Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol GOLD
White 96 Cantina Terlano, Quarz Sauvignon Blanc, Alto Adige Terlano 2020 (13.5%)
£55.25-£60 Astrum Wine Cellars, Farm-Fetch, Field & Fawcett, Four Walls, Highbury Vintners, Hedonism, Sociovino, Vallebona, WoodWinters Great varietal definition with grapefruit aromas and herbal undertones. Rosemary and thyme and a ripe citrus character. Juicy, cool green fruit flavours balanced by a strident minerality.
95 Abbazia di Novacella, Praepositus Kerner, Alto Adige Valle Isarco 2020 (14%)
POA $ Michael Skurnik
Peach, floral and apricot nose, herbaceous notes of cut grass and blackcurrant leaves. Really crisp, clean and punchy peach, passion fruit and cantaloupe flavours, refreshing acidity and superb length.
95 Cantina Terlano, Lunare Gewürztraminer, Alto Adige 2020
(15%)
The words ‘polished’ and ‘enticing’ come to mind: Gewürz for Gewürz devotees. Fresh and floral-toned nose, creamy and restrained in the mouth, nutty nuances and sweet perfumed hints. Ample but poised.
95 Cantina Terlano, Rarity Pinot Bianco, Alto Adige Terlano 2009 (14%)
£158.50-£180 Astrum Wine Cellars, Connaught Cellars, Field & Fawcett, Handford, Hedonism, Planet of the Grapes, Sociovino, Symposium Wines Restrained but intense yellow fruit, pineapple, citrus and chalky nose. Plush and poised, with precise fruit and lime flavours. Has an irreproachable line, length and balance.
95 Cantina Terlano, Vorberg Riserva Pinot Bianco, Alto Adige Terlano 2019 (14%)
£35.75-£41.95 Astrum Wine Cellars, Field & Fawcett, Harper Wells, Hedonism, Sociovino, South Downs Cellars, The Solent Cellar, Vin Cognito Subtle oak, ripe Williams pear, pineapple, spring floral and chalky bouquet. Impressive intensity of juicy fruit flavours, underscored by crisp acidity and a long, mineral-inflected finish. Remarkable.
95 Cantina Toblino, Largiller, Vigneti delle Dolomiti 2015 (13%)
£34.50 Hedonism
Vivacious nose with abundant nutty and fresh appley/citrussy notes. Well-considered oak extends texturally and zesty acidity keeps it light on its feet. An understated wine of real pedigree with a powerful finish.
95 Cantina Valle Isarco, Sabiona Sylvaner, Alto Adige Valle Isarco 2019 (14%)
£34 Astrum Wine Cellars
Vanilla, nectarine, herbal and spicy nose. Concentrated with a silky texture along with some reverberating notes of vanilla and spice. Bright, with a long, nuanced finish. Complexity and interest. Bravo.
95 Elena Walch, Beyond the Clouds, Alto Adige 2020 (14%)
£60 Armit
Yellow orchard fruit, melon, papaya and pineapple nose. A luscious mouthfeel of ripe melon and red apple, balanced by lively acidity, creamy oak. A poised finish. Pitch-perfect now but lots of life ahead.
95 K Martini & Sohn, Alte Reben Weissburgunder, Alto Adige 2019 (14%)
POA £ Independent Wine
Toasty nose, with almond and marzipan notes. The palate is mellow, dry and silky with great complexity of candied lemon and apricot, peach pulp and a long, savoury, almost salty finish; well-integrated acidity, plenty of vigour.
95 K Martini & Sohn, Maturum Riserva Chardonnay, Alto Adige 2019 (13.5%)
£26 Independent Wine
Racy, vivid, nutty, stone fruit, green pepper and floral nose, and a palate that’s full and rich, with plenty of substance, well-judged oak, poised acidity and deft texture. Exceptional now but will also hold. This definitely has the X-factor.
95 Nals Margreid, Sirmian Pinot Bianco, Alto Adige 2019 (14.5%)
£26 WoodWinters
Lemon, mango, honeysuckle bouquet. The palate is vibrant, weighty, complex, savoury and
mineral with high, almost electric, well-integrated acidity, making for a really drinkable style. Chock-full of minerality, concentrated, long and juicy.
95 Peter Zemmer,
Giatl Riserva Pinot Grigio, Alto Adige 2019
(14.5%) POA £ Independent Wine
Broad with rich, developed fruit aromas and evident oak; light citrus lift. Ripe and round, silky texture and full of rich and juicy ripe pear, smoked vanilla, nutty and patisserie flavours. Ready now or keep.
95 Tiefenbrunner, Feldmarschall von Fenner, Alto Adige 2020 (13.5%)
£47.80 Jascots
An immaculately tailored wine, with a savoury, chewy, nutty, stone fruit and apple nose. It's full, just dry and rich, showing vibrant acidity, floral-toned green fruit flavours and juicy acidity. Poised, very fine.
GOLD Red 96 Kellerei Bozen, Prestige Riserva Grieser Lagrein, Alto Adige 2019 (13.5%)
Resplendent cedar, chocolate and dark plum aromas. The palate is full and juicy, with a good core of sweet, ripe fruit, balanced tannins, hints of clove and a long, generous, spicy finish. Spot-on and very classy.
96 Peter Zemmer, Vigna Kofl Riserva Pinot Noir, Alto Adige 2019 (13.5%)
POA £ Independent Wine
Lots of ripe red cherry and redcurrant, with a certain bloodiness and some forest floor characters. Good intensity, cherry and savoury notes backed by judicious oak spice. Lifted, superb length: wow!
95 Cantina Terlano, Porphyr Riserva Lagrein, Alto Adige 2019 (14%)
Saturated nose; creamy, dark, dense and compelling. Full, very dry with lots of oak, rich bitter chocolate notes, grippy tannins and an enticing fruit core. Taut and impressive, complex, but joyous drinkability.
95 Castelfeder, Burgum Novum Riserva Pinot Nero, Alto Adige 2018 (14%)
Intriguing nose with lots of red cherry and redcurrant, some savoury oak, forest floor notes and a bloody touch. Ripe, sweet red fruit, remarkable intensity, and warming peppery notes.
95 Elena Walch, Cuvée Kermesse 2018 (14%)
Intense cassis fruit, tobacco, clove spice and tomato leaf aromas. Punchy, concentrated with masses of black fruits and notes of graphite and savoury oak spice. Excellent fruit-filled length. Magnificent.
GOLD
Sweet white 96 Cantina Toblino, Vino Santo Puro, Trentino 2000 (14%)
Sophisticated fare: stunning lavender, butterscotch, honey, woodsmoke, tobacco and spice aromas. Multi-layered palate, finely knit texture with notes of hazelnut, toffee and honey; rich, complex finish. A stellar wine.
96 Cantina Tramin, Terminum Vendemmia Tardiva Gewürztraminer, Alto Adige 2020 (10%)
£38/37.5cl Hallgarten Wines
Pronounced citrus and floral aromatics, leading to a palate that is incredibly elegant with notes of stone fruit, great concentration and incredible density and definition. Lively, racy finish. Stunning.
96 Kellerei Bozen, Vinalia, Alto Adige 2019 (10.5%)
Moscato Giallo’s supremely fragrant bouquet features a platform of stone fruits tightly laced with lemon, salt and light smokiness, which is followed by a perfumed, juicy, elegant, waxy palate of lively acidity, with protracted length and balance. Such drinkability – quite superb.
‘Franciacorta is becoming more mineral and precise, the style of fruit crunchier and more vibrant’ --------------------------- Federico Moccia, Central & Northern Italy judge