Paolo Conterno 'A Val' Langhe Arneis 2024

This vibrant white wine originates from Piedmont, Italy, within the Langhe DOC. Paolo Conterno is a highly revered, historic estate established in 1886 in Monforte d’Alba, famously located in the "Ginestra" cru. While the estate has built its multi-generational reputation on powerful, long-lived Barolos, this bottling—named "A Val"—highlights their prowess with Piedmont's signature white grape. The fruit is sourced from 30-year-old vines in the nearby Roero area, where the calcareous, sandy soils provide the perfect playground for producing an aromatic, structurally sound Arneis.

Wine Description

The Paolo Conterno "A Val" Langhe Arneis 2024 is celebrated for its "crunchy" energy, precision, and layered stone-fruit complexity.

• Appearance: Brilliant platinum or straw-yellow with subtle greenish reflections.

• Nose: Expressive and fragrant, it leads with primary notes of green apple, white peach, and lime zest. Beneath the fruit, it reveals delicate floral undertones of chamomile, jasmine, and wild violet, rounded out by a hint of crushed limestone and mediterranean herbs.

• Palate: Medium-bodied, balanced, and remarkably driven. The texture is dense yet exceptionally fresh, carrying flavors of crisp orchard fruit and lemon pith. It has a bone-dry finish (vinified with a very low residual sugar of about 2.2 g/L) highlighted by a salty, stony minerality and a touch of bitter almond.

• Technical Details: 100% Arneis. The grapes undergo a soft pressing followed by a natural cold static decantation for 24 hours without the use of enzymes or clarifiers. It is fermented at a controlled temperature of 18°C for 10–15 days and aged for 5 to 6 months entirely in stainless steel tanks to preserve its vertical, crisp personality. The alcohol content is roughly 13% to 13.5% ABV.

Food Pairing

This wine's distinct saline finish and zesty acidity make it an exceptional partner for seafood. It pairs magnificently with clams, raw oysters, and seafood risotto, as well as fish smoked with aromatic herbs. It is equally delicious alongside light antipasti, vegetable tarts, or roasted white meats like capon and lemon-thyme poultry.

Vintage Quality

The 2024 growing season in the Langhe allowed for beautiful aromatic development in early-ripening white varieties. Because the grapes were harvested by hand in early September with optimal balance, the 2024 "A Val" avoids any heavy or overly tropical notes, retaining a gorgeous, vibrant fruit core. It is showing beautifully right now and is best enjoyed fresh over the next two years.