Cascina Lieto, Sensazione Italy White 2022

Cascina Lieto Bianco Lieto is crafted by Japanese vintners Rie and Hiroto Sasaki in Castiglione Tinella, Piedmont. Made from 100% Moscato Bianco grapes sourced from 56-year-old 'Brosia' vineyard vines, this wine represents the terroir of the hills between Langhe and Asti regions. The winemaking follows natural methods with spontaneous fermentation in fiberglass and plastic vessels without temperature control, followed by aging in fiberglass barrels. The wine undergoes minimum two years of bottle aging before release.

Moscato and Cortese are picked a day apart, 19th and 20th September respectively. Grapes are de-stemmed and crushed, but kept separate. Moscato ferments in fibreglass, whilst Cortese is in 500L open-top plastic tubs. In 2020 the Moscato spent 3 weeks on the skins, Cortese both with regular punch downs during fermentation. After a first racking both varieties feed into fibreglass where they are rested for a whole year before blending and bottling. Once bottled, the wines spends a further 12 months ageing sur latte before being released.

Sensazione is the winery's second white wine and it translates as sensation in Italian. Cortese is

co-planted alongisde 56yo Moscato vines from the vineyard surrounding the estate. This wine is an homage to

Agostino Marmo, the previous owner of their vineyard. The nose veers towards hints of citrus, flowers and herbs. On the palate it is mineral, with good freshness and crunchy bitters.