If Friuli is famous in the wine world, part of the credit must go to the fresh and sometimes pleasantly aromatic whites produced there. As in the case of this Sauvignon, Friuli Colli Orientali DOC, proposed by Casali Maniago, a fine winery with ancient noble origins. The grapes come from the hilly areas of the Sottomonte Estate, in the municipality of Buttrio. We are in the province of Udine, where a magical mix of soils, climate and perfect exposures allow the grapes to reach full ripeness, leaving it up to the winery's technicians to preserve their magnificent aromatic bouquet. Superbly vinified in steel at a controlled temperature, before meeting the bottle this Sauvignon matures for several months in steel tanks, in contact with its own noble lees. This reveals a wine characterised by a beautiful bright straw yellow colour. On the nose, it is impossible not to pick up the fragrance of typical aromas, ranging from citrus to pepper to tomato leaf. Savoury and fine on the palate, it is a pleasantly mineral and persistent white. Good right from the start, it reaches the apex of aromatic expression of the vine already in the first year after bottling. It keeps well, then, for four or five years, provided, of course, that it is well stored in a suitable, cool and dark environment. A perfect wine to accompany light appetisers, it is fabulous with tasty risottos. Excellent, in general, with fish.