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.

Alteni di Brassica is produced from vineyards covering approximately 3 hectares (7.5 acres) with a mainly calcareous clay soil.

The 2022 season was tough for Langhe due to a severe drought from November 2021 to September 2022. The rainfall was only 300 mm in Barbaresco and a bit more in Barolo, much less than the usual 800 to 1200 mm in Piedmont. After light snow on December 8th, the area had no rain for 113 days which delayed the buds until after March 30th. April was still dry, but a good rain in May helped the formation of grape bunches. June and July were very hot. To help the vines, some green grapes were removed in July. This allowed the rest to fully mature. Rain on August 7th and 17th saved the season by cooling the weather and relieving the vines. September was warm until the 15th, after which it cooled down. Harvest started with the white grapes on August 19th and ended with Nebbiolo on October 9th, one of the earliest we’ve seen. The season is similar to 2003, which turned out excellent after the wines had aged in the bottle.

Stainless steel fermentation and ageing in stainless steel and oak for 6 months.

Alteni 2022 is an intense and well-balanced wine with a wide range of aromas. It has citrus, botanical, and mineral notes, along with complex scents of resin, juniper, cucumber, fig leaves, sap, and a hint of gunpowder. As the wine breathes, you’ll detect geranium, grapefruit, ripe pear, sage, and mint notes. The taste is well-balanced, with a salty savoriness that complements the acidity. There’s a slight toastiness mixed with a sweet, fresh sensation. The wine has a fine mouthfeel, marked by tension and minerality.