Sella & Mosca has the merit of saving once and for all the incredibly complex Torbato grape in the island of Sardinia. Many other Sardinian wine producers have abandoned this high-maintenance grape variety, and the french counterpart, Malvasia de Rousillon, disappeared around 10 years ago. Sella & Mosca is in fact the only producer of Torbato commercially available in the world. Torbato is a very challenging grape to grow which was introduced several centuries ago from Spain. In fact, stems are fragile and bend easily as grape bunches increase in weight. Torbato grapes are also rich in fiber, therefore yields in terms of juice are fairly low.

What impressed me the most about this wine is the impressive complexity of its character. This 2007 Terre Bianche has a nice light golden color and is very viscous in the glass because of the grape's high content in fiber. On the nose this Torbato shows a very deep bouquet of pear, honey, vanilla, lemon and yellow flowers. On the palate the wine is fresh, mineral, rich and extremely elegant. The finish is long and complex. The 2007 Terre Bianche Torbato Alghero DOC is aged one and a half months in 2 and 3 year-old oak barrels. Being a white wine lover, I have to say that this is the most complete and interesting wine I have tasted in a long time and possibly one of my all time favorite wines. Retail price is $20. This is definetely a wine to try.

Production Area: Sardinia, ITALY

Evolution: Ready