Cisteller 'Verbena' Manzoni Bianco 2022

Manzoni Bianco as a variety is a crossing of Riesling and Pinot Bianco. It was created in Veneto (north-east Italy) in the 1930s and was deemed suitable to the growing conditions there. I never expected to see it pop up in the hot and dry region of Penedes! My reference point here, by way of comparison, is Foradori's Manzoni Bianco from the Dolomites: a wine you may have had from Five Ways over the years. And while I'm no expert in this grape variety, there is certainly significant overlap with this wine (somewhat surprisingly). This is all lemon pith and lemon balm. It's got a cut of acid to it which I assume comes from its Riesling heritage. Wherever it?s from, it works, brining freshness and a brace of freshness across the palate, which also expands flavours laterally. Like many of the wines on this page, oak plays no part in this, bringing youthful vitality to the fore. - Ches Cook, FWC.