Kellerei St. Michael, Eppan - Appius 2015

JAMES SUCKLING: " Fantastically complex aromas of subtle cooked apples, minerals, toasted oak, croissant, and pralines with hints of nougat. Full-bodied with serious density of fruit, yet it remains vivid and energetic. A blend of mostly chardonnay with pinot grigio, pinot bianco and sauvignon. A white for the cellar. Super depth and power. Great to taste now, but much better in two or three years. Try after 2023."

FALSTAFF: "Leuchtendes Strohgelb mit leichten Grünnuancen. Vielschichtige und sehr intensive Nase, zum Reinliegen, zunächst nach Feuerstein, dann viel Mango, etwas Marille, im Hintergrund nach Bergamotte. Breitet sich am Gaumen satt aus, reife, tropische Frucht, hat satten Druck."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The Appius is akin to its own brand. This beautiful assembly of mostly Chardonnay (55%) with Pinot Grigio (20%), Pinot Bianco (15%) and Sauvignon Blanc (10%) is smooth, silky, smoky and sensual. The San Michele Appiano 2015 Alto Adige Appius could be described by more words that start with the letter "s," such as sybaritic, sumptuous and singular. I tasted bottle number 2,607 in this limited release of 6,500 bottles. The wine imparts a brilliant, golden color with bright rays of sunshine that shine from the inside. There was a point of flinty reduction at the beginning, but it blew off quickly. The wine was aged in oak for 11 months, and once blending was completed, it went into oxygen-free steel vats to rest and integrate for three years. Once the wine gets going, it shows peach, Golden Delicious apple, toasted almond and spicy saffron. This is a mid to full-bodied white with the creaminess and inner structure to pair with buttered New England lobster when the right occasion presents itself."