Sauvignon Bianco

Alteni di Brassica - its name "alteni", the stone walls that border the vineyards, and "brassica", a yellow spring flower of the region, in no way suggest a wallflower existence. Rather, they are synonymous with the region's first Sauvignon Blanc, which Angelo Gaja has been growing since 1983. Orchard fruits, lime, mint, white flowers and white pepper lend this taut, nervy Sauvignon plenty of character and complexity. All elements are very well balanced. This is a great example of the Gaja style today. A highly elegant wine that impresses with its aromatic bouquet, fine fruit, great depth and beautiful length. SUPERIORE.DE

"Beautiful aromas of sliced pears and minerals with hints of stones and peaches. Medium to full body with a creamy texture and attractive tension and mouthfeel. Just a hint of youthful spiciness." James Suckling

In South Tyrol, the "Vigna" classification guarantees the origin of a single-vineyard wine. This Sauvignon is a selection of the best grapes from the Oberkerschbaum estate in Buchholz/Salorno at an altitude of around 800 metres. Thanks to the special microclimate, the ideal orientation and the challenging altitude, the Oberkerschbaum estate is one of the most exciting cru sites for South Tyrolean Sauvignon.

Intense straw yellow colour with delicate greenish reflections. Aromas of ripe citrus fruits, grapefruit and bergamot mingle with delicate scents of flint and nettle. This fruitiness continues on the palate - Oberkerschbaum is a Sauvignon of harmonious complexity which, despite its racy acidity, never seems too lean and completely convinces us with its aromatic length. SUPERIORE.DE

"Wildly unique, the 2021 Sauvignon Vigna Oberkerschbaum opens with a beguiling blend of rosemary, split pine and grapefruit zests, giving way to green melon. This is lifted and graceful, gliding across the palate with a saline-tinged blend of tart orchard fruits. A savory herbal thrust adds complexity toward the close. Mineral intense, this leaves the senses completely refreshed, finishing with medium length yet impactful. The Oberkerschbaum hails from a vineyard between 740 and 800 meters, and its high elevation comes through in spades." Vinous

Fragrant and fresh on the nose with beautiful concentration and complexity. Summery aromas of stone fruit, ripe peach, jasmine and a hint of fragrant beeswax. The racy, slender mouthfeel has a certain density and reveals an elegant hint of gravel and chalk and flavours of white almonds on the finish. Everything is already in its place here, but it will gain in complexity with further bottle ageing. SUPERIORE.DE

"Straw yellow colour with golden reflections. On the nose, it exudes impressively complex aromas, including apricot and acacia blossom, accompanied by spicy notes and roasted hazelnuts. On the palate, the wine captivates with a true panorama of aromas and flavours, spicy but at the same time full-bodied, with a very long aromatic persistence in the final.
Olga Fusari, Oenologist (bis 2023)

"Bright straw yellow with green nuances. Aromas of apricot, grapefruit and redcurrant, with delicate saline notes. Juicy on the palate, shows presence with lots of crisp fruit, fresh, lemony notes, long-lasting and savoury." Falstaff

"Complex aromas of ripe stone fruit and acacia blossom, but also subtle mint and spice notes; extremely harmonious texture, very well supported by the acidity, lots of exotic fruit with exquisite bitter almond notes on the final." Vinum

"This silky white wine has an almost creamy texture and shows flavours of flowers, peach, sage and mint with a hint of grapefruit pulp. Complex, balanced and long, with a savoury component in the lingering aftertaste." Wine Spectator

"Ornellaia Bianco 2021 is now a pure Sauvignon Blanc. This wine plays its best cards in terms of texture. It has broad shoulders and enough texture to support the many creamy citrus and delicately tropical flavours. A hint of crushed stone adds elegance." Wine Advocate

"The 2021 Ornellaia Bianco is seductive. I sense a little more textural richness than in previous editions, which I see as a positive. White pear, jasmine, sage, mint, white pepper, peach and apricot fill out the layers. Light tropical accents appear with some aeration, adding a tropical flair that is very attractive. This is impeccably made." Vinous

"Perfumed, exotic, stony and honeyed, it is nonetheless a vertical and focused wine whose structure encompasses rich aromas and flavours of mango, peach, white flowers, orange peel, papaya and passion fruit." Decanter

"This is a dense and concentrated white wine, yet agile and easy to chew. Very beautiful flavours. Full-bodied, with a tension and frame that gives this wine real precision and intensity. Taut on the finish. Already beautiful now, but it will age beautifully. The best white wine ever from here?" James Suckling

