Tenuta La Ponca Sauvignon 2022 (750ml) *

In Italy's northeast, tucked into the hills of Collio Goriziano in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sauvignon takes on a rounder, more textural cast than its racier counterparts elsewhere. This 2022 from Tenuta La Ponca is a white built along those lines, aromatic and generous but framed by the cool-climate acidity the region is known for.

The nose leans toward the confectionary, sweet spice and white flowers over candied citrus and crushed apple. On the palate it is soft and round, with a saline edge up front and crisp orchard fruit that settles gently. What keeps it lively is the finish, long and lingering, with a lemony concentration that tightens the cheeks and gives the whole thing a real sense of tension.