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In Focus: South Tyrol

18 April, 2022

of Marcus Hofschuster in Tasting

We no longer know how long we have been tasting the wines of South Tyrol year after year. And as it happens in such long relationships, it doesn't get easier with time to discover something new, to tell a story that hasn't already been told several times over.

And yet it seems to us that the range of South Tyrolean wines has become more and more diverse and thus more exciting in recent years. This is not only due to the growing number of small, committed winegrowers who are increasingly successful in finding their niche alongside the large cooperatives and long-established private wineries, but perhaps more than one would expect at first glance.

For the increasing competition also seems to be having an effect on many of the established wineries. On the one hand, they have discovered the trend towards exclusive prestige bottlings with which they want to set new brands in terms of quality and price (which they often succeed in doing, but not always convincingly). At the same time, however, the basic and mid-range wines of the big houses also seem to be gaining in individuality and expressiveness. It helps that many estates have declared war on the consequences of climate change and are putting a lot of effort into bringing fresh, precise and, if possible, less alcoholic wines to the bottle.

The efforts seem to be paying off. Thus, we have the impression that after years in which the South Tyrolean tastings became more and more exhausting due to the increasing alcohol heaviness of many wines, our enjoyment of the samples has clearly increased again.

This applies, as already mentioned, by no means only to the top wines, but there too. We were able to award almost 70 of the 370 wines tasted with scores of 90 or more. An impressive number considering the fact that we by no means only taste the prestige lines of the region. In doing so, we have by no means adapted our rating system to the general tendency towards score inflation. We are as realistic as ever. It is already the wines that are becoming more and more convincing.

As always, all wines were tasted blind and often several times in our tasting room in Erlangen. We present the best results here. Links to all wines can be found at the end of each list.

In Focus: South Tyrol Sauvignon Blanc

Kellerei Terlan — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Terlan Sauvignon Blanc "Quarz" 94 WP excellent Up to 40.00 €

Tiefenbrunner Schlosskellerei Turmhof — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Sauvignon Riserva "Rachtl" 93 WP excellent 50.00 €

Weingut Manincor — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Terlan Sauvignon "Lieben Aich" 92 WP excellent 49.00 €

Kellerei Andrian — 2020 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Sauvignon Blanc "Andrius" 92 WP excellent

Kellerei Schreckbichl - Cantina Colterenzio — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Sauvignon "Lafóa®" 91 WP excellent 24.50 €

Christian Plattner - Waldgries — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Sauvignon Riserva "Sàcalis®" 23.50 €

Weingut Thomas Pichler — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Sauvignon "Puiten" 89 WP very good 15.00 €

Weingut Manincor — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Terlan Sauvignon "Tannenberg" 90 WP excellent 24.40 €

Tenuta Kornell — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Sauvignon Blanc "Oberberg" 27.00 €

Kellerei St. Pauls — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Sauvignon Blanc "Schliff" 90 WP excellent 22.00 €

Kellerei Meran — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Sauvignon Blanc Riserva "Mervin" 90 WP excellent 21.00 €

Tenuta Kornell — 2013 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Sauvignon Blanc Oberberg

Kellerei Nals-Margreid — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Sauvignon "Mantele" 89 WP very good 21.50 €

Weingut Eichenstein — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Sauvignon Blanc "Stein" 89 WP very good 22.00 €

Weingut Pfitscher — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Sauvignon Blanc Riserva "Mathias" 31.40 €

Weingut Schloss Englar — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Sauvignon Blanc "Fumé" 89 WP very good 20.00 €

Cantina Kaltern — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Sauvignon "Quintessenz" 89 WP very good 23.00 €

Kellerei Terlan — 2020 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Terlan Sauvignon Blanc "Winkl®" 89 WP very good Up to 20.00 €

All wines

In Focus: South Tyrol Chardonnay

Weingut Alois Lageder — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Chardonnay "Löwengang" 44.50 €

Tiefenbrunner Schlosskellerei Turmhof — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Chardonnay Riserva "Vigna AU" 92 WP excellent 60.00 €

Weingut Alois Lageder — 2013 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Löwengang Up to 50.00 €

