2020 G.D. Vajra Barolo Albe

The 'Albe' is a tribute to the beautiful wines from this area and is made from grapes from different vineyards. The name refers to the location of the vineyards, from southeast to southwest, which means that the vines are awakened three times by the rising sun. The differences in soil and location give the wine an enormous complexity and layering.

The Barolo Albe 2020 presents itself with an expressive nose full of aromas of fresh cherries, crushed stones and roses. The wine has a lively and energetic structure, with a generous mouthfeel and a youthful tannic structure, enriched with notes of raspberry and orange peel. The finish is long and textural.

The 2020 Vajra Barolo Albe has been voted in Wine Spectator's top 10 for best wines 2024

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The GD Vajra 2020 Barolo Albe offers great value for money. The wine shows fresh primary fruit without the overripe notes often found in this vintage. The fruit is dark and savoury, with a significant mineral component. The bouquet is rich with dark berry, plum, granite and a dry note reminiscent of crushed slate. The tannins are powerful and give the wine additional ageing potential.

Vineyard and Terroir

The vineyards for Albe are located at an altitude of between 380 and 480 meters above sea level, with exposures ranging from south-southeast to southwest. Aldo Vajra was one of the first to embrace organic farming in Piedmont in 1971. The vineyards have been maintained in a sustainable and organic way for almost 50 years, with great attention to biodiversity.

Harvest and Winemaking

In 2020, the fruit for Barolo Albe was harvested between October 1st and 14th. The grapes were sorted by hand three times: directly on the vine, as whole bunches on the sorting tables and finally as loose berries after destemming. Vinification took place in specially designed vertical tanks, with gentle punch-downs and pumping over. Maceration lasted between 27 and 57 days, with the longest period taking place under a submerged hood. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation took place in stainless steel in the spring.

Maturation

The wine matured for 26 months in large Slavonian oak barrels of 40, 50 and 75 hectoliters. Bottling took place on July 10, 2023.

Tasting notes

The 2020 Barolo Albe has an expressive nose with aromas of fresh cherries, crushed stones and roses. The mouthfeel is bright and energetic, with a generous texture and a youthful tannic structure, enriched with notes of raspberry and orange peel. The finish is long and textural.