G.D. Vajra
About G.D. Vajra
Founded in the 1960s by the Vaira family, their glorious estate is quite simply one of “Piedmont’s top echelon growers” according to Monica Larner (Wine Advocate). Their focus is on excellence throughout the range, crafting truly artisanal wines of stunning precision, subtle power and exceptional quality. Larner adds that it is “the wines that do the talking here, and they do that ever so eloquently”.
Viniculture
With vineyards in the westerly commune of Barolo, these wines are not powerful like those further east in Serrlunga or Monforte. They are, however, supremely elegant and fresh, with comparisons to Burgundy often made. Aldo Vajra heads up the estate and he follows traditional practices like long stints in big barrels but is not so stubborn not to adapt when it makes sense, like controlling the temperature of the fermentation. These are wines that are known for their beautiful and delicate perfumes, a real testament to the winemaking skills of Aldo.
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Piedmont | 1 | 96 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€583.98 |
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Vinous (96)The 2014 Barolo Bricco delle Viole is positively stunning. There are many things about this wine that are super-impressive, but what stands out most is how soft and silky the tannins are. Because of that, the 2014 is much more approachable than it usually is, and yet also conveys the feeling of translucence that is such a signature of this site and wine. I am not sure I have ever tasted a young Bricco delle Viole with this much purity of fruit. The 2014 is total class. Don't miss it. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 98 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€1,310.42 |
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Wine Advocate (98)From the Bricco delle Viole cru, or the vineyard most strongly associated with this historic estate, this is a versatile or "evergreen" wine that always delivers consistent results. The G.D. Vajra 2016 Barolo Bricco delle Viole sees fruit from a seven-hectare vineyard with high exposures positioned at 400 to 480 meters above sea level. This site shows characteristic Tortonian-era soils classified as Sant'Agata marl with fossils. These soils have an enormous capacity to regulate the ripening process, resulting in the longer growing seasons relished by the Nebbiolo grape. In a word, the profile here is classic. You get delicate fruit tones and wild rose with camphor ash, licorice and tar. The wine is beautifully harmonious and ethereal. Some 15,000 bottles are hitting the market now. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 98 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€654.61 |
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Wine Advocate (98)From the Bricco delle Viole cru, or the vineyard most strongly associated with this historic estate, this is a versatile or "evergreen" wine that always delivers consistent results. The G.D. Vajra 2016 Barolo Bricco delle Viole sees fruit from a seven-hectare vineyard with high exposures positioned at 400 to 480 meters above sea level. This site shows characteristic Tortonian-era soils classified as Sant'Agata marl with fossils. These soils have an enormous capacity to regulate the ripening process, resulting in the longer growing seasons relished by the Nebbiolo grape. In a word, the profile here is classic. You get delicate fruit tones and wild rose with camphor ash, licorice and tar. The wine is beautifully harmonious and ethereal. Some 15,000 bottles are hitting the market now. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 96 (WE) |
Inc. TAX
€582.26 |
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Wine Enthusiast (96)Aromas of underbrush, pine forest, woodland berries and cedar form the enticing nose. Full-bodied and savory, the structured palate delivers ripe Morello cherry, raspberry compote, star anise and cinnamon before closing on pipe tobacco notes. Tightly knit but refined tannins provide the backbone, while surprisingly fresh acidity for the hot vintage keeps it balanced. |
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Piedmont | 3 | 97 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€879.18 |
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Vinous (97)The 2019 Barolo Bricco delle Viole offers a beguiling combination of depth and energy. Dark and potent in the glass, yet also quite reticent, the 2019 is going to take a number of years to come around. Black cherry, graphite, crushed rocks, mint, sage and incense all open in the glass, but only with quite a bit of reticence. I especially like the way the 2019 opens up on its resonant, expansive finish, but it remains a decidedly brooding Barolo whose best days are far off in the future. |
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Piedmont | 20 | - |
Inc. TAX
€916.12 |
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Piedmont | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€710.57 |