Elena Walch / Castel Ringberg & Kastelaz — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Chardonnay Riserva "Vigna Castel Ringberg" 91 WP excellent 38.00 €

Weingut Schloss Englar — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Chardonnay Riserva "Belasy" 90 WP excellent 27.00 €

Cantina Tramin — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Chardonnay Riserva "Troy" 90 WP excellent 75.00 €

Kellerei Meran — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Chardonnay Riserva "Goldegg" 89 WP very good 21.00 €

Kellerei Nals-Margreid — 2012 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Chardonnay Baron Salvadori 89 WP very good 21.95 €

Kellerei Kurtatsch — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Chardonnay Riserva "Freienfeld" 89 WP very good 34.00 €

Kellerei Nals-Margreid — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Chardonnay Riserva "Baron Salvadori" 89 WP very good 30.50 €

Weinkellerei Castelfeder — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Chardonnay Riserva "Burgum Novum" 89 WP very good 28.00 €

Weingut Eichenstein — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Chardonnay Riserva "Seppelaia" 89 WP very good 34.00 €

Kellerei Andrian — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Chardonnay Riserva "Doran" 89 WP very good

All wines

In Focus: South Tyrol Pinot Blanc / Pinot Bianco

Kellerei Meran — 2015 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Weißburgunder Riserva "V Years" 92 WP excellent 50.00 €

Kellerei Meran — 2015 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Weißburgunder Riserva "V Years" 91 WP excellent 50.00 €

Elena Walch / Castel Ringberg & Kastelaz — 2020 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Pinot Bianco "Kristallberg" 89 WP very good 20.00 €

Kellerei Terlan — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Terlan Pinot Bianco Riserva "Vorberg®" 89 WP very good

Kellerei Nals-Margreid — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Pinot Bianco "Sirmian" 89 WP very good 20.00 €

Christian Plattner - Waldgries — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Pinot Bianco Riserva "Itos" 18.60 €

Kellerei St. Pauls — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Weißburgunder "Kalkberg" 89 WP very good 22.00 €

All wines

In FocusSouth Tyrol Pinot Gris / Pinot Grigio

Kellerei Nals-Margreid — 2020 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Pinot Grigio "Punggl" 89 WP very good 17.00 €

Elena Walch / Castel Ringberg & Kastelaz — 2020 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Pinot Grigio "Vigna Castel Ringberg" 89 WP very good 20.00 €

All wines

In FocusSouth Tyrol Gewürztraminer

Weingut J. Hofstätter — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Gewürztraminer "Kolbenhof"

Cantina Tramin — 2020 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Gewürztraminer "Nussbaumer" 90 WP excellent 24.80 €

Weingut Baron Di Pauli — 2015 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Riserva "Exilissi" 89 WP very good 30.00 €

Kellerei Bozen — 2020 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Gewürztraminer "Kleinstein" 89 WP very good 17.50 €

Kloster Neustift — 2020 Eisacktal / Val d'Isarco DOC Gewürztraminer "Praepositus" 18.30 €

Weingut Pfitscher — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Gewürztraminer Riserva "Rutter" 27.70 €

Kellerei Andrian — 2020 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Gewürztraminer 89 WP very good 12.50 €

All wines

In FocusSouth Tyrol Other white grape varieties

Tiefenbrunner Schlosskellerei Turmhof — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC "Feldmarschall von Fenner" 91 WP excellent 33.00 €

Weingut Garlider — 2018 Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT Sylvaner "Hautnah" 90 WP excellent 40.00 €

Kellerei Nals-Margreid — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC passito "Baronesse" 90 WP excellent

Weingut Garlider — 2018 Mitterberg IGT Grüner Veltliner "Hautnah" 89 WP very good 40.00 €

Weingut Schloss Englar — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Riesling 89 WP very good 18.00 €

Weingut Strasserhof — 2020 Eisacktal / Val d'Isarco DOC Kerner 13.20 €

Weingut Strasserhof — 2020 Eisacktal / Val d'Isarco DOC Sylvaner 12.80 €

All wines

In FocusSouth Tyrol White Cuvées

Kellerei Terlan — 2008 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Terlan "Rarity" 95 WP great Up to 110.00 €

