Profile

Structure

Bodymedium
Tanninlow
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Finishlong
Oaknone or neutral

Drinking window

Best 3 to 12 years from vintage.

vintage3 yrs12 yrs14 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating above is our own.

In the glass

Medium-bodiedLow tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: grapefruit, elderflower, passion fruit, fresh herbs

Palate: citrus, creamy lees, saline minerality, long mineral finish

Cantina Kaltern's Quintessenz-line Sauvignon Blanc from Lake Caldaro vineyards. The selection-tier expression with lees-driven texture and elegant alpine fruit; the cooperative's white-wine flagship alongside the Kalterersee Classico Superiore.

What it pairs with

  • Pan-seared trout with herbs The wine's herbal-citrus register echoes the trout; saline minerality cuts the butter.More wines for trout →
  • Asparagus risotto Sauvignon Blanc is asparagus's classical pairing; lees-driven texture matches the risotto.More wines for risotto →
  • Goat cheese tart Citrus and elderflower flatter goat cheese; the wine's body suits pastry.More wines for lamb →

With cheese

Vinschger Schnittkäse Our pick Vinschger is intense and complex, with light fruit, grass and hay and a long, strong finish. A Sauvignon raised on its lees, partly or wholly in wood, has the breadth to meet it, and its high acidity cuts the melting paste.

History

Cantina Kaltern launched the Quintessenz Sauvignon Blanc as part of the cellar's Quintessenz selection line in the mid-2010s, sourcing from cooperative members' best Sauvignon parcels around Lake Caldaro.

  1. 2014Quintessenz Sauvignon Blanc launched

Facts

Producer
Cantina Kaltern · visiting guide
Grapes
Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Classification
DOC Alto Adige Sauvignon
Oak
Eight to ten months on the lees, partly in stainless steel and partly in large oak barrels
ABV
13.5%
Price
EUR 20 to 30 at retail
Drinking window
3 to 12 from vintage
First vintage
2014

Frequently asked about Quintessenz Sauvignon Blanc

What does Quintessenz Sauvignon taste like?

Grapefruit, elderflower, passion fruit and fresh herbs on the nose; citrus, creamy lees, saline minerality and a long mineral finish on the palate. Medium-bodied, dry, with high acidity.

When should I drink Quintessenz Sauvignon?

Drink between 3 and 12 years from vintage. Young vintages show vibrant herbal-citrus; cellared bottles develop honey and saline complexity.

What food pairs with Quintessenz Sauvignon?

Pan-seared trout, asparagus risotto, or goat cheese tart. The wine's structure and minerality suit vegetable-forward and white-fish dishes.

Tags

dry high acid medium body medium term mood elegant mood refreshing occasion dinner party occasion summer old world pairs with shellfish pairs with soft cheese pairs with vegetable forward pairs with white fish price trade up sauvignon blanc still white

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