Winemaker Notes
Terlan Quarz Sauvignon Blanc is a brilliant straw yellow color. 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 andgreen 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 delicateminerality creating a harmonious opulence with a long and impressive finish.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
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.
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James Suckling
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.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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. Best after 2022.
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Vinous
The word 'spicy' doesn't do the 2020 Sauvignon Blanc Quarz justice, as this goes much deeper than that. Exotic curries, ginger, smoke and tomato leaf can all be found; yet beneath it all, there's a vivid note of honeydew melon. This is silky- smooth and pliant upon entry, yet it slowly saturates the palate in primary concentration, as pepper-tinged nectarine and lemon extracts resonate throughout. There's so much youthful tension, power and staining depths within, and also a balancing flourish of sweet inner florals that lasts incredibly long. The 2020 Quarz is going to require cellaring to show its best, but it will absolutely be worth waiting for. This is world-class Sauvignon. Rating: 93+
Located in the Dolomite Mountains in the foothills of the Alps, Terlano's distinctive location and extraordinary terroir are key to the development of their stunning, world-renowned wines. Situated in a sheltered hollow, Terlano benefits from an ideal south-facing exposure. Vineyard slopes ranging from 250m-900m ASL provide perfect conditions for the cultivation of grapes, especially Lagrein, a variety that is indigenous to the Alto Adige region. In the vineyard, red porphyry rocks with high mineral content retain the day's warmth, while the porous soil creates an environment with just enough moisture for the roots to extend deeper into this mineral-rich soil. In combination with cool evening temperatures, these factors create wines of incredible depth and potential for aging.
Founded in 1893, Cantina Terlano has grown into one of the leading wine growers' cooperatives in the Alto Adige region of northeastern Italy. With a current membership of 143 growers farming a total area of 165 hectares, Terlano ensures the highest standards of quality by compensating growers for the quality of their grapes not the quantity. The emphasis in the vineyard is on reducing yield in favor of producing more concentrated fruit.
Terlano produces 70 percent white wines and 30 percent red wines, all of them of DOC quality designation. Following a winery renovation in 2009, the cellars now include a total of 18,000m of storage space, which ensures that the wines can develop undisturbed. On the outside, the building has a natural exterior of red porphyry, the stone that gives the wines in the area their typical character. The roof of the winery is planted with vines so that the building blends in completely with the surrounding countryside.
Terlano wines are classified in four distinct quality lines: Tradition, Selection, Rarity and Primo. Terlano wines are famous for their incredible depth and complexity and their stellar reputation continues to make these wines highly sought after both at home and internationally.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
Wine by Region › Italy › Trentino-Alto Adige › Alto Adige
Taking full advantage of direct sunlight exposure on its steep slopes, many of Alto Adige’s best vineyards are planted at extreme altitude... read more