Quarz 2019 150cl

With fruit from high mountain vineyards, this is a brilliant wine, and I mean that both literally and figuratively. Luminous and bright, the 2019 Alto Adige Terlano Sauvignon Quarz sparkles and shines with passion fruit, jasmine, tropical tones, wild sage and curry leaf. There's even a touch of freshly milled white pepper. This is Italian Sauvignon Blanc in all its glory, and, as always, Cantina Terlano shows a deft winemaking hand to guide the grape's natural aromas but also to render a most elegant interpretation. 2019 was an interesting growing season there, with cold, heavy rains in March, a very sunny and warmer May followed by a relatively cool June, and then a hotter summer, but it all turned out great for this vintage of 60,000 bottles.

Tons of wet-stone minerality and wild-herb character, plus black and white currants, make this a very complex sauvignon blanc. Somehow, it manages to be simultaneously highly structured and lively in an uncomplicated way. Very long, totally focused and fresh finish. Drink or hold.

A tightly-knit, vibrant white, with racy acidity enmeshed with the flavors of crunchy white peach, fresh tarragon, grapefruit sorbet, graphite and chamomile that emerge and expand on the palate. Lacy, minerally finish. Best after 2022. 5,752 cases made