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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 92.4 pts. and median of 93 pts. in 87 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by stet on 3/8/2024 & rated 93 points: Color: medium garnet
Nose: redolent of roses, violets, and amarena. There is a leather and tar presence, as well as a ton of mushroom and forest floor and olive wood
Palate: medium-full bodied with high acidity and biting high tannins felt on gums and tongue. Confirms the nose. While being too young to be balanced, this shows promise
Finish: long
Mighty, with an endearing nose, powerful aromas with impeccable tipicity. This is young though, it needs either a steak or short rib braise, or 5 (but really, 10) more years. Right now the tannins are rustic and huge. Even then, this is clearly a beautiful wine that one day will be stunning. 3 hours of air recommended, but really tou can open this a week before you drink it at this point (856 views) | | | Tasted by A6Rover on 12/25/2023 & rated 84 points: This came from Winebid so I can’t vouch for its younger years but the was just tired: despite a good and gentle decent it remained punishingly lean, polluted with sediment, and fairly oxidized. There was a hint of charm but the flaws smothered it with unpleasantness (1099 views) | | | Tasted by fcxj on 10/30/2023 & rated 90 points: Quaffable. (1500 views) | | | Tasted by Bellissimo on 9/7/2023: Brought to a restaurant, shared with friends. Decanted 60 minutes at home then slow-Oed at restaurant another 90 minutes before we got around to this.
Really fragrant. Loved the nose: Rose petals, dried cherries, truffle, and a hint of orange peel. Palate generally followed nose but with more dusty road. Again dark, dried cherries, dusty components, red roses, and eucalyptus. Nice acids up front but this begs for food as the tannins were assertive. VERY contemplative, thinkers kind of wine.
EDIT -- 2 hours removed (5 hours after being opened) still developing. Still love the nose but palate needs more time or a longer decant. (1489 views) | | | Tasted by ohne_musik on 8/25/2023 & rated 92 points: Barolo Dinner (Mathilde Bistro - SF): Great to see the kinship of the 08/12/13. The 12 is something of a "middle child", less demonstrative and comely than the 08 (tannins slightly more rustic and tightly clenched), and less stuffing than the 13. Very nice, but feels like it needs another decade or so to really hit its stride. 92+ (1625 views) | | | Tasted by ylkim30 on 8/25/2023: Fragrant on the nose and beautifully red-fruited on the palate with nice acidity and firm tannins when poured from the bottle, it shuts down harder than nails within 15 minutes.
It opened up a little more later in the evening, but the wine needs time (or perhaps time in a decanter). I would hold for a couple of years before opening my next bottle, but you can see the potential.
EDIT: Over the next couple of days, I revisited this wine, and it definitely opened up. The floral aromas became more prominent and you get a delicate, lacy texture on the palate, interwoven with textbook red fruit. Yum. Not as concentrated as the '08 and '13, but still a wonderful bottle of Barolo. (1483 views) | | | Tasted by aagrawal on 8/25/2023 & rated 94 points: Barolo Dinner (Mathilde, San Francisco): Fabulous nose with roses, floral, red fruited, slightly more closed than 2008; palate is balanced, tannins still present but approachable, red fruited, lovely; finish is long. 94++ (1601 views) | | | Tasted by Robmcl920 on 8/10/2023 & rated 91 points: Tasted from 750ml this time, the '12 BDV was again showing nicely. I think there's some room for the palate here to become more elegant as the tannins integrate, but I think the flavor profile is close to peak already. This bottle (from my cellar) is a bit more youthful than the magnum tasted earlier this year from another source.
The nose is nicely perfumed with red to dark red plum fruit, dark red and blueish floral tones, orange peel, and licorice.
On the palate, the '12 is showing nicely but is still a bit rough texturally. I found red cherry and plum fruit, citrus peel, anise, and spices, with the wine medium to light in body, with medium plus acidity, and slightly grainy tannins that emerge on the back end, showing quite tight at the moment. I would like to see a bit more elegance texturally from the wine, as right now the flavor profile is very pretty but this still is drinking young in terms of the tannins. (1568 views) | | | Tasted by Jason Wu on 5/26/2023 & rated 93 points: A lot more tertiary than expected. Truffle, mushroom, orange peel, some roses and bright cherry still present. Enjoyable to pair with roasted chicken and grilled sausages. (1491 views) | | | Tasted by Robmcl920 on 5/21/2023 & rated 92 points: The ‘12 BDV is a really pretty Barolo that is drinking at around peak. This was tasted from magnum. On the nose, the wine is vibrant with lots of primary fruit remaining, with sweet red plum fruit, dark floral tones, and a touch of licorice. On the palate, it is medium in body and very finessed with the tannins nicely integrated already. The sweetness of the fruit is immediately apparent, with dark red plum fruit, a bit of tobacco, licorice, and sweet dark floral tones. Given the texture and sweetness of the fruit, it is very easy to drink. If you like fully mature wines, this can likely go another 10 years easily, but personally I’d prefer to drink over the next few years. (1899 views) | | | Tasted by Twowinechicks on 4/21/2023 & rated 92 points: Translucent ruby red, dark berry fruit and tarry nose at first, decanted for a bit, lighter to medium-bodied, smooooooth (not a typo), vibrant with enough acidity to balance the grippy yet silky tannins, and better each sip. Waiting a decade isn’t easy but wow! For someone who travels among Vajra’s Barbera offerings far more frequently than among the Barolo offerings, this is a potent reminder that good producers’ entry level wines are but a hint of what the better wines can be. (1679 views) | | | Tasted by Grochol on 1/15/2023 & rated 92 points: Nose: dark cherry, prune, violets, tobacco, tar, leather, black tea, licorice
Taste: full bodied, high tannins, high acidity, cherry, strawberry, blackberry, smoke, earthy, black tea, long finish, high intensity, big structure, high tannins but refined and polished, clean, still bright and young, very good example of traditional style of barolo (1864 views) | | | Tasted by DFBW on 11/27/2022 & rated 92 points: Drunk over three nights alongside a 2012 Albe by the same producer. This one really stood out blind with extra layers of fruit, depth and complexity but also some lovely floral aromatics. The tannins are there and still giving the wine a hint of dryness but they are clearly mellowing and starting to soften the wine. A good showing for my first bottle. Two to go and will leave the next one for a good 3 years and check back in. (1884 views) | | | Tasted by FlyPig on 11/20/2022 & rated 94 points: Drink or hold (1746 views) | | | Tasted by Madera16 on 10/29/2022: From mag at H&C. Showing very well, dark yet with a creamy rose note. Beautiful tannin, classic structure. (1871 views) | | | Tasted by Jeremy Holmes on 9/29/2022: In a special place. The nose drew you in with scents of rose petal, pomegranate, cherry and menthol. The palate was perfectly ripe and had layers of creamy fruit flavours. There was a jube-like quality and real freshness to the finish. It is a perfumed wine of character and youthfulness. (2223 views) | | | Tasted by drrobvino on 8/27/2022 & rated 94 points: 3rd bottle from a full case. Donated a bottle to dear Canadian friends, and we opened at the same time and did a facetime call.
