“Quarz” Sauvignon Bianco Alto Adige Terlano DOC 2023

Cantina Terlan | South Tyrol
Kellerei Terlan | Silberleitenweg 7 | IT 39018 Terlan

01081023 · 0,75 l · 85,33 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

The name says it all – and rarely has a wine deserved its name so consistently. Quartz: a mineral that was formed in fire, has survived for millions of years and is still visible today in Terlan's soils as a fine speckle in the volcanic porphyry rock. 55 to 60 per cent quartz content, slightly acidic pH value, skeleton-rich sandy-loamy structure without carbonate – a soil that allows water to pass through, rations nutrients and puts the vine under controlled stress. This micro-stress is not a deficiency. It is intentional. It forces the plant to produce terroir-specific polyphenols, which give the wine the savoury tension for which Terlan is internationally renowned.

The 2023 vintage was characterised by contrasts. Warm, humid summer months brought increased fungal pressure – peronospora and Oidium demanded attention and experience. A hot spell in August briefly slowed down ripening. Then: abundant rainfall at the end of August, a stable late summer, beautiful autumn days. harvest from 4 September – fresh, fruit-accentuated wines with slightly lower alcohol levels were the result. A good to very good vintage that rewards precision and punishes impatience.

100% Sauvignon Blanc, 300 to 550 metres altitude, south-southwest exposure, 40 hl/ha. Hand-picked, gentle whole-cluster pressing, natural sedimentation, slow fermentation at controlled temperature. Nine months of fine ageing: half in large wooden barrels and half in stainless steel tanks – no flavour from the wood, only texture and depth of breath. Assemblage three months before bottling. Maturation potential: well over ten years.

Sparkling yellow-green in the glass. The nose seduces with exotic complexity: mango, papaya, lime, red grapefruit, plus lemongrass, lemon balm, mint, green tea – and underneath, like a mineral undertone, flint and a hint of gooseberry. On the palate, juicy fruit pressure, delicate minerality, harmonious fullness and a salty, long finish. Rudi Kofler calls this "fine texture and depth". You could also say: quartz tastes delicately of what it comes from. SUPERIORE.DE

"Cool to medium-warm; notes of nettle emerge quickly, followed by dried herbs, sweet apple and dried gooseberries. Powerful, spicy, firm, salty, with perfect oak." Weinwisser

"Pale straw yellow with sparkling reflections. Fine nose with a slight spiciness, elderflower and gooseberries. Lots of grip on the palate with racy acidity, always good fruit flavours. Pleasant palate pressure, full-bodied length." Falstaff

"An elegant Sauvignon Blanc, refreshing and mouthwatering without being overly lip-smacking. This integrates a streak of salinity with concentrated flavors of ripe pear, quince, persimmon, lime peel, fresh tarragon and white pepper. Long and fragrant on the finish." Wine Spectator

"The 2023 Alto Adige Terlano Sauvignon Quarz offers a somewhat softer and less exuberant interpretation of the grape variety compared to the Winkl, which is all about brightness and primary fruit. The Quarz shows more depth and complexity thanks to the focus on fruit that comes exclusively from steep vineyards." Wine Advocate

"The 2023 Sauvignon Quartz is remarkably vibrant and refined in this vintage, with crushed limes, young kiwis and mint complicated by a hint of flint. This wine is a paragon of purity, like drinking liquid rock, with an austere mineral core and cooling acidity driving the citrus-laced fruit. A pretty inner sweetness lingers, balanced by a sour hint of green melon, leaving a saline tang that leaves the palate wanting more. This is a captivating expression of quartz." Vinous

"If you think you know Sauvignon Blanc, this wine might flip your script. It's got that classic grapefruit and herbs thing going on, but then it goes somewhere entirely different. There's this wild smoky note that feels like early morning fog rolling over stone fruit orchards. The texture is what really gets you though - it's got weight but floats across your palate like morning mist. Not trying to be Loire or New Zealand, just confidently doing its own Alto Adige thing. Pure mountain energy in a bottle." Wine Enthusiast

"From a few selected parcels with a high quartz content, the quartz is fermented in a combination of large wooden barrels and stainless steel and spends a further nine months on the fine lees. Full, broad and ripe, but also restrained with a slight hint of thiols, it is juicy and very intense. It is juicy and super intense. The balance is there, however, and the alcohol and acidity are well contained. Very well modulated and surprisingly drinkable, it should also age very well." Decanter

"Restrained and mineral, this wine focuses on sage and gooseberry with aromas and flavours of lemon fruit. The medium-bodied palate is lively and tangy, yet balanced with sufficient weight. A polished finish." James Suckling