just take a look at the late release and limited Rarity portfolio (2008 Terlaner and 2009 Terlaner Riserva Nova Domus current vintages). These wines were vinified and refined for one year in large oak before being placed into a steel tank (2,500 liters) and allowed to mature on the lees for ten years or more. In fact, drinking their top wines young is a total disservice to what winemaker Rudi Kofler and his team have created at this bastion of tradition. If there was one stop to make while visiting the region that could give you a real sense of the Alto Adige experience, Terlano is it.
Winery Notes
This Sauvignon is enticingly exotic in the glass, with multilayered fruit of mango, papaya, lime and red grapefruit, and herbal aromas reminiscent of lemon grass, lemon balm, mint and green tea. It also reveals mineral notes of flint combined with a hint of gooseberry.
On the palate, the wine offers a fascinating interplay of juicy fruit aromas and delicate minerality creating a harmonious opulence with a long and impressive finish.
