2018 G.D. Vajra Barolo Ravera

Community Tasting Notes (11) Avg Score: 91.2 points

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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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