WINERY: Located in Piedmont in northwestern Italy, the GAJA winery is widely considered to be one of the greatest estates in the world, producing coveted and collectible labels.

WINE: The name originates from Alteni, small stone walls that once surrounded the plots of land, and the word Brassica, yellow flowers growing in the vineyards in spring.

2021 was a late vintage, tending to be dry but cool, resulting in wines of great volume and richness marked by savoriness and length, generous even on the nose, with intense and complex aromas.

Abundant snowfall and low temperatures led to an unusually severe, rainy winter, followed by a dry spring. Temperatures picked up again in mid-March, accelerating the plant life cycle. Unfortunately, the cold temperatures returned in early April with icy winds that channeled through the valleys and affected the lower vineyards, especially in the Barbaresco area. The summer rolled out dramatically with a bright and windy start, hot and violent midseason, characterized by frequent thunderstorms, and ended hot and dry. While both benefited from thunderstorms that cooled the land, powdery mildew became a real threat in Barbaresco in July. A redeeming rainfall came at the end of August, refreshing the Barbaresco and Barolo vineyards and making the white varieties ready for harvest in early September.

The grapes undergo fermentation, maceration and ageing in oak for six to eight months.

The 2021 vintage of Alteni di Brassica is a classic style of Sauvignon Blanc from Langhe with notes of oyster shell, mountain herbs, white peach, and flint. With time in the glass, it opens to reveal more vibrant notes of sage, cedar, tomato leaf, and cardamom. The mouthfeel is fresh, long, and savoury with a medium-bodied style that ends with a hint of salinity.