Contratto’s Alta Langa Cuvée Millesimato Pas Dosé 2013 offers an elegant take on sparkling wine from one of Piemonte’s most exciting appellations. This blanc de blancs is crafted using the traditional method, with secondary fermentation in the bottle, and the “pas dosé” note indicates zero or very minimal dosage, keeping the wine exceptionally dry. While the precise grape variety is not explicitly stated, blanc de blancs in this region are most often made from Chardonnay, possibly with a touch of Pinot Noir or other white grapes, yielding a vibrant, mineral-driven profile. The 2013 vintage suggests a wine with several years of bottle age, likely contributing refined complexity, delicate autolytic notes – think brioche, toasted almonds, and subtle citrus – and a beautifully integrated texture.
Alta Langa is a relatively recent but already prestigious DOCG in the Piemontese hills, devoted exclusively to traditional method sparkling wines. The region sits at higher elevations, often above 250 metres, which encourages bright acidity and a long growing season, ideal for producing sparkling wines of tension and finesse. The soils are generally calcareous marl, contributing a certain minerality to the wines. Though Piemonte is most famous for its robust reds, Alta Langa is rapidly making a name for itself with profoundly elegant sparkling cuvées, thanks to its cool climate and meticulous winemaking traditions.
For food pairings, this style of sparkling wine is incredibly versatile. Its dryness and lively acidity make it a perfect match for seafood – think oysters, prawns, or a delicate carpaccio di pesce. Traditional Piemontese antipasti such as vitello tonnato or insalata russa provide a regional complement. It can also cut through richer fare like creamy risotto or mature cheeses. The freshness and minimal dosage mean the wine can serve both as a refined aperitif or a partner to a full meal.
Serve well-chilled, ideally between 6-8°C, to appreciate its precision and subtlety. Using a white wine glass rather than a flute will allow the wine’s aromatics and complexity to fully emerge. This is a sparkling wine to savour slowly, appreciating both its regional character and the depth lent by a decade of ageing.