From the 2020 vintage, Ornellaia Bianco is a single-varietal Sauvignon Bianco from three selected, small vineyards at Tenuta dell'Ornellaia. It ferments on the lees for 10 months, which gives it freshness, precision and a fine citrus flavour. Delicate golden yellow colour. A cornucopia of light-coloured fruit on the nose, with wonderful mint and citrus notes. Complex, lush and multi-layered on the palate. One of Italy's great white wines, in the style of the house. SUPERIORE.DE

"The intense straw-yellow Ornellaia Bianco 2020 unfolds a bouquet of yellow-fleshed fruit, accompanied by aromas of white flowers and vanilla. A harmonious and complex nuance that delights with every sip. On the palate, the wine reveals a pronounced freshness, but at the same time an elegant creaminess that gives the wine an enveloping, pleasant and long-lasting mouthfeel." Olga Fusari, Oenologist

"A full-bodied white wine reminiscent of a Bordeaux Blanc, with flavours of melon, peach, lemongrass, flowers, spices and green tea. Rich but balanced by lively acidity, with a hint of grapefruit peel bitterness. Excellent balance and length, with subtle use of oak." Wine Spectator

"This wine, which used to contain Viognier, is now 100% Sauvignon Blanc. The 2020 Ornellaia Bianco is quite tropical and generous in personality with immediate flavours of papaya, Golden Delicious apple and crushed stone. The wine is beautifully structured and long-lasting." Wine Advocate

"The nose indulgently blends fruit and herbs, like pineapple sorbet drizzled with basil syrup, with umami undertones of Pecorino cheese and toasted almonds keeping things in elegant balance. On the rich palate, pineapple continues and is joined by lemon curd, but the saltiness of the cheese perseveres to cut through the luxuriousness." Wine Enthusiast

"The Ornellaia Bianco 2020 is a bright, fine, dry white wine. Lime, white flowers, mint and white pepper are all beautifully described in this crisp white. I would give it at least a year or two in the bottle, as the acids are quite aggressive today, or a few hours in a decanter, which will help soften the youthful edges." Vinous

"White flowers, jasmine, peach, apricot, clementine and citrus nuances with a minerality of wet stones. Exciting and ample at the same time, a well-controlled weight of almost oily peach and bitter nectarine fruit with a citrus pineapple and lemon kick and underlying notes of honeysuckle give the florality. Clean with balanced acidity that gives a smooth mouthfeel and adds to the complexity of the whole. Dynamic with a hint of sweetness and tension - lively and appealing." Decanter

Named after the quartz speckles in the volcanic porphyry rock of Terlan, the most famous Sauvignon Bianco in Italy lives up to its name. Sparkling yellow-green in colour. Filigree, delicately scented with grapefruit, peach, honey and green papaya. Quartz is taut and precise, with a fleshy, creamy texture, great depth and a wonderful mineral-salty finish. Must have and must taste! SUPERIORE.DE

"Our Sauvignon selection, which has been given a truly characteristic name, is as filigree as the fine quartz crystals in Terlan's volcanic porphyry rock. The quartz is characterised by its fine texture and depth as well as a salty finish, which have now earned this fine white wine an international reputation." Rudi Kofler, Kellermeister Terlan

"Subtle grassy herbal notes lead to an expressive palate with lemon curd, guava and focussed mineral characters; refreshing and long." Decanter

"The flavours of melon, kiwi, Meyer lemon and notes of chive blossom and toast are very harmonious. A tantalising white that is skilfully knitted with razor-sharp acidity and salty minerality. It is long and creamy on the palate, with spice, mineral and herb accents on the lingering finish." Wine Spectator

"The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Quarz is very seductive, with a rich blend of savoury herbs and grapefruit zest underscored by a cooling hint of white smoke. It is bold and smooth with a medium body and a pretty inner sweetness that borders on decadent but is balanced by an energising core of zesty acidity. Candied lemon and lime resonate, while hints of salty minerality and chalk dust provide a perfect contrast. Like most Quartz vintages, this wine will age well over the medium term. Nevertheless, there is no harm in enjoying it now in this wonderful primary state." Vinous

"The Sauvignon Quartz is a very exact and precise expression, with tropical tones, crushed stone, tomato leaves and green papaya. There is a hint of sweetness, like candied pineapple or mango ice cream. I have always felt a special connection with this wine. There's a hint of pulverised quartz stone on the finish." Wine Advocate

