2015 Cantina Terlan, Terlaner Classico, Alto Adige, Italy.
The Terlano (Terlan) Classico is a white blend cuvee of 60% Pinot Blanc, 30% Chardonnay and 10% Sauvignon Blanc coming from the highest elevation sites above the town of Terlano, near Bolzano, in the Alto Adige, which is high in the Dolomites (the southern limestone Alps) in Italy’s far north near the border with Austria, an area that is known as Sud Tirol. The Terlan Classico 2015 is grown on porphyry rocky and mineral soils and shines with cool climate acidity and a long lived structure, a warm vintage helps bring a ripe lushness to this bright and dynamic white. This traditional wine has everything you’d want and a bit more with exceptional class and layered textures showing bright citrus and stone fruits and flinty mineral spice with a medium body giving wonderful feel. The palate is full of energy showing lemon/lime, summer melon, green apple, wet river rocks, hints of clove, chalky/salt and a faint trace of honeyed tones in a steely crisp frame, this pale golden white offers lots of stylish detail, focus and flair, impressive and alluring from start to finish with lingering white flowers, white peach and touch of tangy grapefruit. It is always amazing how expressive the Sauvignon is, even in such a minor role it gives aromatics and heighten’s the whole experience. This white is delightful now, but it certainly can age a decade or more, maybe gaining a few more points along the way!
($32 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive
