Dinner with the Vajra Family

Locanda dell’Arco, Cissone, Cuneo, Italy
Tasted Sunday, July 3, 2016 by kenv with 464 views

Introduction

Dinner with Giuseppe, Francesca, and Isi Vajra at Locanda dell’Arco in the lovely mountaintop town of Cissone. Cissone is about 16km southeast of the town of Barolo. The restaurant Locanda dell’Arco is justifiably famous. Owner Giuseppe Giordano is the perfect host.

Photos and more info here:

http://www.finewinegeek.com/tn/2016-07_Piedmont/2016-07-03c_Vajra_Arco/

Flight 1 (5 Notes)

  • 2011 G.D. Vajra Langhe Riesling Petracine 93 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

    Ordered from the restaurant. Served chilled. Pop & pour. Giuseppe said they make 12,000 bottles of this. First made in 1989, but had to be labeled "Langhe Bianco" (no "Riesling") until this vintage. I think this is the first Riesling from Piedmont that I've tasted.
    Muted nose of slate and lemon custard. Soft, rich, clean, and crisp in the mouth. Dry. Impressively complex and expansive. On the lush side compared to a typical German Grosses Gewächs. I could drink this all night. Goes beautifully with the classic Piemontese appetizers.

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  • 2012 G.D. Vajra Barolo Albe 92 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    [No label on the bottle. Just bottled this Friday (2 days ago). This is the second bottling of this wine. The first bottling was in the summer 2015 at the same time as the bottling of the 2012 Bricco delle Viole.] Really ripe young fruit. Delicious to drink but so clearly in need of time to come together after bottling. Should be an excellent value.

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  • 2012 G.D. Vajra Barolo Bricco delle Viole 94 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    Ripe black fruit nose is surprisingly complex for such a young wine. In the mouth there is ripe black fruit and soft tannin, as well as that ethereal quality that is so characteristic of Bricco delle Viole. Good length.

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  • 2012 Luigi Baudana Barolo Baudana 93 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    Dark black fruit nose. Incredibly intense in the mouth. Lacks the lift of the Bricco delle Viole, but has that classic Serralunga intensity. A very different wine from the Bricco delle Viole, but also quite good.

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  • 1990 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia 95 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    Bought off the list. Pop & pour. Tight at first with a muted nose of spice and black fruit with a hint of bark mulch. Opening slowly over time. After an hour, it is really starting to sing. Still young with plenty of upside. Becoming more expressive as it opens. 95-?

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Closing

The food and the setting were wonderful, only to be matched by the wines and the hospitality of the Vajra family.

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