Albe is G.D Vajra's tribute to the tradition and its ‘Maestri’. It’s a blend of grapes from three high-elevation Barolo vineyards where, every day because of their differencing aspect facing west to east, they witness three beautiful sunrises - or Albe. The 2019 is a radiant, incredibly poised wine and promises an amazing evolution. It opens with a rush of red fruit, ranging from raspberries to red currant with nuances of sweet spices. The palate is well balanced, with notes of cherry and fig with refined tannins and lingering complexity. Worth decanting for an hour or more before serving.
Enjoy this with osso buco with gremolata, roasted root vegetables, tagliatelle with ragu bolognese or grilled portobello mushrooms.
"G.D. Vajra make joyous wines using organic practices and this Barolo is a superb example of their style. Delicate and expressive, this is really enjoyable now, but could be cellared for many years. A great gift for a red wine lover, or enjoy this over a long dinner with friends."
The Vajra 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 altitude 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 Vajra wines.
The grapes for this wine are grown in the township of Barolo in three different vineyards: Fossati (soil of Sant'Agata fossil marls) which faces south-east and was planted between1969-2004, Coste di Vergne (soil of limestone marls), which faces south-west, planted in 1995, and the 180º east-west vineyard of La Volta (soil of Sant'Agata fossil marls), planted between 1998-2000.The vineyards are located at 380-480 metres above sea level. Vines are trained with Guyot system and a green harvest usually takes place according to vigour and the climate during the growing season. Sustainable viticulture is used in all the vineyards and there is no irrigation.
Fruit picked from October 7th to 19th underwent meticulous sorting: first on the vine, then as whole clusters on sorting tables, and finally as individual berries post-destemming. Vinification took place in custom vertical tanks, with delicate punch downs and pump-overs. The average maceration on skins was 27 days, though some tanks were on skins for up to 60 days, as tanks are tasted every day to judge the quality of tannins being extracted. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks during the subsequent spring. Ageing for 23 months in large Slavonian oak casks, ranging from 50 to 75 hectoliters in size. Bottling took place on July 20th and 22nd 2022.
Italy, Piedmont
Nebbiolo
14.00%
75cl
Organic
Vegan
Vegetarian
Full Bodied
Please confirm that you are over 18 to enter
By entering this site you are agreeing to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
