# Brigata Langhe Chardonnay (2022)

- **Producer:** Renato Ratti
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Chardonnay
- **Region:** Piemonte, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €19
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 12–14 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** banana, grapefruit, vanilla, cloves

## About this wine

The Renato Ratti Brigata Langhe Chardonnay is a white wine from the Langhe DOC appellation in Piedmont, Italy, made from 100% Chardonnay. The vineyards are located in the Langa area, at altitudes between 770-990 feet, with a South to South-West exposure and calcareous-clay marl soil. Renato Ratti, a significant figure in Piedmontese wine, established his winery with a focus on vineyard mapping and varietal expression. His son, Pietro Ratti, continues this philosophy, emphasizing refinement through bottle aging for smoothness and longevity. The wine is designed to offer an intense aromatic complexity and a pleasant surprise for white wine enthusiasts.

## Interesting facts

- Vineyards are planted at altitudes up to 990 feet.
- The soil is a mix of calcareous-clay marl, sand, and silt.
- Renato Ratti is credited with mapping Barolo's 'cru' vineyards.
- The wine is dedicated to those seeking a surprising white wine experience.

## Food pairing

The wine's elegant acidity cuts through the richness of creamy sauces and fatty fish, while its aromatic profile complements the delicate flavors of seafood and white meats. The subtle oak influence, if present, can harmonize with buttery preparations.

## Wine making process

The Ratti Brigata Langhe Chardonnay undergoes fermentation with selected yeasts, with a portion of the wine fermented in second and third-year French oak barrels and the remainder in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures. Some technical sheets indicate a 24-hour skin contact period at low temperatures before classic white vinification. The wine is then aged on its lees in stainless steel tanks. Aging details vary, with some sources mentioning 6 months in French oak tonneaux for 50% of the wine and 6 months in stainless steel for the other 50%, followed by bottle aging, while others suggest 3 months in oak casks. Sustainable and Integrated Protection farming practices are employed in the vineyards.