Cantina Terlano, Alto Adige (Italy) Pinot Grigio 2022

 Although Pinot Grigio bottlings are now ubiquitous in the market, most are much simpler wines than the best examples from the Alto Adige of northern Italy.  Cantina Terlano Pinot Grigio defines the classic style of the grape for me.  Founded in 1893, this small cooperative winery has access to some of the best vineyard sites in the Alto Adige.  The result is wines like this outstanding 2022 Pinot Grigio, a wine that displays the glorious fruit of a ripe vintage and the winemaking skill of an experienced producer.  Cantina Terlano’s Pinot Grigio stands out for concentration, purity and absolute quality.  It shows opulent scents of peach, pear and tropical fruits backed by floral, cream and spice hints.  Layers of ripe fruit flavors unfold across the palate, enhanced by the cream and spice nuances and a clean and refreshing finish.   It has a creamy texture characteristic of the best Pinot Grigios.  If you want to know why Pinot Grigio became popular in the first place, try this standard for classic Alto Adige Pinot Grigio.