Cantina Terlano Lagrein Gries Riserva Alto Adige 2020

Description

Cantina Terlano is well known in Italian wine drinking circles for producing Italy’s longest lived white wines. Many memorable wines from the 1950s and 1960s, which rank amongst the greatest white wines of the world, were made here. Located in the heart of the Terlan wine-growing region and founded in 1893, it is one of the oldest Alto Adige cooperatives. At that time, 24 growers set themselves the goal of joint production and sales marketing. Recognition and prosperity blossomed from there. Today Terlano has approximately 100 members, it farms 150 hectares and has an annual production of roughly 1.2 million bottles. Under the expert eye of winemaker Rudi Kofler, the wines are sold and marketed according to three different quality categories. Furthermore, special older vintages have been stored in the valuable 'vinotheque', so that today roughly 12,000 bottles from 1955 to the present day are stored and some date back to even earlier days. This wine collection of older vintages is absolutely unique in Italy and proves that Terlano’s wines are able to age harmoniously for decades.

The unique microclimate at the foot of Mount Tschöggel determines the potential age-worthiness and the characteristics of the wines. The soils are very rich in schists and porphyry, a rocky nature that allows for heat accumulation and excellent water drainage. Manual harvest and selection of the grapes; destemming followed by slow must fermentation at a controlled temperature and gentle agitation of the must in stainless steel tanks; malolactic fermentation and aging for 12 months partly in big wooden barrels (70%) and partly in barriques using one third new barrels (30%); blending three months before bottling.

Deep ruby to garnet red colour with a delicate shimmer of violet. The aroma reveals earthy, minerally notes masterfully underpinned with fruit components, with morello cherry and plum jam dominating. These peaty, spicy and yet velvety fruit notes also intrigue the palate, where this Lagrein Riserva presents itself with multilayered opulence and great complexity.