G.D. VAJRA Barolo 'Le Albe' 2021 Bottle ORG/VGN

Description

The Vaira family is based in the small village of Vergne, which sits above the town of Barolo on the westernmost edge of the denomination. They have 10 hectares of Barolo vineyard planted along this western part of the zone, the prime site being Bricco delle Viole, which sits at over 400 metres above sea level. The elevation and westerly orientation make this vineyard an exceptional cru, as it benefits from the cool breezes that flow from the mountains to the west, as well as from morning and evening sun. The style of wine from this site, scented yet ripe, supple yet with great ageing potential, sets the template for the rest of the G.D. Vajra wines.

2021 has been hailed as an excellent vintage that created remarkable wines. Despite spring frosts and summer hailstorms, the growing season was generally optimal and dry, resulting in a late harvest of high-quality, perfectly ripened fruit. All the grapes had an abundance of acidity and good phenolics, and a shortage of nitrogen in the fruit allowed for some of the longest and most gentle fermentations in recent years.

*****

Harvest took place in mid-October, and the fruit went through three rounds of sorting, both in the vineyard and winery. The final sorting occurred post destemming, where only the best single berries were selected for vinification. Fermentation occurred in custom-designed vertical tini, followed by a long skin maceration of up to 61 days. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation occurred in stainless steel the following spring, giving the wines a softer texture on the palate.

This wine is garnet red in colour, with crushed floral notes on the nose. The palate is vibrant, displaying notes of rose petals, fresh strawberries and raspberry, tobacco, and orange peel. The long finish is complemented by smooth, velvet tannins