Coravin. Light ruby, bricking as expected for youthful barolo; high intensity aromatics, red cherry, strawberry, violets; palate is light bodied, slight fruit-related sweetness throughout, young but approachable tannins, balanced 14.5% alcohol, a bit of black cherry, early balsamic; finish is long and a bit of tannin shows here. Youthful but so enjoyable now that I keep opening bottles. Will age my last bottle a bit, but at <$80 this was a pleasure to drink young. 93
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Coravin. I liked this so much that I opened another bottle within a week. This may be a vintage that I drink young. 93 Update: The tannins are very integrated at opening and with food, but they do make themselves known if you're finishing a glass after the food has run out. Definitely young barolo, but still very enjoyable.
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Coravin. Light-med ruby, slight bricking typical for nebbiolo, overall a bit more purple/darker than the 2018 Bricco della Viole; medium intensity aromatics, not as pretty and red fruited as BdV, a little black cherry and violets; the palate is really where this shines, light bodied but with a dense sweetness and purity of fruit throughout, youthful tannins but surprisingly well integrated and very drinkable, alcohol is listed as 14.5% but integrated better than BdV, a bit of black cherry and early savory soy; finish is medium-plus to long and slightly tannic. Vajra is always impeccable, totally different profile than the BdV so in some ways not really comparable. I love the red fruitedness and elegance of BdV, but this Ravera seems so phenomenally well put together and full of life and intensity that I enjoy it as well. 92+, lovely Barolo for the price. With air and time, better and better. Tannins are a bit more pronounced though. Stellar barolo, with incredible vibrancy and freshness (classic Vajra character). 93+
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An inviting cool and calm nose of flora, stones and crisp red fruits. There's the accessibility of the vintage here, but it is serious and has serious structure buried. With air you get a licorice note and the finish is carried by chalky tannins. Great poise and balance.
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The nose provide a fruit explosion, cherry, plum, red grapes with floral notes. The taste was a little quieter. Less fruity, a bit acid with tannins present but not unpleasant. On the opening the wine was really tight, almost stressed. Did a double decant and waited an hour before drinking. Already better but the wine is lacking depth. After 4 hours it start revealing something else. Longer, some soil and wood. I think it would have evolved more with time but I finished the bottle…
Minimum 5 more years to have more of this wine
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I paired this with a dish of manicotti in meat sauce with a meatball.
The wine is a translucent, brick red in the glass with slow, thick tears that hint at its 14.5% ABV. It presents floral aromas of rose petals, along with black pepper and a subtle hint of rubber. (Nebbiolo, the grape used in Barolo DOCG wines, is known for aromas of “tar and roses,” so perhaps the subtle rubber is what I’m interpreting as the “tar.”)
The wine is young and fresh. It rests lightly on the palette, deceptively masking its powerful triple punch of grippy tannins, bright acidity and hot alcohol that quickly follows. When paired with a bit of the cheesy manicotti in the meat sauce, however, the tannins mellow and yield to a juicy pop of ripe red cherry and raspberry that sings along with the tomato sauce.
The pairing evokes an image of a bright red helium balloon tied down to a fencepost. The balloon (the wine) wants to soar and fly away, but the fencepost provides a sturdy, foundational anchor (the manicotti) that keeps the balloon centered while at the same time allowing it to dance in the wind.
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Immediately expressive with a nose of died flowers, blood plum, sage and liqueur cherry. There's a fleshy, sweet core with plenty of savoury nuance surrounding. Tannins are moderate and sweet and it is a good early drinker with plenty on the tank.
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Ravera is the most important and well known single vineyard in Novello commune. Wine is aged for 30 months in large Slavonian casks. Medium+ ruby colour. Medium+ intensity deep and persistent aroma of cherries, fresh roses, tar, truffle, spices. Medium+ body, complex, well structured and most powerful from the Vajra’s Barolo range. Shows earthy and lively character with red fruit, spice and mushroomy elegant flavours, bright acidity and firm mouth coating tannins.