"A sophisticated Sauvignon with a complex and aromatic nose that offers notes of glazed citrus and stone fruit with honeysuckle and melon rind. The palate is full and structured with a lively acidity. Creamy with the texture of ripe nectarine and an exciting mineral finish." James Suckling

"Cantina Terlano's usual fascinating journey into the potential of Sauvignon Blanc. On the nose, cedar wood, lychee, a hint of nectarine, then a menthol note and cedar thyme. Dense, crisp and exciting on the palate, with a fruity, citrusy finish and a long aftertaste." Luca Gardini

"Bright, sparkling straw yellow colour. Very intense nose, rich aromas of dark redcurrants and elderflower, with a hint of tomato green, exciting. Also shows great flavour on the palate, lots of sage, salty, beautiful melting on the final, lingers for a very long time." Falstaff

The grapes for Terlan's Ikonen wine come from vineyards at an altitude of 300 to 550 metres with volcanic porphyry rock. Powerful, attractively exotic bouquet with bright gooseberries, mango and pink grapefruit, backed by a captivating mineral flavour. There is also lemongrass and herbal, ethereal notes. On the palate, it is juicy and full-bodied, but not overloaded, rather deeply spicy, smoky, with a mineral-salty structure, followed by green-herbal notes in the focussed, mineral final. Every year, Quarz is one of the best Italian Sauvignon Blancs in its full splendour. As always, Cantina Terlano shows a skilful winemaker's hand in guiding the natural flavours of the grape, but also in delivering a very elegant interpretation. SUPERIORE.DE

"The name Quarz is derived from the quartz inclusions in the porphyry. A powerful, smoky bouquet with fine Sauvignon Blanc fruit, blackcurrant, elderberry and hints of herbs and minerals. In the mouth, it is initially taut and tightly woven, but then also melting with a fine texture and marvellous accompanying mineral spice." Weinwisser

"Sparkling, light straw yellow with a greenish tinge. Finely characterised nose, opens with notes of gooseberries and fragrant elderflower, with spicy sage components in the background. Present, very well-developed fruit on the palate, extremely juicy with notes of white peach and lemon balm, very long, subtle salty notes on the final." Falstaff

"This lively, mineral white wine is long and graceful, with a hint of salinity that adds a delicious savoury note to the concentrated spectrum of nectarine, pink grapefruit granita, gooseberry, chive blossom and white pepper." Wine Spectator

"The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Quarz is youthful and shy, opening with an airy bouquet that mixes crushed rock with dried flowers, a hint of petrol and nectarines. On the palate, it is a pure delight, soft and round, with juicy acidity and ripe citrus fruit mingling with salty, mineral notes. The 2022 finishes with excellent length and tension, leaving a hint of tart citrus notes. The 2022 is intense and made for the cellar." Vinous

"Aromas of fresh grass, lime and stone are followed by a medium body with bright acidity and a creamy texture. Intense, with plenty of length and flavour. Taut and polished." James Suckling

From the 2020 vintage, Ornellaia Bianco is a single-varietal Sauvignon Bianco from three selected, small vineyards at Tenuta dell'Ornellaia. It ferments on the lees for 10 months, which gives it freshness, precision and a fine citrus flavour. Delicate golden yellow colour. A cornucopia of light-coloured fruit on the nose, with wonderful mint and citrus notes. Complex, lush and multi-layered on the palate. One of Italy's great white wines, in the style of the house. SUPERIORE.DE

"The intense straw-yellow Ornellaia Bianco 2020 unfolds a bouquet of yellow-fleshed fruit, accompanied by aromas of white flowers and vanilla. A harmonious and complex nuance that delights with every sip. On the palate, the wine reveals a pronounced freshness, but at the same time an elegant creaminess that gives the wine an enveloping, pleasant and long-lasting mouthfeel." Olga Fusari, Oenologist

"A full-bodied white wine reminiscent of a Bordeaux Blanc, with flavours of melon, peach, lemongrass, flowers, spices and green tea. Rich but balanced by lively acidity, with a hint of grapefruit peel bitterness. Excellent balance and length, with subtle use of oak." Wine Spectator

"This wine, which used to contain Viognier, is now 100% Sauvignon Blanc. The 2020 Ornellaia Bianco is quite tropical and generous in personality with immediate flavours of papaya, Golden Delicious apple and crushed stone. The wine is beautifully structured and long-lasting." Wine Advocate

"The nose indulgently blends fruit and herbs, like pineapple sorbet drizzled with basil syrup, with umami undertones of Pecorino cheese and toasted almonds keeping things in elegant balance. On the rich palate, pineapple continues and is joined by lemon curd, but the saltiness of the cheese perseveres to cut through the luxuriousness." Wine Enthusiast

