Alteni di Brassica - its name "alteni", stone walls that border the vineyards, and "brassica", a yellow spring flower of the region, by no means suggest a wallflower existence. Rather, they are synonymous with the region's first Sauvignon Blanc, which Angelo Gaja has been growing since 1983. A highly elegant wine that convinces with an aromatic bouquet, fine fruit, much depth and beautiful length.
An aromatic white wine with fragrant notes of white fruit accompanied by herbal hints and mineral touches. On the palate it is crisp, fresh and clean. A wine with a casual expression that is very easy to drink thanks to its refreshing and spicy acidity.
The 2020 Alteni di Brassica is bright, crisp and wonderfully aromatic. Orchard fruit, lime, mint, white flowers and white pepper give this taut, nervy Sauvignon tons of character as well as complexity. All the elements are very nicely balanced. This is a terrific example of the Gaja house style today
The 2017 Langhe Alteni di Brassica (a pure expression of Sauvignon Blanc) offers tonic freshness, zesty citrus, white peach and crushed oyster shell. The harvest came early in this hot growing season with the grapes coming off the vines as early as August 17th.
That early picking date served to keep the aromas fresh and the fruit crunchy. Gaia Gaja tells me that the fruit was super concentrated in this vintage, and the clusters were so small she called them "bonsai grapes." In addition to the concentrated aromas, the wine also shows a level of freshness that comes as a very pleasant surprise. Evidently, the acidity was also concentrated into those tiny berries.
Here is a crisp and zesty wine that is easy to drink—and easy to read, thanks to its inherent simplicity and transparency. The 2016 Langhe Alteni di Brassica is a pure expression of Sauvignon Blanc that did not do malolactic fermentation. One third of the mass ages in stainless steel and the rest sees contact with natural barrel for a crisp and lighthearted expression of this fragrant grape. The cool growing conditions of the vintage contribute to the tangy freshness of this pretty wine.
The delightful 2015 Langhe Alteni di Brassica is a pure expression of Sauvignon Blanc. This is the only white wine in Angelo Gaja's line that does not complete malolactic fermentation. The bouquet is exuberant and bright with green notes of salvia, wild oregano and white pepper. Those sharper tones are followed by bright layers of tropical fruit and zesty citrus. Drying mineral notes give sharp contours to the overall effect.
Alteni di Brassica - its name "alteni", stone walls that border the vineyards, and "brassica", a yellow spring flower of the region, by no means suggest a wallflower existence. Rather, they are synonymous with the region's first Sauvignon Blanc, which Angelo Gaja has been growing since 1983. A highly elegant wine that convinces with an aromatic bouquet, fine fruit, much depth and beautiful length.