“Quarz” Sauvignon Bianco Alto Adige Terlano DOC 2024

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

01081024 · 0,75 l · 88,00 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately
Limitation of 12 articles per customer

Beneath the village of Terlan, on the slopes of the Adige Valley, lies a geological mystery: a subvolcanic rock formation whose composition and character differ from anything else known in the world of wine. The porphyry forms the foundation – volcanic, millions of years old, interspersed with fine quartz inclusions. The soils that result are sandy-loamy, slightly acidic, free of lime and low in nutrients. Highly permeable, they naturally limit yields. A soil that puts the vines under stress – and thereby forces them to reach deeper, to become more concentrated and more mineral. Since 1893, 143 members of the Cantina Terlan have been cultivating these slopes. What they produce here is unique in the world of wine: white wines that stand the test of decades, whose longevity is reminiscent of the Grands Crus of the Côte d’Or. Cellar master Rudi Kofler named the ‘Quarz’ after the rock to which he owes everything. ‘As delicate as the fine quartz inclusions in Terlan porphyry – that is our Sauvignon.” Delicate texture. Depth. A salty finish.

The 2024 vintage began with the wettest spring since 1965. Cool, damp conditions persisted into early summer, leading to delayed flowering and fruit drop – —particularly of the Sauvignon Blanc—resulted in a loss of between 15 and 40 per cent of the harvest. What remained was more concentrated than usual. The grapes, which Rudi Kofler and his team selected by hand in September, embodied the essence of a challenging year – and the quality that such years can produce. Gentle whole-bunch pressing, clarification through natural sedimentation, slow fermentation at a controlled temperature. Nine months sur lie – — half in large wooden casks, the other half in steel. Blending took place three months before bottling. A yield of 40 hectolitres per hectare – – a yield that explains the concentration.

A bright straw-yellow colour in the glass. The bouquet is a world of its own: mango, papaya, lime, red grapefruit, lemongrass, lemon balm, mint, a hint of green tea – and beneath it all, cool and unyielding, the minerality of flint and a faint whisper of gooseberry. On the palate, a fascinating interplay: juicy, exotic fruit and a delicate, sharp minerality that keep each other in check. Full, harmonious opulence, underpinned by a racy acidity and a finish of impressive length and salinity. It has well over ten years’ Storage potential, but anyone who drinks it today will already understand why this wine is world-famous. SUPERIORE.DE

"An exceptional pedigree, displaying amazing energy and tension. Kiwi, passionfruit and fresh herbs sink into the silky oak structure, with sprinklings of lemon and lime over the vibrant acidity. Smoky, savoury notes persist at the end." Decanter