The 2012 Alto Adige Sauvignon Prail offers a great deal of floral intensity with layers of passion fruit, tangerine skin, dried sage, natural rubber and an elegant, dry finish. Fruit is sourced from 10-year-old vines in the Appiano area at 500 meters above sea level.

Prail is a crisp, fresh and beautifully aromatic Sauvignon from northern Italy that delivers layers of passion fruit, citrus, tomato leaf and chopped basil. Drink this wine before dinner or with fragrant exotic Thai dishes.——M.L.(3/1/2012)—— 88

The 2008 Sauvignon Prail is a fresh, vinous white with good varietal definition and balance. As is the case with most of these offerings, the Prail is full of unmistakable Alto Adige character. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2011. Once again, I came away from my tastings deeply impressed with the wines of Colterenzio. Pound for pound and dollar for dollar these are some of the finest wines from Northern Italy.Importers: Empire Merchants, LLC, New York, NY; tel. (800) 338-3880 ; Giuliana Imports, Boulder, CO; tel. (303) 449-5477; Grappoli Imports, Ltd, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 519-2155; Grassroots Wine Wholesalers, LLC; Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 250-9060; Haw River Wine Man, Inc., Haw River, NC; wineworm@earthlink.net; Horizon Wines, Inc.; Houston, TX; tel. (713) 413-9463; Ideal Wine and Spirit Company Inc., Medford, MA; tel. (781) 395-3300; International Wines, Inc.; Birmingham, Al; tel. (205) 945-7101; Premiere Beverage, South Florida, FL; tel. (954) 266-2227; Villa Italia Imports, South San Francisco, CA; tel. (650) 873-6060; Vintage Wines, Ltd, Wood Dale, IL; tel. (773) 254-8200

The 2007 Sauvignon Prail comes across as a conflicted wine. The aromas are those of a fresh, green style of Sauvignon, but the ripeness of the fruit suggests a search for more volume and textural richness. Ultimately it gives the impression of a wine that lacks a clear sense of direction. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2010.Colterenzio was one of the most pleasant surprises of my recent tastings, partly because I wasn’t able to sample the wines last year. As is quite common in these parts, Colterenzio is a cooperative, yet the wines are often brilliant. Simply put, this is an impressive range. The higher-end wines, which will be reviewed in Issue 179, are even more successful.Importer: Empire Merchants, LLC, New York, NY; tel. (800) 338-3880 ; Giuliana Imports, Boulder, CO; tel. (303) 449-5477; Grappoli Imports, Ltd, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 519-2155; Grassroots Wine Wholesalers, LLC; Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 250-9060; Haw River Wine Man, Inc., Haw River, NC; wineworm@earthlink.net; Horizon Wines, Inc.; Houston, TX; tel. (713) 413-9463; Ideal Wine and Spirit Company Inc., Medford, MA; tel. (781) 395-3300; International Wines, Inc.; Birmingham,Al; tel. (205) 945-7101; Premiere Beverage, South Florida, FL; tel. (954) 266-2227; Villa Italia Imports, South San Francisco, CA; tel. (650) 873-6060; Vintage Wines, Ltd, Wood Dale, IL; tel. (773) 254-8200

Here is a wonderful example of Sauvignon Blanc from Northern Italy at its most aromatic and fragrant. The wine boasts pristine notes of sage leaf, kiwi and honeydew melon. The mouthfeel is firm, tonic and compact.——M.L.(3/1/2009)—— 88