Villa Giada. Chardonnay 'Mane'

Piemonte DOC
Grapes: Chardonnay, Cortese

2020
Creamy passion fruit and mango aromas, the oak and Chardonnay fruit are beautifully balanced, Andrea does this style so well: it has a lovely floral lift and, while the texture is veering to richness, the sensation is refreshing and pure, a touch of salt, defined peach and lemon – I never feel that this wine needs any ageing.  12.5%

2022
Lovely ripe tropical fruit, hints of pineapple cubes and apricot. A bright, freshness that really lifts this wine, a delightful lick of salt and fresh mint on the finish.

Link to the Villa Giada Producer Page

Mané is the name given to the small hill just below the cellar where Andrea's grandfather planted a hectare of Chardonnay. The hill looks a little odd since there are only vines planted on the part owned by the Faccio family, the white clays reflects sunlight through the wild grasses.
The grapes are picked by hand, usually in the first week of September. The Chardonnay is pressed and fermented using wild* yeasts starting in temperature-controlled steel tanks, with half the wine being racked off to complete fermentation and aging in tonneaux* for 10 months.
The harvest started early, on 22nd August, the heat and lack of rain meant the grapes were tiny, which meant a small but healthy crop that has turned out to be excellent.