2022 Kuenhof Eisacktaler Riesling DOC, Alto Adige

Intense, brilliant silvery straw yellow. On the nose there's fine floral notes of meadow herbs and white flowers, alongside elegant citrus and stone fruit. The palate is vibrant and salty, with great momentum and a beautiful raciness on show without losing its floral component. The fine residual sweetness works very well here and helps create something pure and long, and still very young.

93 points falstaff.com

Kuenhof Eisacktaler Riesling DOC is one of the great hidden treasures of Alto Adige and a benchmark for cool-climate Riesling in Italy. Crafted by Peter Pliger, who has quietly earned a cult following for his precise, mineral-driven whites, this wine hails from steep terraced vineyards in the Valle Isarco above Bressanone. At altitudes ranging from 550 to 700 metres, the Riesling vines dig into quartz-rich slate soils, producing fruit with striking clarity, tension and aromatic lift.

The grapes are farmed organically and harvested by hand, often quite late in the season to maximise ripeness while retaining piercing acidity. Fermentation occurs with natural yeasts in stainless steel and large acacia barrels, and the wine is aged on lees to enhance texture and depth without sacrificing precision.

On the nose it offers lime zest, white peach, chamomile, wet slate and alpine herbs. The palate is dry and vibrant, with lemon oil, green apple, crushed rock and mouthwatering acidity that carries through to a taut, mineral-charged finish. There’s a sense of quiet power and purity here that places it firmly among the best dry Rieslings in the region.

Food pairing: ideal with grilled trout, fennel and citrus salad, scallop carpaccio, sushi or soft goat cheese. Also brilliant with Thai green curry or herbed roast chicken.

Cellar potential: while expressive in youth, this wine will age effortlessly for 10 to 15 years, developing petrol notes, honeyed depth and flinty complexity.