The Contratto 2017 Asti Spumante De Miranda offers a classic expression from Asti that brings me back a few years in time. It's been a while since I've tasted Asti Spumante, and I am now reminded of how distinctive and unique this category is. The bouquet is sweet, yet there are some savory and balsamic notes meshed within. Ripe apple, white plum and sweet almond all come into play. I tasted quite a bit of apple here.

The 2015 Asti Spumante De Miranda teases out some faint tropical fruit notes from the Moscato grape with honeysuckle, jasmine and sweet peach. This is a fresh and sweet sparkling white that would pair well with lemon meringue pie.

This is not your standard Moscato d’Asti. This sophisticated expression benefits from high density planting in the vineyard and the fruit is fermented in special French barrique for extra creaminess. On the nose, this sparkling dessert wine is redolent of apricot, pineapple and honey. ——M.L.(12/1/2010)—— 89

Made in the labor-intensive “classic method” (in which secondary fermentation occurs in the bottle), this sweet Asti sparkler is one of a kind. From the only producer to utilize this method, De Miranda offers longevity and yeasty tones of bee’s wax, peach and apricot.——M.L.(7/1/2009)—— 90