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89POINTS
16¼/20
Contratto For England Blanc de Noir Pas Dosé 2008
Oltrepò Pavese, Lombardy, ItalyContratto was founded in 1867 by Giuseppe Contratto, and is known as the oldest producer of sparkling wine in Italy, with their 1919 Contratto Extra Brut the first vintage sparkling wine ever made in the country. This wine, For England, was named in 1930, when Contratto began producing a low-dosage wine for the English market. At that time, the trend for Champagne and sparkling wines were very sweet (doux), though England's posh Royal Court had developed a drier palate for wine. This traditional method fizz is entirely pinot noir, sourced from calcareous-marl soils at 600m in Oltrepo Pavese, and aged a minimum of 30 months on lees before being disgorged with no dosage. Quite alive for 12 years old, with telling oxidation overridden by brioche, Rainier cherry, marzipan, and anise on a very plumped palate, all held tight by that zero dosage. The finish shimmers with a telling limestone buzz. Such an idiosyncratic wine, and quite interesting to unravel (and drink).Tasted: 09 May 2020Tasted by: Treve RingPrices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml | private wine shops |
Grape: Pinot NoirUPC: 8002007002089
