G.D. Vajra Barbera d'Alba DOC 2022
G.D. Vajra
Vajra's Barbera is a study in what happens when a great Piedmontese family turns their full attention to what's often considered a workhorse grape. The 2022 vintage delivers bright, electric fruit with the kind of natural acidity that makes Barbera one of Italy's most food-versatile reds. No oak dominance, no extraction games — just the grape and its terroir, presented honestly. A stunning value.
Kit Aromas
Nose
Bright cherry fruit jumps from the glass, supported by violet, a hint of fresh herbs, and a subtle earthy quality. There's a pleasant green-edged freshness that keeps the fruit from feeling overripe.
Palate
Juicy and vibrant with concentrated cherry and berry fruit, low tannins, and vivid acidity. The mid-palate reveals layers of crushed violet, a touch of mint, and a stony minerality that pulls the wine toward savory territory.
Finish
Medium length with a clean, refreshing acidity that invites the next sip. Cherry fruit lingers alongside a gentle herbal note.
- Varietal
- Barbera
- Blend
- 100% Barbera
- Vineyards
- Estate vineyards in Vergne, Barolo commune
- Alcohol
- 14%
- Organic / Biodynamic
- No
Food Pairing
Hand-rolled tajarin egg noodles tossed with browned butter and crispy sage leaves — a Piedmontese classic where the Barbera's acidity cuts through the butter while the cherry fruit complements the pasta's egg richness.
The Vaira family has farmed vineyards in the Barolo commune of Vergne since the 1970s, and their Barbera — grown on sandy-calcareous soils at elevation — consistently overdelivers for its modest price.
Be the first to comment.
Leave a comment
Luciano Sandrone Dolcetto d'Alba 2022
Luciano Sandrone
Sandrone is best known for his Barolo, but his Dolcetto d'Alba is quietly one of the finest expressions of this underappreciated grape in Piedmont. Fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel, it reveals what Dolcetto does naturally — deep color, ripe fruit, and a structural bitterness that makes it an extraordinarily versatile table wine. This is where Sandrone's rigor meets everyday pleasure.
Ferrer Bobet Priorat Vinyes Velles 2018
Ferrer Bobet
Ferrer Bobet's old-vine Priorat bottling captures the essence of warmth radiating from ancient llicorella slate — a wine that speaks before you find the words. This 2018 has reached a gorgeous drinking window where concentration meets elegance, offering serious depth at a price that undercuts many of its Priorat peers. A bottle built for contemplation beside a low fire.
Bourgogne Rouge, Domaine de Montille
Domaine de Montille
Domaine de Montille's Bourgogne Rouge is a masterclass in what restraint can achieve at the regional level — no excess, no artifice, just transparent Pinot Noir from one of Burgundy's most principled estates. It embodies the theme of clarity through constraint: a wine that finds its beauty in what it withholds rather than what it offers. An essential benchmark for understanding why less, in Burgundy, is always more.
Nerello Mascalese Vigne Vecchie
Calabretta
Calabretta's old-vine Nerello Mascalese is a masterclass in how air and altitude sculpt a wine—vineyards perched high on Etna's slopes channel wind and volcanic breath into the glass. This is traditional Etna winemaking at its most soulful: no shortcuts, no polish, just pure terroir captured by a family that has farmed the same contrada for generations. A hauntingly beautiful wine that rewards patience and contemplation.