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G.D. Varja Seminar; 2018 vs 2019 (Boston University): Its easy to see why the Raveras were placed where they were in the tasting; they are POWERFUL. There is a "WOW" factor when drinking these wines. Ravera is probably the most famous cru in the town of Novello and is composed of a mixture of ancient oceanic marls mixed with sandstones and clay. There is a high proportion of iron and manganese in the soil compared to other parcels farmed by Vajra. The plots Vajra farms are between 320 and 340 meters above sea level, which helps the grapes ripen slowly and retain their aromatics.
Vinification is similar to their other wines; 3x manual sorting, indigenous yeasts, gentle punch downs combined with a period of submerged cap maceration. Malo in the spring, followed by aging for 30ish months in large, neutral Slovanian oak botti.
The first word I wrote when tasting this wine was simply "Wow." The 2018 Ravera is a stunning wine. Beautifully balanced and powerful. The nose is exotic and multi-faceted, inviting you to revisit with your nose as often as possible. The fruit profile is slightly darker than the other 2018s we tried. The wine also has a very clear mineral influence from the iron and manganese. The acidity is more pronounced than on the other 18s, at least to me. The tannins had a bit more grip. The texture borders on umami. In short, this 2018 just had a little "extra" everything. The finish is long and luscious. While this wine is BEGGING to be consumed now, doing so would be a crime. Hold to be rewarded in spades.
My favorite wine of the tasting.
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Remarkable wine, I am a huge fan of Vajra and Baudana . Full bodied, rich and very youthful. Frankly, it’s way too early for these, but I wished to evaluate the vintage and am quite pleased. Drink 2026-2040.
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5/9/2024 - aagrawal wrote: 93 Points
Coravin. Light ruby, bricking as expected for youthful barolo; high intensity aromatics, red cherry, strawberry, violets; palate is light bodied, slight fruit-related sweetness throughout, young but approachable tannins, balanced 14.5% alcohol, a bit of black cherry, early balsamic; finish is long and a bit of tannin shows here. Youthful but so enjoyable now that I keep opening bottles. Will age my last bottle a bit, but at <$80 this was a pleasure to drink young. 93
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4/23/2024 - aagrawal wrote: 93 Points
Coravin. I liked this so much that I opened another bottle within a week. This may be a vintage that I drink young. 93
Update: The tannins are very integrated at opening and with food, but they do make themselves known if you're finishing a glass after the food has run out. Definitely young barolo, but still very enjoyable.
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4/18/2024 - aagrawal wrote: 93 Points
Coravin. Light-med ruby, slight bricking typical for nebbiolo, overall a bit more purple/darker than the 2018 Bricco della Viole; medium intensity aromatics, not as pretty and red fruited as BdV, a little black cherry and violets; the palate is really where this shines, light bodied but with a dense sweetness and purity of fruit throughout, youthful tannins but surprisingly well integrated and very drinkable, alcohol is listed as 14.5% but integrated better than BdV, a bit of black cherry and early savory soy; finish is medium-plus to long and slightly tannic. Vajra is always impeccable, totally different profile than the BdV so in some ways not really comparable. I love the red fruitedness and elegance of BdV, but this Ravera seems so phenomenally well put together and full of life and intensity that I enjoy it as well. 92+, lovely Barolo for the price.
With air and time, better and better. Tannins are a bit more pronounced though. Stellar barolo, with incredible vibrancy and freshness (classic Vajra character). 93+
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2/11/2024 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
An inviting cool and calm nose of flora, stones and crisp red fruits. There's the accessibility of the vintage here, but it is serious and has serious structure buried. With air you get a licorice note and the finish is carried by chalky tannins. Great poise and balance.
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1/24/2024 - Guillmallette Likes this wine: 91 Points
The nose provide a fruit explosion, cherry, plum, red grapes with floral notes.
The taste was a little quieter. Less fruity, a bit acid with tannins present but not unpleasant.
On the opening the wine was really tight, almost stressed.