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Piedmont | 1 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€377.41 |
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Vinous (94)The 2016 Barolo Coste di Rose is plump, juicy and forward - all qualities that make it one of the more approachable wines in the Vajra range. Plump dark cherry, plum, licorice, spice and menthol all flesh out in a racy, juicy Barolo that will drink well right out of the gate. Plush fruit and silky tannins add to the wine's voluptuous feel and early accessibility. This is very good, but it is not particularly complex. |
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Piedmont | 2 | 96 (WE) |
Inc. TAX
€605.41 |
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Wine Enthusiast (96)Wild berry, menthol and tilled earth aromas mingle with whiffs of dark spice. Linear and savory, the lithe palate is already immediate, featuring juicy raspberry, red cherry, crushed mint and star anise accompanied by taut, polished tannins. Tangy acidity keeps it fresh and bright. |
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Piedmont | 5 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€684.65 |
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Vinous (93)The 2019 Barolo Coste di Rose is the most open of the vineyard designates, but is not the easygoing Barolo it has often been in the past. Bright acids and veins of supporting tannin give the 2019 its taut, rather nervous feel. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice flowers and earthy tones all develop with a bit of time in the glass. There is a bit of nervousness in the tannin that needs to soften, but all the elements are nicely balanced. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 95+ (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€939.01 |
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Vinous (95+)Vajra's 2010 Barolo is striking. Freshly cut flowers, mint, crushed rocks, pine and aromatic spices all take shape in the 2010 Barolo Ravera. Vibrant and pulsating to the core, the 2010 impresses for its pure tension. Freshly cut flowers, mint and sweet spices add lift, but ultimately the 2010 is a dark, brooding Barolo that is going to require cellaring. There is so much to like here. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 95+ (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€567.01 |
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Vinous (95+)The 2013 Barolo Ravera is tightly wound and austere, with tons of its energy in reserve. Lavender, violet, plum, spice and menthol are beautifully delineated throughout. In some vintages Ravera is explosive, but the 2013 is very much closed in on itself. Attractive scents of rose petal, mint, sweet red berries and chalk infuse the taut, salivating finish. My instincts say this is going to be a very special wine one day. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 17 (JR) |
Inc. TAX
€426.61 |
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Jancis Robinson (17)Novello. Tasted blind. Surprisingly dark ruby for this vintage. Brooding richness on the nose. Plenty of sour cherry on the palate and firm, somewhat drying tannins. This is still very youthful, and unsettled. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 97 (WS) |
Inc. TAX
€523.81 |
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Wine Spectator (97)Alluring aromas of cherry, rose and graphite settle into a core of cherry and strawberry fruit, with nuances of iron, tobacco and tar. Sleek, yet intense and complex, unfolding effortlessly through the long finish. Best from 2023 through 2047. 500 cases made. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 97 (WE) |
Inc. TAX
€450.61 |
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Wine Enthusiast (97)From the township of Novello and from what is now widely recognized as one of the denomination's top vineyard sites, this is just stunning, offering intense aromas of wild berries, new leather, floral notes, camphor and grilled herb. The delicious, structured palate shows finesse and power, featuring ripe red cherry, blood orange, cedar, licorice and mineral notes suggesting tangy iron. Noble tannins provide support. Reflecting the vintage, this won't need years to come around but will also age well for at least another decade. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 96 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€521.58 |
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Vinous (96)The 2019 Barolo Ravera is redolent of red fruit, mint, chalk, white pepper and orange peel. A Barolo of tension and energy, the 2019 is intensely bright and saline to the core. I would not dream of touching a bottle anytime soon. This is an especially taut style, even for Vajra. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 94+ (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€240.78 |