Kellerei Nals-Margreid — 2016 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC "Nama" 93 WP excellent 115.00 €

Weingut Manincor — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Terlan "Sophie" 92 WP excellent 30.40 €

Kellerei Terlan — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Terlan Riserva Cuvée "Nova Domus" 91 WP excellent

Elena Walch / Castel Ringberg & Kastelaz — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Bianco "Beyond the Clouds" 91 WP excellent 51.00 €

Cantina Tramin — 2020 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC "Stoan" Weiß 91 WP excellent 23.50 €

Tenuta Kornell — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC "Aichberg" 27.00 €

Kellerei Schreckbichl - Cantina Colterenzio — 2017 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Riserva "LR" 90 WP excellent 84.00 €

Weingut Alois Lageder — 2018 Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT "Casón Hirschprunn" Bianco 35.60 €

Weingut Kiemberger — 2016 "Viribus Unitis" WEISS 60.00 €

Hof Gandberg - Thomas Niedermayr — 2018 Cuvée "Sonnrain" Bianco

Peter Sölva — 2018 Cuvée "Amistar" Bianco 24.00 €

Reyter - Christoph Unterhofer — "Pierrot" 89 WP very good 17.00 €

Kellerei Terlan — 2020 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Terlan Cuvée "Terlaner" 89 WP very good

Ignaz Niedrist — 2018 Mitterberg IGT "Trias"

Kellerei Terlan — 2020 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Terlan Cuvée "Terlaner" 89 WP very good Up to 18.00 €

Baron Longo — 2019 Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT "Liebenstein" 89 WP very good 32.00 €

All wines

In FocusSouth Tyrol Lagrein

Kellerei Terlan — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Lagrein Riserva "Porphyr" 92 WP excellent Up to 45.00 €

Kellerei Andrian — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Lagrein Riserva "Tor di Lupo" 92 WP excellent 32.60 €

Elena Walch / Castel Ringberg & Kastelaz — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Lagrein Riserva "Vigna Castel Ringberg" 91 WP excellent 35.00 €

Muri-Gries - Weingut / Klosterkellerei — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Lagrein Riserva "Abtei Muri" 90 WP excellent 27.50 €

Kellerei St. Pauls — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Lagrein Riserva "Lagröll" 90 WP excellent 25.00 €

Kellerei Nals-Margreid — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Gries Lagrein Riserva 90 WP excellent 26.00 €

Kloster Neustift — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Lagrein Riserva "Praepositus" 24.80 €

Weingut H. Lentsch — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Lagrein "Morus" 90 WP excellent 21.90 €

Kellerei Meran — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Lagrein Riserva "Segen" 89 WP very good 26.00 €

Weingut Thomas Pichler — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Lagrein Riserva "Sond" 89 WP very good Up to 28.00 €

Weingut Pfitscher — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Lagrein Riserva "Griesfeld" 27.70 €

Weingut Bergmannhof — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Lagrein Riserva "Karl" 89 WP very good 22.00 €

Christian Plattner - Waldgries — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Lagrein "Mirell" 33.50 €

Weingut Alois Lageder — 2020 Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT "LA SAI XX" 25.00 €

All wines

In FocusSouth Tyrol Pinot Noir / Pinot Nero

Weingut Manincor — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC "Mason di Mason" 91 WP excellent 59.00 €

Weingut Pfitscher — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Pinot Nero Riserva "Matán" 31.90 €

Tiefenbrunner Schlosskellerei Turmhof — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Pinot Noir Riserva "Linticlarus" 90 WP excellent 31.00 €

Weinkellerei Castelfeder — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Pinot Nero Riserva "Burgum Novum" 89 WP very good 35.00 €

Weingut Garlider — 2019 Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT Blauburgunder 89 WP very good 25.00 €

Stroblhof — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Blauburgunder Riserva 34.70 €

Kellerei Nals-Margreid — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Pinot Noir Riserva "Jura" 89 WP very good 21.00 €

Weingut Schloss Englar — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Pinot Noir Riserva 89 WP very good 34.00 €

Kloster Neustift — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Pinot Nero Riserva "Praepositus" 26.90 €

