Sauvignon Blanc Kofl – 2021

Sauvignon Blanc Kofl from Cantina Kurtatsch, aged in large oak barrels

The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Kofl from Cantina Kurtatsch is a single-vineyard wine from Penon, aged on the fine lees in large oak barrels. This is not a light, casual terrace wine or an oak-heavy gimmick, but a Sauvignon with drive, salinity, and a few years of patience behind it.

The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Kofl from Cantina Kurtatsch is a South Tyrolean single-vineyard wine from their terroir line, named after a mountain ridge above the hamlet of Penon. The vines grow there on sand and gravel with significant deposits of dolomite and quartz, on steep slopes between 450 and 600 meters. With 14 percent alcohol, it has stature, yet it is supported by acidity rather than weight.

Sage, kiwi, and ripe gooseberry

In the glass, it glows straw-yellow with a golden core, and the bouquet has long since left the grassy notes of young Sauvignon behind.

Sage and ripe gooseberry appear first, followed by kiwi and exotic fruit. Overlaid on everything is an herbal spice, brought about by its years in the bottle. Nothing remains of the shrill youth of a freshly bottled Sauvignon here. On the palate, it is dense and calm, as the acidity sits deep and provides support rather than sharpness.

The finish retains that salty note that extends the wine, and it lingers significantly longer than one would expect from a white wine.

Pairs with char and aged mountain cheese

A pan-seared Arctic char with brown butter has met its match here, as the wine brings enough body to stand up to the fat.

Aged mountain cheese, veal sweetbreads, and a lemon risotto are equally suitable pairings. It also loses none of its definition alongside asparagus with hollandaise sauce. Serve it at 12 to 14 degrees Celsius, ideally in a larger glass, as it needs air and a little time.

For an example of how the same grape variety sounds without the single-vineyard pedigree, try the Sauvignon Blanc from the steel tank, while its red counterpart is the Pinot Noir.

Twelve months in large oak barrels

After fermentation in stainless steel, the Kofl is moved to large oak barrels for twelve months, where it remains on the fine lees. These twelve months are not an end in themselves, but the precise measure that this vineyard requires.

A large barrel works differently than a barrique. It imparts almost no wood aroma and primarily allows the wine to breathe. What emerges is not a vanilla note, but texture; the wine gains breadth without losing its origin.

The fine lees provide the creamy layer beneath the fruit that distinguishes this vintage from a simple Sauvignon. Cellar master Erwin Carli determined the bottling time.

A vintage ready to enjoy now

With 92 points from James Suckling and silver at the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon, this vintage has long since passed its tests, and it has continued to evolve in the bottle since then.

Today, it stands at the point where fruit and maturity are in perfect balance, and it will remain there for another two to three years. Those who tuck a second bottle into the cellar won't be making a mistake. More from the south of South Tyrol can be found in the Cantina Kurtatsch assortment. This is what a mountain ridge tastes like.

Origin, values, and awards

• Origin: Wine from Italy
• Region: South Tyrol - Alto Adige DOC
• Grape variety: Sauvignon Blanc
• 14% vol. alcohol
• 6.1 g/l acidity
• 1.9 g/l residual sugar
• Awards 2021: 93 points Vinous, 92 points James Suckling, 90 points Falstaff, Silver at the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon