“Very long, intense and yet cool and with a lip-smacking finish.” - JancisRobinson.com, 17+ points

You may think you haven’t heard of the grape variety, Albarola, but you will undoubtedly know it by one of its catchier pseudonyms, Bianchetta Genovese or Calcatella di Sarzana or Temosci. Oh, stop me! What am I like? No, you won’t have heard of it or any of its aliases, because it’s never mentioned on a wine label, as it's one of the silent partners in Cinque Terre blends, where it supports the leading player, Vermentino.

Of course, I've always been a huge fan of Albarola (I haven’t, I'd never heard of it until now), a seriously stylish northern Italian white that dishes out refreshment with real zip and verve, but it’s also quite demure and elegantly dry and lets your palate come to terms with its flavours at its own pace instead of pieing you in the face, like a Sauvignon Blanc. There’s a strong note of lime peel, as well as mandarin, grapefruit, kumquat and wild flowers and it's a great white to bring to a dinner party, because it's unusual (kudos), stylish (more kudos) and tastes delicious (do come again). 13% alc. Drink now-2028.

Press review:

JancisRobinson.com: “Pale straw. Subdued but complex. With aeration more voluminous. White ripe fruit with a hint of rhubarb. Very long, intense and yet cool and with a lip-smacking finish. Drink now-2029.” 17+ points