Kellerei St. Pauls — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Pinot Nero Riserva "Lehmont" 89 WP very good 28.00 €

Kellerei Andrian — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Pinot Noir Riserva "Anrar" 89 WP very good 37.00 €

All wines

In FocusSouth Tyrol Cabernet Sauvignon

Weingut Alois Lageder — 2016 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Cabernet Sauvignon "COR Römigberg" 51.90 €

Kellerei Kurtatsch — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Cabernet Sauvignon Riserva "Freienfeld" 90 WP excellent 48.00 €

Cantina Kaltern — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Cabernet Sauvignon Riserva "Quintessenz" 89 WP very good 33.00 €

Weingut Castel Sallegg - Georg Graf Kuenburg — 2017 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Cabernet Sauvignon Riserva 24.50 €

All wines

In FocusSouth Tyrol Merlot

Kellerei Kurtatsch — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Merlot Riserva "Brenntal" 90 WP excellent 38.00 €

Weingut Castel Sallegg - Georg Graf Kuenburg — 2017 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Merlot Riserva 21.50 €

Tenuta Kornell — 2017 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Merlot Riserva "Vigna Kressfeld" 65.00 €

Kellerei Andrian — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Merlot Riserva "Gant" 90 WP excellent 32.60 €

Kellerei Schreckbichl - Cantina Colterenzio — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Merlot Riserva "Siebeneich" 89 WP very good 17.20 €

All wines

In Focus: South Tyrol Vernatsch, Vernatsch Cuvées, Kalterersee and St. Magdalener

Weingut Hartmann Donà — 2009 Mitterberg IGT Donà Rouge

Christian Plattner - Waldgries — 2020 St. Magdalener / Santa Maddalena DOC Classico "Antheos" 16.00 €

Weingut Thomas Pichler — 2019 Mitterberg IGT "Bsunders" 88 WP very good Up to 21.00 €

Reyter - Christoph Unterhofer — 2018 Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT Vernatsch "Schiava" 88 WP very good 17.00 €

Weingut Alois Lageder — Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT "Natsch⁴" 25.00 €

Messnerhof — 2020 St. Magdalener / Santa Maddalena DOC Classico 12.00 €

Messnerhof — 2018 Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT "Mos Maiorum" 16.50 €

Weinkellerei & Weingüter Josef Brigl — 2020 St. Magdalener / Santa Maddalena DOC "Vigna Rielerhof" 87 WP very good 11.00 €

Weingut Thomas Pichler — 2020 Kalterersee/Lago di Caldaro DOC Classico Superiore "Olte Reben" 87 WP very good 10.00 €

Cantina Kaltern — 2020 Kalterersee/Lago di Caldaro DOC Classico Superiore "Quintessenz" 87 WP very good 13.00 €

All wines

In Focus: South Tyrol Red Cuvées

Weingut Manincor — 2019 Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT "Castel Campan" 92 WP excellent 59.00 €

Peter Sölva — 2017 "Amistar Edizione (X017)" 58.00 €

Hof Gandberg - Thomas Niedermayr — 2018 Cuvée "Gandfels" Rosso Up to 35.00 €

Tiefenbrunner Schlosskellerei Turmhof — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Riserva Cuvée, "Linticlarus" 90 WP excellent 31.00 €

Kellerei Nals-Margreid — 2017 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Merlot-Cabernet Riserva "Anticus" 89 WP very good 38.00 €

Weingut Manincor — 2019 Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT "Cassiano" 90 WP excellent 28.40 €

Weingut Hartmann Donà — 2009 Mitterberg IGT Donà Rouge

Weinkellerei & Weingüter R. Malojer - Gummerhof — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Riserva "Cuvée Bautzanum" Rot 89 WP very good 17.90 €

Kellerei Kurtatsch — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC "Soma" 89 WP very good 23.00 €

Weingut Pfitscher — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Riserva "Cortazo" 31.90 €

Schloss Plars - Andreas Theiner — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Merlot-Lagrein "Lassier" 89 WP very good 49.00 €

Weingut H. Lentsch — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Cabernet-Merlot "Palestina" 89 WP very good 21.90 €

