Conteisa Langhe Nebbiolo DOC 0.75L

Nebbiolo from Gaja — that means Piedmont in its most concentrated form. The Conteisa comes from the single vineyard of the same name in La Morra and Serralunga d'Alba, two municipalities whose soils could hardly be more different: lime-rich Tortonian sand on one side, harder Helvetian limestone on the other. Angelo Gaja, who made the family winery the international reference address of Piedmont, deliberately classifies this wine as Langhe Nebbiolo DOC — a decision he made in the 1990s to maintain cuvée freedoms without skimping on quality.

In the glass, deep ruby red with a garnet-colored edge appears. The nose opens with sour cherry, dried rose, and a hint of tar — typical Nebbiolo handwriting. Added to this are spicy notes of licorice and tobacco, which give the wine its characteristic seriousness. On the palate, present but shaped: the tannins are firm and fine-grained, the acidity clear and supporting, the finish long with a mineral aftertaste.

Serve it at 17–18 °C, preferably decanted an hour beforehand. It pairs with braised beef shoulder, game ragù on pappardelle, or a mature Parmigiano Reggiano — dishes that provide the necessary substance to counter the wine.