Elena Walch, Vigna Castel Ringberg Sauvignon, Alto Adige

World class Sauvignon Blanc made by Eleana Walch in northern Italy, from Ringberg, one of their best vineyards. Medium yellow. Vividly aromatic flowers and lemon/lime citrus. Very lively and crisp texture, plus a mouth coating lemon oil. Superbly long and delicious aftertaste.

A fine example of classy white wines from the Germanic part of northern Italy. Translucent yellow. Inviting floral and citrus aromas. In the mouth, this single vineyard Sauvignon Blanc is refreshingly acidic but with a rounded rather than saber sharp edge, that gives the body more fullness. Vigorously swishing the wine around the mouth leaves an enjoyable mouth coating rather than only a scrubbed clean feeling. Overall, a commendable notch above most Sauvignon Blancs in concentration and richness, well worth …

Nice pale yellow. Nose is rich in fruit like peach, apricot, ananas and passion fruit. In the mouth is very creamy and sweet, but has also a nice acidity and a refreshing finish. Not the best Sauvignon for price/quality ratio.

Fair Hill Inn Wine Dinner (Fair Hill Inn, Fair Hill MD.) : Very grassy nose. Not a lot going on on the palate, though on the plus side there is an absence of the grapefruit so often dominating SB. Decent acid, just OK as a cocktail white, completely overwhelmed by the mushroom soup it was opened to accompany.

Perfumed, rich and rather succulent, although I am at about half mast. Powerful for the alto adige. Works it out at $40 or so.

Light yellow color; reduction, tart apple, lime, oil, smoke nose; tart green apple, mineral, lightly oily textured palate; medium-plus finish (13.5% alcohol)

Crisp excellent SB with grasy tones