2005 G.D. Vajra Barolo Albe

WineAlign

• By David Lawrason
  9/15/2010, (See more on WineAlign...)

  (G. D. Vajra Albe Barolo, Docg red) Login and sign up and see review text.

• By John Szabo, MS
  9/8/2010, (See more on WineAlign...)

  (G. D. Vajra Albe Barolo, Docg red) Login and sign up and see review text.

• By Antonio Galloni
  Piedmont Comes Of Age (Oct 2009), (See more on Vinous...)

  (G.d. Vajra Barolo Albe) Login and sign up and see review text.

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  10/30/2009, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (Barolo VAJRA Albe) UPDATE: Port Many of you emailed in response to the Rocha Port offer wondering who Roy Hersh was? Roy is the astute voice behind For the Love of Port (FTLOP), in some way, the Burghound of Port publications. Roy is one of our country's most experienced palates when it comes to Port and also the dry wines of Portugal. If you are an enthusiast of Vintage Port, Roy's publication contains a myriad of tasting notes on older vintages as well as the upcoming new releases - it is very well written. To sign up (no relation to Garagiste): http://www.fortheloveofport.com/website/subscribe-to-ftlop.html - Jon Rimmerman *********************** Barolo Dear Friends, Considering you are going to be overrun with 2007 Rhone offers from every nook and cranny of the US and abroad, I will give you a break and stick with Italy. Speaking of Vajra, what about this delicious wine that you can drink tonight or lay away for several years? I often find myself rummaging through the cellar only to pull bottles of Barolo and Barbaresco that simply need more age to show their best. I'd like to pull the cork (in the name of research of course) but it's just not the right time. In this circumstance I may open a 2000 or 1998 Barolo, two vintages with more glycerin and less overt tannin (most of the 2000s I have were given to me as gifts from winemakers - I did not endorse the vintage on release and still do not but the wines can make for sumptuous drinking right now - they are not ageing wines). The problem is that most of these 1998s et al are far too expensive for a less than gala occasion (frozen pizza on a Wednesday night?) and I find myself disgruntled that I don't have more moderately priced Barolo to enjoy in the near-mid term. I do now. This wine fills a large void in almost every collector's cellar. It is a reasonably priced example (from a great producer) with the same fastidious attention to detail as their $60 Bricco delle Viole Barolo. Made with a light hand in an almost Burgundy meets Barolo style, the 2005 Albe delivers loads of flavor, typicity and character (along with a dose of aromatic charm) that will be much appreciated the next time you find yourself in the same cellar predicament mentioned above - ready to enjoy Barolo but not willing to empty the wallet or the treasure trove just yet. The difference between something like this and a host of generic Barolo on the market is the effort and ethos behind it - this is a true boutique wine from a staunch traditionalist - a man that still wakes every morning with the eager anticipation of a day in the vineyards (much like Rinaldi). In other words, this is a small family operation and profit is not their first motive (obviously, from the price). A gem of gems: This wine is sourced form Vajra's own high-elevation (1200-1500 ft) vineyards in Fossati, Le Volta and Costa di Vergene - it is not from cast-off fruit. Giuseppe says it best himself: "The Albe is Barolo in the fresh style with complete respect for our territory and the tradition of its production". I know I said this a few days ago about the Ninot Les Crets Burgundy but, if that was the Deal of the Year in Pinot Noir, this has to be a contender for Deal of the Year in Barolo. Barbaresco I can understand under $30, but Barolo of this ilk at $26+? That's going to be tough to top. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED as an artisanal but accessible alternative to the same old, same old (at a great price for Barolo) This parcel is directly from the winery cellar with perfect provenance: 2005 GD Vajra Barolo "Albe" DOCG (Barolo) Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Italy5783