GD Vajra Barolo Albe, 2017

In 1971, Aldo Vajra, then still a university student, was one of the earliest to adopt organic farming in Piemonte. Vineyards have been nurtured, and soil preserved, by grassing and spontaneous cover crop for almost 50 years now. They are sustainable and organic certified. With an incredible ratio of manual work per hectare, farming at Vajra is a labor of love and “recipe-free” attention. Intense research is also placed into monitoring and improving the biodiversity of both flora and fauna not just in the vineyards, but also in the winery fields and forests. The winery is sustainably certified (UNI EN 11233:2009) and organic certified.

Harvest & winemaking: Fruit for 2017 Barolo DOCG Albe was picked between September 26th and October 3rd. Vinification was carried in custom-designed vertical tini, with gentle punch down and cap pump-overs, and lasted between 28 and 49 days on average, with partial submerged-cap maceration. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation was held in stainless steel during the following spring.

Aging: The 2017 Barolo DOCG Albe aged for 18 months in large Slavonian oak casks. The wines were racked once, in the summer of 2018, and blended right before the bottling.

Tasting Notes: 2017 Barolo Albe opens up with a bright, expressive nose. Red currant, cherries, macerated strawberries, and mint are interlaced with floral tones and hints of rosehip, rhubarb, red fig, hawthorn, lavender, and licorice. The palate is generous, layered, and youthful, with ripe tannins and a classic finish on tones of marasca cherry.