All wines

In Focus: South Tyrol Noble sweet

Kellerei Andrian — 2019 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Gewürztraminer passito "Juvelo" 94 WP excellent Up to 35.00 €

Cantina Kaltern — 2017 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Moscato Giallo passito "Quintessenz" 93 WP excellent 35.00 €

Cantina Tramin — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Gewürztraminer vendemmia tardiva "Terminum" 93 WP excellent 43.00 €

Kellerei Bozen — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Goldmuskateller passito "Vinalia" 92 WP excellent 36.00 €

Kellerei Nals-Margreid — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC passito "Baronesse" 92 WP excellent 33.00 €

Kloster Neustift — 2019 Eisacktal / Val d'Isarco DOC Kerner passito "Praepositus" 27.10 €

Kellerei Meran — 2017 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Goldmuskateller passito "Sissi" 91 WP excellent 34.50 €

Christian Plattner - Waldgries — 2020 Mitterberg IGT Rosenmuskateller 23.50 €

Kellerei St. Pauls — 2019 Mitterberg IGT Petit Manseng "Aurie" 90 WP excellent 19.90 €

Weingut Kiemberger — 2018 Mitterberg IGT Gewürztraminer "MARIE" 24.00 €

All wines

In FocusSouth Tyrol Spumante

Sektkellerei ARUNDA — 2015 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Riserva Extra Brut (Deg.:09/21) 91 WP excellent 25.00 €

Cantina Kaltern — 2016 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Brut Nature 90 WP excellent 22.00 €

Sektkellerei ARUNDA — Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Brut Nature "Zero" (Deg.:09/21) 90 WP excellent 25.00 €

Kettmeir — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Brut "Athesis" 89 WP very good 23.50 €

Kettmeir — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Brut "Athesis" Rosé 89 WP very good 25.00 €

Sektkellerei ARUNDA — Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Extra Brut (Deg.:06/21) 89 WP very good 22.00 €

Sektkellerei ARUNDA — Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Extra Brut Cuvée "Marianna" (Deg.:08/21) 89 WP very good 25.00 €

Sektkellerei ARUNDA — Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Extra Brut "Perpetuum" (Deg.:06/21) 89 WP very good 28.00 €

Lorenz Martini — 2017 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Riserva Pas Dosé "Comitissa" (Deg.:2021) 26.00 €

All wines

	100 WP unique Wines that can only be made differently, but not better.
	95-99 WP great World-class wines whose depth, complexity, character and expressiveness give an unforgettable, sensual experience.
	90-94 WP excellent First class wines that are among the best of their kind. They are characterized by purity, harmony, depth and character.
	85-89 WP very good Remarkable wines with personality, expression, as well as a certain complexity and depth. They deserve every wine lover's attention.
	80-84 WP good Clean, harmonious, at best typical wines.
	75-79 WP passable
	70-74 WP schwach
	60-69 WP insufficient
	50-59 WP unacceptable

Welcome back!

The story continues

In Focus: South Tyrol

In Focus: South Tyrol Sauvignon Blanc

In Focus: South Tyrol Chardonnay

In Focus: South Tyrol Pinot Blanc / Pinot Bianco

In FocusSouth Tyrol Pinot Gris / Pinot Grigio

In FocusSouth Tyrol Gewürztraminer

In FocusSouth Tyrol Other white grape varieties

In FocusSouth Tyrol White Cuvées

In FocusSouth Tyrol Lagrein

In FocusSouth Tyrol Pinot Noir / Pinot Nero

In FocusSouth Tyrol Cabernet Sauvignon

In FocusSouth Tyrol Merlot

In Focus: South Tyrol Vernatsch, Vernatsch Cuvées, Kalterersee and St. Magdalener

In Focus: South Tyrol Red Cuvées

In Focus: South Tyrol Noble sweet

In FocusSouth Tyrol Spumante

Related Magazine Articles

EVENTS NEAR YOU

100 WP unique

95-99 WP great

90-94 WP excellent

85-89 WP very good

80-84 WP good

75-79 WP passable

70-74 WP schwach

60-69 WP insufficient

50-59 WP unacceptable