Vajra Barolo ‘Albe’ 2021

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

Year after year, Vajra’s range stands head held high amongst the pack from the very start of the range through to the Bricco delle Viole.

This year’s release holds true to this strong form!

Maker! Maker! Make!

Year after year Vajra consistently nails two key components that have been the difference between the good Barolos and the ones with that little something extra (the ones we stock).

1st you’ll see fine long even tannins that flow beautifully.

2nd a core of fruit of depth and length with great shape.

Once again, their 2021 Barolos show the personality of each wine clearly with great definition. Acid / tannin complex in all of the 2021’s is exceptional giving them exceptional balance, seamless harmony and layered textures. As always, the Barolos offer a compelling mix of classicism and contemporary finesse.

We spent a wonderful morning with Eugene Qiao, winemaker and ambassador for Vajra at Wine Decoded HQ exploring her love of Italy and the fabulous wines of GD Vajra.

About Albe by Vajra

Albe is a tribute to the masters of the 1950s and 60s, to those winemakers who had the vision and the taste to blend some of the most amazing crus in order to achieve a Barolo of balance and charm. Think Giulio Mascarello & Franco Fiorina. The high-elevation vineyards for Barolo Albe have an exposure ranging from south-south-east to south-west. The grapes are usually picked in the second half of the Nebbiolo harvest. Vinification is done in custom-designed vertical vats, with gentle punch down and pumpovers. Maceration lasts 25 days on average. Malolactic conversion occurs in stainless steel the following spring. Albe rests on average between 30 and 36 months in large (40, 50 and 75hL) Slavonian oak casks. The wine is usually racked once a year. Blending is decided in the spring prior to bottling.

Albe is “Barolo di Barolo”, a Barolo blended from vineyards only in the Barolo comune. Fosatti, Coste de Vergne and La Volta all have different southern exposures and add distinct qualities to the wine, they yield a complex and rich Barolo that will age gracefully for another three to five years, but is an absolute pleasure to drink now. Tannins are round, aromatics complex and the fruit is delicious.

The true Beauty enclosed in Albe is the caress of the sun that rises every morning in three different moments over the vineyards of this Barolo. With this wine we wish to communicate the exceptional simplicity of nature that makes this everyday miracle an awakening of life. Milena Vaira

The three vineyards that contribute to Albe: Fossati, La Volta and Coste de Vergne. Click to enlarge.

The Fossati Cru rests across the border of La Morra and the Commune di Barolo in the central west part of the region.  Vajra’s Fossati is in the Commune di Barolo. Click on the map to enlarge it.

A Session with Giuseppe

We had the great fortune to spend an afternoon with Guiseppe this year. His passion, and, his families passion, thoughtful, and, humble approach to their work is inspiring.

Listen to 🎧Giusseppe explore the history of Barolo, the estate, and, the wines.

About Vajra

Vajra is one of those producers that, across their range, manages to deliver sophisticated, fun wines that are great expressions of fruit. Thankfully, unlike many, Giuseppe understands restraint and oak!

“I try to make wines that give people joy. In the past wine was a food, it was necessary for sustenance. Today that is not the case, we choose to drink for pleasure. I want to make wines that bring people happiness.” Aldo Vajra

The Vajra family has quietly amassed a serious collection of vineyards that make them one of Piedmont’s larger, family-owned estates, something they have accomplished while maintaining the already high level of their entry-level wines. Every wine in the range is absolutely delicious and full of personality. I can’t recommend these new releases highly enough. Antonio Galloni

The 2021 Vintage at Vajra

2021 vintage is set to provide some world class wines. Despite a frost alert in the spring, and a few violent hailstorms during summer, the season was generally very positive, moderately dry and with late harvests. All grapes have abundance of acidity and good phenolics, and the shortage of nitrogen in the fruit allowed for some of the longest and most gentle fermentations in recent years.

Vajra

Where in the World is Vajra?

Vajra is bassed in the Commune of Barolo (a little confusing as the whole region is also called Barolo) in the centre of the map.