Did a double decant and waited an hour before drinking. Already better but the wine is lacking depth.
After 4 hours it start revealing something else. Longer, some soil and wood. I think it would have evolved more with time but I finished the bottle…
Minimum 5 more years to have more of this wine
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12/1/2023 - MJMcCarthy Likes this wine: 91 Points
I paired this with a dish of manicotti in meat sauce with a meatball.
The wine is a translucent, brick red in the glass with slow, thick tears that hint at its 14.5% ABV. It presents floral aromas of rose petals, along with black pepper and a subtle hint of rubber. (Nebbiolo, the grape used in Barolo DOCG wines, is known for aromas of “tar and roses,” so perhaps the subtle rubber is what I’m interpreting as the “tar.”)
The wine is young and fresh. It rests lightly on the palette, deceptively masking its powerful triple punch of grippy tannins, bright acidity and hot alcohol that quickly follows. When paired with a bit of the cheesy manicotti in the meat sauce, however, the tannins mellow and yield to a juicy pop of ripe red cherry and raspberry that sings along with the tomato sauce.
The pairing evokes an image of a bright red helium balloon tied down to a fencepost. The balloon (the wine) wants to soar and fly away, but the fencepost provides a sturdy, foundational anchor (the manicotti) that keeps the balloon centered while at the same time allowing it to dance in the wind.
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10/22/2023 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wound up and structured, but still lovely to drink right now. Very solid Barolo for the price.
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8/23/2023 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Immediately expressive with a nose of died flowers, blood plum, sage and liqueur cherry. There's a fleshy, sweet core with plenty of savoury nuance surrounding. Tannins are moderate and sweet and it is a good early drinker with plenty on the tank.
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3/29/2023 - Ernestas Likes this wine: 91 Points
Ravera is the most important and well known single vineyard in Novello commune. Wine is aged for 30 months in large Slavonian casks. Medium+ ruby colour. Medium+ intensity deep and persistent aroma of cherries, fresh roses, tar, truffle, spices. Medium+ body, complex, well structured and most powerful from the Vajra’s Barolo range. Shows earthy and lively character with red fruit, spice and mushroomy elegant flavours, bright acidity and firm mouth coating tannins.
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2/23/2023 - tastark Likes this wine:
G.D. Varja Seminar; 2018 vs 2019 (Boston University): Its easy to see why the Raveras were placed where they were in the tasting; they are POWERFUL. There is a "WOW" factor when drinking these wines. Ravera is probably the most famous cru in the town of Novello and is composed of a mixture of ancient oceanic marls mixed with sandstones and clay. There is a high proportion of iron and manganese in the soil compared to other parcels farmed by Vajra. The plots Vajra farms are between 320 and 340 meters above sea level, which helps the grapes ripen slowly and retain their aromatics.
Vinification is similar to their other wines; 3x manual sorting, indigenous yeasts, gentle punch downs combined with a period of submerged cap maceration. Malo in the spring, followed by aging for 30ish months in large, neutral Slovanian oak botti.
The first word I wrote when tasting this wine was simply "Wow." The 2018 Ravera is a stunning wine. Beautifully balanced and powerful. The nose is exotic and multi-faceted, inviting you to revisit with your nose as often as possible. The fruit profile is slightly darker than the other 2018s we tried. The wine also has a very clear mineral influence from the iron and manganese. The acidity is more pronounced than on the other 18s, at least to me. The tannins had a bit more grip. The texture borders on umami. In short, this 2018 just had a little "extra" everything. The finish is long and luscious. While this wine is BEGGING to be consumed now, doing so would be a crime. Hold to be rewarded in spades.
My favorite wine of the tasting.
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1/13/2023 - Robwild wrote: 89 Points
A bit thin Nicely balanced Oak and leather.
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11/13/2022 - BradA Likes this wine:
Remarkable wine, I am a huge fan of Vajra and Baudana . Full bodied, rich and very youthful. Frankly, it’s way too early for these, but I wished to evaluate the vintage and am quite pleased. Drink 2026-2040.
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