Vajra Barolo ‘Coste di Rose’ 2017

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

In 2015, we had the chance to rent a new vineyard, Coste di Rose, in Comune di Barolo. It is gorgeously located on the top of the MGA, at 310m asl. The deal included a significant portion of Bosco della Fava, the forest that can be admired from the castle of Barolo. Coste di Rose is a very unique vineyard. Soil is dominated by a pure Arenaria di Diano, a Tortonian sandstone that delivers distinctive floral aromatics and a salty minerality. This cru is one of Barolo’s best kept secrets, being located right in between Cannubi and Bussia, yet away from the beaten paths.

Giuseppe Vaira

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.

Words from Giuseppe Vaira

Fruit is picked usually around the third week of October. Vinification is made in custom-designed vertical tini, with gentle punch down and rinsing of the cap. Maceration lasts 40 to 50 days on average. Malolactic is held in stainless steel, the following spring.

Ageing is very specific according to the vintage, and may last between 24 and 32 months. Two rackings usually occur in the first and second summer of the ageing.

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 2015 Vintage According to Vajra

2015 is a vintage of rich and vibrant Barolos. It offers wines of plenitude with nuanced aromatics and breadth, yet with a strong aging potential. Winter was very snowy, and mild temperatures since the month of February lead to an early bud break. By flowering, which took place in the middle of May, the season was about 10 days ahead of norm. More rain fell between end of May and early June, and this was a great help for the vines to overcome a very hot month of July. 2015 was a generous vintage with very healthy fruit, and the loss of production is mainly due to sporadic, yet harsh hailstorms (starting May 8th), and from the summer heat. Fruit quality is great.

The 2017 Vintage

2017 will be remembered as hot with low rainfall. Winter was mild, while spring brought some rain and above-average temperatures. May saw the beginning of a long period of fine weather with summer maximums above average, though cooler nights than in other hot years.

End of August and early September, some welcome rain arrived, followed by a sharp drop in temperatures and marked diurnal temperature shifts. The later ripening nebbiolo and barbera benefitted most. While the overall growing season was shorter, it still lasted on average 185 days compared with 170 in other ‘hot’ years, and 200 in classic vintages.

The accumulation of anthocyanins and tannins was excellent, and while alcohols are higher, they are not out of the average, especially for nebbiolo. Ph levels were good and acids lower. Yields were below average of compact bunches, with harvest occurring around 2 weeks early.

2017 yielded wines of great promise – the cool nights and return to ‘average’ conditions in September being major contributing factors. In fact the 2017 Barolos show remarkable freshness and elegance, with the top producers building on their experience of warmer years, which began with the torrid 2003.

Galloni does an excellent job exploring the 2017 growing season and vintage in his article “2017 Barolo: Here We Go Again…” It’s clear the growers and makers of Piedmont have got their heads around warmer vintages and how to get the most in both the vineyard, and, the winery.

“There is plenty to like about the 2017 Barolos… In tasting, the 2017s are mid-weight Barolos with the classic structure of Nebbiolo. They are often intensely aromatic. Acids and tannins are prominent in many wines. The fruit profiles are ripe, often distinctly redtoned, but not cooked or over-ripe. Perhaps most importantly, the 2017 Barolos are very true to site, which is always a concern with vintages marked by warm weather. The best 2017s are exceptionally polished, vivid and flat-out delicious”

Galloni

Where in the World is Vajra?

The Coste di Rose Cru is in the Commune of Barolo (a little confusing as the whole region is also called Barolo) in the centre of the map.