94 points,"A dense and beautiful Sauvignon with lime, kiwi and lemon character… Excellent energy and brightness at the end… Best ever?"- James Suckling This is an unexpectedly wonderful Sauvignon Blanc in a rare magnum format. To create Cicinis, Attems recruited the help of a New Zealand consultant called Danny Schuster - an expert in cool climate winemaking who has worked with all the big names, such as Moueix, Leflaive, Antinori, Frescobaldi, Mondavi, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars and many more. It comes from a single vineyard on a hill in Collio Goriziano, which is hand harvested in two passes; once early in the season to give the wine freshness, zing and aromatics, and once later adding density, richness and fruit flavour. So much love has gone into the production of Cicinis, from the fermentation in a mixture of egg-shaped cement vats and oak barrels to the extended ageing on the lees, and the result is probably the most fabulous Sauvignon Blanc that very few have ever heard of or will get the opportunity to taste. Expect a perfect balance of sweet and sour, combined with the tang of passionfruit, a classic note of sage, grass, citrus, nectarine, pineapple, tomato leaf, herb-infused oil and a spice reminiscent of the finest white Bordeaux. This is one of Attems'flagship wines and it loves fatty meats like sausages and ribs, rich and creamy risottos and soups, the freshness of Vietnamese cuisine, and salads flecked with tropical fruits. Alternatively, open this double bottle with close friends and fellow wine lovers. This little-known estate may not be a household name, but it very much needs to be on your radar. The moniker Attems can be found entwined in Friuli's winemaking history back to at least 1106, and maybe even further. If that wasn't enough of a cast-iron guarantee of quality, the estate was bought by the Frescobaldi family in 2000. That's the same family that supplied wine to Michelangelo and Henry VIII, then later dazzled the world with the likes of Ornellaia, Masseto, Luce della Vite, CastelGiocondo and many more. You'll discover Attems in the intriguing region of Friuli Venezia Giulia - a real melting pot of influence from the Alps and the sea, not to mention neighbouring Venice, Austria and the Balkans. This highly underrated wine producing area creates crisp, aromatic and extremely fashionable wines.£4.9 per 100.00ml