The 2008 Chardonnay Formigar is rather mute in this vintage. It shows good body and richness, but the aromas and flavors never fully take shape in the glass. This doesn’t look to be one of the more exciting vintages for one of Alto Adige’s most interesting Chardonnays. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014. Alto Adige is a region full of high-quality cooperatives, but few are as consistent as Colterenzio-Schreckbichl. 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 Chardonnay Formigar reveals an intriguing balance of ripe, varietal tropical fruit intermingled with subtle toasted oak. The Formigar possesses superb balance and energy in an understated style that beautifully melds a contemporary expression of Chardonnay with an unmistakable sense of Alto Adige terroir. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2013. Colterenzio makes a wide range of wines. This year I found the whites more interesting than the reds. The estate’s entry-level wines were reviewed in Issue 184. 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 2006 Chardonnay Formigar Cornell beautifully reconciles a rich, tropical expression of varietal fruit with the hallmark qualities of this terroir. The wine possesses gorgeous harmony in a rich but beautifully balanced style, with persistent notes of minerality on the finish that give the wine its sense of proportion and freshness This is a great effort from Colterenzio. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2011. The Colterenzio line-up was among the most consistently impressive I tasted this year. The value-priced wines are reviewed in Issue 178. 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 2001 Chardonnay Cornell, buttery, peachy, and ripe, integrates the fruit and the oak in a wine of substance and length.