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$GAJA
2016 Gaja, Langhe, Alteni di Brassica
Bottle size (ML)
Current price
$512
Start Your Wine Collection with 2016 Gaja, Langhe, Alteni di Brassica
Begin your portfolio with a prestigious wine that has a history of growth.- Enjoy fully managed, secure storage facilities with insurance coverage.
- Get expert advice on when to hold and when to sell.
Critics Scores
Wine Spectator
Pungent aromas and flavors of gooseberry, wild herb and salty mineral converge in this lively white. Silky and deftly balanced, with a lingering aftertaste of flowers, fruit and mineral. Sauvignon Blanc.
James Suckling
This shows white stones, flint, grass, green apples, herbs and preserved lemons. The palate shows great interplay between minerals and stone-fruit flesh. Medium to full body, very precise acidity and a taut finish. Drink now.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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.
Region Summary
Critics and collectors have anointed Piedmont (or Piemonte locally) the “Burgundy of Italy,” and with good reason. The region shares a border with France and has adopted many of its neighbor’s more modern winemaking philosophies. Today, local winemakers display a borderline-obsessive focus on small-batch, artisanal wines such as Barolo and Barbaresco.
Why We're Investing
There’s a not-so-secret recipe to produce highly collectible wine. It’s called the law of supply and demand. Piedmont is one of the few regions to have mastered it. Let’s start with supply. Piedmont has earned comparisons to Burgundy for its rarity and exclusivity. Estates primarily produce single-grape wines in minuscule quantities from specialized vineyards. Nebbiolo is the grape of choice in Piedmont, whereas Burgundy favors pinot noir. Take Barolo, for example, an ultra-age-worthy nebbiolo known as the ‘wine of kings and king of wines.’ The sub-region, which produces a wine of the same name, spans fewer than 5,000 acres. That is roughly the size of Burgundy’s Côte de Nuit. Barbaresco is even smaller at one-third the size. Because of the compact geographic area and estates’ commitment to small-scale winemaking, even the most popular Barolo and Barbaresco are constantly in limited supply. The second factor is demand. Like Burgundy, Piedmont has strung together multiple outstanding vintages, most notably in 2010, 2013, 2015, and 2016. Critics have taken note, too. In an interview with Liv-ex, Antonio Galloni said, “interest for Barolo and Piedmont has never been higher.” Glowing critic scores have led to a swell in demand for Piedmontese wine, especially for internationally renowned names like Gaja and Giacomo Conterno. Now, here is where the similarities between Burgundy and Piedmont end. While Burgundy dominates any list of the most expensive wines, Piedmont remains relatively affordable and under the radar. That’s despite the two regions’ comparable critic scores, wine quality, and centuries of tradition. Top Barolo and Barbaresco are roughly a quarter of the price of red Burgundy and half the price of first-growth Bordeaux. The reason? Most of the vineyards in Piedmont are family-owned. Meanwhile, other prominent wine regions, like Napa Valley and Tuscany, have grown through corporate investments that have resulted in corresponding price surges. This dichotomy makes Piedmont an enigma. Even though the region has some of the world’s top cult estates, most of its wines have relatively affordable price tags and attractive value. As a result, anyone looking to access the fine wine market without spending a fortune can take solace in Piedmont.
What's the Latest
Tuscany has long been the bellwether of the Italian fine wine market. That’s changing. Piedmont continues to gain market share thanks to its brand strength and consummate quality. According to Liv-ex, Piedmont accounts for 43.4 of Italy’s total trade, a figure that was a mere 11.4 in 2015. The surge in interest has corresponded with a rise in prices for top Piedmontese wine. The Liv-ex Italy 100 index recorded 9.2 growth in 2022, the third-best market among all indices last year. That’s no fluke, either. The Italy 100 has grown 303 in its first 19 years, which translates to an average annualized return of 7.58.
Looking Forward
Piedmont may be small, but it is mighty. It has all the hallmarks of an investment-worthy region, including brand equity, consistent quality, and low volume. Each year, more critics and collectors recognize that Piedmont’s top wines are on par with elite ones in France and California, and the prices have followed. Collectors would be wise to add Piedmontese wines while prices remain accessible. Piedmont has made impressive strides in the last decade and should benefit from technological innovations like transparent marketplaces and automated trading. This modernization would bring more attention to the region and improve liquidity. If volume and value continue their upward trend, look for Piedmont to close the gap on Tuscany in trade share in the coming years.