It may be a surprise to many but “Italy’s best white wine producer” (Antonio Galloni, Vinous), Cantina Terlano, is a co-operative. Founded in 1893, they are among the oldest wineries in high-altitude Alto Adige and are most well known for producing age-worthy Pino Bianco. How age-worthy? A good example would be their 1955 Pinot Bianco Vorberg, which received a perfect 100 points from Antonio Galloni when he tasted it in 2013!

While we might not have the 1955 Vorberg available today, we do have a parcel of their stunning 2019s, which includes not just their celebrated Pinot Bianco but also includes a very impressive Pinot Noir, all of which offer superb value.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Riserva Monticol is produced from fruit sourced from vineyards up to 600 metres above sea level. Cool downslope winds provides a cooling effect even in the middle of summer, allowing extra hang-time for the grapes to develop additional complexity and depth. As a Riserva, it is aged for 12 months in wood barrels but the oak influence is kept at a minimum only leaving a “delicate spice” (JS). Awarded 94 points by Suckling, the 2019 Monticol offers a “beautiful fragrance” on the nose and a palate that shows “wonderful integration” between the “generous body and fine tannins”.

The 2019 Nova Domus is a blend of 60% Pinot Bianco, 30% Chardonnay and 10% Sauvignon Blanc. Awarded 96 points by Suckling, it reminds him of the wines of Zind-Humbrecht. “Concentrated and powerful with an off-dry palate”, it offers “loads of tropical fruit, honey and cream character” complemented with hints of vanilla.

Given the precedent set by the 1955 vintage, clients will surely be eyeing the 2019 Vorberg Pinot Bianco Riserva, which was awarded 95 points by Suckling. A “very deep and concentrated dry pinot blanc that’s only just beginning to give its best”, the 2019 Vorberg shows superb balance of “creamy richness with delicately toasty and caramelized-pear character” and concludes with an “extremely long and silky finish”.

The highest-scoring wine of the range, the Terlano I Grande Cuvée is a blend of 70% Pinot Bianco, 28% Chardonnay and 2% Sauvignon Blanc sourced from the estate’s best plots. Whole clusters were used during pressing and the wine was matured for 12 months on lees, resulting in a wine that “marries a stack of fine tannins with wet-stone minerality on the the tightly wound palate”. Suckling finds “breathtaking energy at the very long finish”, awarding a brilliant 97 points to the 2019 Terlano I Grande Cuvée, of which just 3,190 bottles were produced.

All available at the global lowest price, these are truly affordable gems that are too good to miss!