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Vinous (94+)The 2016 Langhe Freisa Kyé is a gorgeous wine, but it is going to need at least a few years in bottle to be at its very best. Scorched earth, smoke, tobacco, grilled herbs and black pepper give the Kyé its distinctive brooding personality. As always, the Kyé is a powerful, deep wine, but, as in recent years, the style is a bit more restrained than the more explosive wines in the past. The Kyé emerges from a parcel in the Vajra family's Bricco delle Viole home vineyard. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 89 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€153.18 |
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Vinous (89)Vajra's 2019 Langhe Nebbiolo is a jewel of a wine. Crushed red berry fruit, rose petal and spice lend complexity, but it is the wine's balance and sheer deliciousness that stands out most. This is beautifully done. |
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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|
Piedmont | 1 | 96 (VN) |
In Bond
€468.00 |
|||||
Vinous (96)The 2014 Barolo Bricco delle Viole is positively stunning. There are many things about this wine that are super-impressive, but what stands out most is how soft and silky the tannins are. Because of that, the 2014 is much more approachable than it usually is, and yet also conveys the feeling of translucence that is such a signature of this site and wine. I am not sure I have ever tasted a young Bricco delle Viole with this much purity of fruit. The 2014 is total class. Don't miss it. |
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|
Piedmont | 1 | 98 (WA) |
In Bond
€1,055.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (98)From the Bricco delle Viole cru, or the vineyard most strongly associated with this historic estate, this is a versatile or "evergreen" wine that always delivers consistent results. The G.D. Vajra 2016 Barolo Bricco delle Viole sees fruit from a seven-hectare vineyard with high exposures positioned at 400 to 480 meters above sea level. This site shows characteristic Tortonian-era soils classified as Sant'Agata marl with fossils. These soils have an enormous capacity to regulate the ripening process, resulting in the longer growing seasons relished by the Nebbiolo grape. In a word, the profile here is classic. You get delicate fruit tones and wild rose with camphor ash, licorice and tar. The wine is beautifully harmonious and ethereal. Some 15,000 bottles are hitting the market now. |
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|
Piedmont | 1 | 98 (WA) |
In Bond
€527.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (98)From the Bricco delle Viole cru, or the vineyard most strongly associated with this historic estate, this is a versatile or "evergreen" wine that always delivers consistent results. The G.D. Vajra 2016 Barolo Bricco delle Viole sees fruit from a seven-hectare vineyard with high exposures positioned at 400 to 480 meters above sea level. This site shows characteristic Tortonian-era soils classified as Sant'Agata marl with fossils. These soils have an enormous capacity to regulate the ripening process, resulting in the longer growing seasons relished by the Nebbiolo grape. In a word, the profile here is classic. You get delicate fruit tones and wild rose with camphor ash, licorice and tar. The wine is beautifully harmonious and ethereal. Some 15,000 bottles are hitting the market now. |
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|
Piedmont | 1 | 96 (WE) |
In Bond
€463.00 |
|||||
Wine Enthusiast (96)Aromas of underbrush, pine forest, woodland berries and cedar form the enticing nose. Full-bodied and savory, the structured palate delivers ripe Morello cherry, raspberry compote, star anise and cinnamon before closing on pipe tobacco notes. Tightly knit but refined tannins provide the backbone, while surprisingly fresh acidity for the hot vintage keeps it balanced. |
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|
Piedmont | 3 | 97 (VN) |
In Bond
€714.00 |
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Vinous (97)The 2019 Barolo Bricco delle Viole offers a beguiling combination of depth and energy. Dark and potent in the glass, yet also quite reticent, the 2019 is going to take a number of years to come around. Black cherry, graphite, crushed rocks, mint, sage and incense all open in the glass, but only with quite a bit of reticence. I especially like the way the 2019 opens up on its resonant, expansive finish, but it remains a decidedly brooding Barolo whose best days are far off in the future. |
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|
Piedmont | 20 | - |
In Bond
€741.00 |
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|
Piedmont | 1 | - |
In Bond
€559.00 |
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|
Piedmont | 1 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
€296.00 |
|||||
Vinous (94)The 2016 Barolo Coste di Rose is plump, juicy and forward - all qualities that make it one of the more approachable wines in the Vajra range. Plump dark cherry, plum, licorice, spice and menthol all flesh out in a racy, juicy Barolo that will drink well right out of the gate. Plush fruit and silky tannins add to the wine's voluptuous feel and early accessibility. This is very good, but it is not particularly complex. |