"The Ornellaia Bianco 2020 is a bright, fine, dry white wine. Lime, white flowers, mint and white pepper are all beautifully described in this crisp white. I would give it at least a year or two in the bottle, as the acids are quite aggressive today, or a few hours in a decanter, which will help soften the youthful edges." Vinous

"White flowers, jasmine, peach, apricot, clementine and citrus nuances with a minerality of wet stones. Exciting and ample at the same time, a well-controlled weight of almost oily peach and bitter nectarine fruit with a citrus pineapple and lemon kick and underlying notes of honeysuckle give the florality. Clean with balanced acidity that gives a smooth mouthfeel and adds to the complexity of the whole. Dynamic with a hint of sweetness and tension - lively and appealing." Decanter

Fragrant and fresh on the nose with beautiful concentration and complexity. Summery aromas of stone fruit, ripe peach, jasmine and a hint of fragrant beeswax. The racy, slender mouthfeel has a certain density and reveals an elegant hint of gravel and chalk and flavours of white almonds on the finish. Everything is already in its place here today, but it will become even more complex with further bottle ageing. SUPERIORE.DE

"Straw yellow colour with golden reflections. On the nose, it exudes impressively complex aromas, including apricot and acacia blossom, accompanied by spicy notes and roasted hazelnuts. On the palate, the wine captivates with a true panorama of aromas and flavours, spicy but at the same time full-bodied, with a very long aromatic persistence in the final.
Olga Fusari, Oenologist (bis 2023)

"Bright straw yellow with green nuances. Aromas of apricot, grapefruit and redcurrant, with delicate saline notes. Juicy on the palate, shows presence with lots of crisp fruit, fresh, lemony notes, long-lasting and savoury." Falstaff

"Complex aromas of ripe stone fruit and acacia blossom, but also subtle mint and spice notes; extremely harmonious texture, very well supported by the acidity, lots of exotic fruit with exquisite bitter almond notes on the final." Vinum

"This silky white wine has an almost creamy texture and shows flavours of flowers, peach, sage and mint with a hint of grapefruit pulp. Complex, balanced and long, with a savoury component in the lingering aftertaste." Wine Spectator

"Ornellaia Bianco 2021 is now a pure Sauvignon Blanc. This wine plays its best cards in terms of texture. It has broad shoulders and enough texture to support the many creamy citrus and delicately tropical flavours. A hint of crushed stone adds elegance." Wine Advocate

"The 2021 Ornellaia Bianco is seductive. I sense a little more textural richness than in previous editions, which I see as a positive. White pear, jasmine, sage, mint, white pepper, peach and apricot fill out the layers. Light tropical accents appear with some aeration, adding a tropical flair that is very attractive. This is impeccably made." Vinous

"Perfumed, exotic, stony and honeyed, it is nonetheless a vertical and focused wine whose structure encompasses rich aromas and flavours of mango, peach, white flowers, orange peel, papaya and passion fruit." Decanter

"This is a dense and concentrated white wine, yet agile and easy to chew. Very beautiful flavours. Full-bodied, with a tension and frame that gives this wine real precision and intensity. Taut on the finish. Already beautiful now, but it will age beautifully. The best white wine ever from here?" James Suckling

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. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2021 Alteni di Brassica is a gorgeous, steely white endowed with tons of varietal character. This is the first vintage that includes fruit from the Gaja family's new vineyards in Alta Langa. Lemon peel, sage, mint, dried herbs, chamomile and a touch of tropical fruit linger on the bright, saline finish." Vinous

"Sliced pears and limes with aromas of pear blossom. A hint of fennel. Medium body. Nice phenols. Spicy and tangy finish. Some lemon zest." James Suckling

Alteni di Brassica - its name "alteni", the stone walls that border the vineyards, and "brassica", a yellow spring flower of the region, in no way suggest a wallflower existence. Rather, they are synonymous with the region's first Sauvignon Blanc, which Angelo Gaja has been growing since 1983. Orchard fruits, lime, mint, white flowers and white pepper lend this taut, nervy Sauvignon plenty of character and complexity. All elements are very well balanced. This is a great example of the Gaja style today. A highly elegant wine that impresses with its aromatic bouquet, fine fruit, great depth and beautiful length. SUPERIORE.DE

"Beautiful aromas of sliced pears and minerals with hints of stones and peaches. Medium to full body with a creamy texture and attractive tension and mouthfeel. Just a hint of youthful spiciness." James Suckling