Vajra Langhe Bianco Petracine 2022
G.D. Vajra · G.D. Vajra
Petracine—'stone upon stone'—is aptly named: this is a wine whose beauty lies in what the ancient Langhe soils push upward through layers of fruit and texture. It delivers far above its modest price, offering the kind of buried complexity that rewards a second pour and a quiet moment of attention. A perfect thematic companion for an issue about hidden flavors surfacing.
Nose
An initial impression of wet limestone and crushed chalk gives way to white peach and chamomile blossom. With air, subtle beeswax and a savory, almost saline minerality emerge from beneath, as if the soil itself is exhaling. A whisper of blanched almond lingers in the background.
Palate
The entry is precise and focused, with green apple and citrus pith riding a taut, mineral-driven spine. Mid-palate reveals a textural surprise—a creamy, almost waxy quality that speaks to the Riesling component—before honeyed white flowers surface alongside notes of toasted hazelnut. Tension between bright acidity and underlying richness keeps the wine coiled and energetic.
Finish
Long and gently saline, tapering to crushed stone and dried herb. The minerality persists well after the fruit fades, a geological echo that rewards patience.
- Varietal
- Riesling
- Blend
- Riesling with Nascetta
- Vineyards
- Estate vineyards in the commune of Barolo, planted on calcareous marl soils at elevations between 350–450 meters in the Langhe hills
- Alcohol
- 13.0%
- Organic / Biodynamic
- No
- Skin Contact
- No
Food Pairing
The classic Piedmontese dish of chilled, thinly sliced veal draped in silky tuna-caper sauce mirrors the wine's interplay of delicacy and hidden depth. The saline caper notes amplify Petracine's mineral backbone, while the dish's creamy richness meets the wine's waxy mid-palate in seamless harmony. Serve with a scattering of fried capers and a drizzle of fine olive oil.
From the same steep Barolo hills where Elvio Cogno's Ravera rises, the Vajra family coaxes Riesling and Nascetta from ancient calcareous soils, naming this cuvée 'Petracine'—Piedmontese for 'made of stone'—because the wine's truest flavors are literally quarried from the deep.
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