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|
Piedmont | 2 | 96 (WE) |
In Bond
€486.00 |
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Wine Enthusiast (96)Wild berry, menthol and tilled earth aromas mingle with whiffs of dark spice. Linear and savory, the lithe palate is already immediate, featuring juicy raspberry, red cherry, crushed mint and star anise accompanied by taut, polished tannins. Tangy acidity keeps it fresh and bright. |
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|
Piedmont | 5 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
€548.00 |
|||||
Vinous (93)The 2019 Barolo Coste di Rose is the most open of the vineyard designates, but is not the easygoing Barolo it has often been in the past. Bright acids and veins of supporting tannin give the 2019 its taut, rather nervous feel. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice flowers and earthy tones all develop with a bit of time in the glass. There is a bit of nervousness in the tannin that needs to soften, but all the elements are nicely balanced. |
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|
Piedmont | 1 | 95+ (VN) |
In Bond
€764.00 |
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Vinous (95+)Vajra's 2010 Barolo is striking. Freshly cut flowers, mint, crushed rocks, pine and aromatic spices all take shape in the 2010 Barolo Ravera. Vibrant and pulsating to the core, the 2010 impresses for its pure tension. Freshly cut flowers, mint and sweet spices add lift, but ultimately the 2010 is a dark, brooding Barolo that is going to require cellaring. There is so much to like here. |
|||||||||
|
Piedmont | 1 | 95+ (VN) |
In Bond
€454.00 |
|||||
Vinous (95+)The 2013 Barolo Ravera is tightly wound and austere, with tons of its energy in reserve. Lavender, violet, plum, spice and menthol are beautifully delineated throughout. In some vintages Ravera is explosive, but the 2013 is very much closed in on itself. Attractive scents of rose petal, mint, sweet red berries and chalk infuse the taut, salivating finish. My instincts say this is going to be a very special wine one day. |
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|
Piedmont | 1 | 17 (JR) |
In Bond
€337.00 |
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Jancis Robinson (17)Novello. Tasted blind. Surprisingly dark ruby for this vintage. Brooding richness on the nose. Plenty of sour cherry on the palate and firm, somewhat drying tannins. This is still very youthful, and unsettled. |
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|
Piedmont | 1 | 97 (WS) |
In Bond
€418.00 |
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Wine Spectator (97)Alluring aromas of cherry, rose and graphite settle into a core of cherry and strawberry fruit, with nuances of iron, tobacco and tar. Sleek, yet intense and complex, unfolding effortlessly through the long finish. Best from 2023 through 2047. 500 cases made. |
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|
Piedmont | 1 | 97 (WE) |
In Bond
€357.00 |
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Wine Enthusiast (97)From the township of Novello and from what is now widely recognized as one of the denomination's top vineyard sites, this is just stunning, offering intense aromas of wild berries, new leather, floral notes, camphor and grilled herb. The delicious, structured palate shows finesse and power, featuring ripe red cherry, blood orange, cedar, licorice and mineral notes suggesting tangy iron. Noble tannins provide support. Reflecting the vintage, this won't need years to come around but will also age well for at least another decade. |
|||||||||
|
Piedmont | 1 | 96 (VN) |
In Bond
€416.00 |
|||||
Vinous (96)The 2019 Barolo Ravera is redolent of red fruit, mint, chalk, white pepper and orange peel. A Barolo of tension and energy, the 2019 is intensely bright and saline to the core. I would not dream of touching a bottle anytime soon. This is an especially taut style, even for Vajra. |
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|
Piedmont | 1 | 94+ (VN) |
In Bond
€182.00 |
|||||
Vinous (94+)The 2016 Langhe Freisa Kyé is a gorgeous wine, but it is going to need at least a few years in bottle to be at its very best. Scorched earth, smoke, tobacco, grilled herbs and black pepper give the Kyé its distinctive brooding personality. As always, the Kyé is a powerful, deep wine, but, as in recent years, the style is a bit more restrained than the more explosive wines in the past. The Kyé emerges from a parcel in the Vajra family's Bricco delle Viole home vineyard. |
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|
Piedmont | 1 | 89 (VN) |
In Bond
€109.00 |
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Vinous (89)Vajra's 2019 Langhe Nebbiolo is a jewel of a wine. Crushed red berry fruit, rose petal and spice lend complexity, but it is the wine's balance and sheer deliciousness that stands out most. This is beautifully done. |