Road tar, embers, sweet tobacco, sour cherries, and anise. Massive structure, showing gorgeous tannic mouthfeel, bright acidity, and a long and sexy finish.
This wine has all the trimmings to reach a very special level, but it will take time to soften the tannic grip. Drink through 2032+. (1912 views) | | | Tasted by PaulusLoZebra on 5/14/2022 & rated 93 points: My first Viole from 2012, this (L 33-15) was decanted one hour before dinner and consumed over three nights. It is a mid-weight+ Barolo, fragrant, elegant, angular and precise, with a big acid structure, notable but integrated tannins, bright cherry and plum fruit, and a long beetroot finish. It handles its 14% well. Drink to 2035. It still has plenty of youthful energy, I think this is still about five years away from its optimum drinking window. (2428 views) | | | Tasted by Richard P Howden on 3/18/2022 & rated 93 points: It’s nice to have some Barolo vintages that age well but don’t shut down or require decades for enjoyment. This Vajra BdV was gloriously open after less than an hour, complemented varied courses from burrata to pork chops to seared char. Beautiful floral nose with just hints of earthy tar and a deep mid weight red fruited palate. Lots of energy, a little soft tannin that had no trouble working with food, and a long tart finish. A youthful Barolo lover’s wine. Will it get better? Probably, though it will ride a long curve of openness as it ages. (2589 views) | | | Tasted by ShakinSwedens on 2/14/2022: The first ever Cru Barolo I tried- visiting the vineyard- we bought 4 for 60Euro each. The most I’d ever forked out for a bottle at that point. So many memories wrapped up in this- a bottle from vineyard I love from the winery that first made me fall in love with Nebbiolo- what a wine to celebrate Valentine’s Day dinner with!
Opened a few hours beforehand, still took another hour or so after decanting for the fruit to pop out and then we were in business! All the classic notes, roses and violets on the nose, the acidity and tannins revealing cherries, raspberries and blood orange along with the camphor note. Long finish. Very little tertiary development despite less than perfect storage in all those years since we brought it back in the car from Piedmont. This has serious stuffing but is, and always has been, a delight to just imbibe! (2675 views) | | | Tasted by Redback on 1/2/2022: No notes taken but was very good. (2777 views) | | | Tasted by jrick on 11/13/2021 & rated 93 points: This is excellent, the floral and pure fruit is so fresh, hallmark of the so beautifully named Bricco delle Viole. On the nose I got classic Barolo with roses, tar, cherry and rosehip. But on the palate is where it happens, because that pure fruit is married to such mature, soft tannins while not browning at all. The pure fruit is at first cherry, plum and strawberries as well as the typical roses and violet but with air a complexity arrives where it becomes a little more herbal, a slightest medicinal note but not intruding, licorice, bitter orange, wood. I think this has a lot going for it to age beautifully, but it is already so good. One bottle left that I will confidently leave off for several years. (2655 views) | | | Tasted by drwine2001 on 9/14/2021: Opened 5 hours before serving. Light red with browning. Fragrant green notes, tobacco, and licorice. Light weight, cool, very earthy, and tannic. Throughout the 2 hours it was open, it was always a bit austere and short of fruit, never achieving a more pleasing texture or sense of real ripeness. Not at all what I expected from a 2012. Was it just in a closed phase? Did I open it too early? Whatever the reason, a good rather than outstanding wine, very different than the wild, packed, explosive 2010. (3503 views) | | | Tasted by PMHouser on 9/2/2021 & rated 95 points: Bought this wine years ago and kept it in the cellar. Didn't know what I had until I popped it last night and it is a stunner. Wish I had bought more than one. (2670 views) | | | Tasted by cobalt2 on 6/17/2021 & rated 95 points: See other comments below. I simply concur. Delicious and full bodied keeper. (2576 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Michaela Morris
Decanter, Decanter at Home Barolo (11/10/2021)
(GD Vajra, Bricco delle Viole, Nebbiolo, Barolo, Piedmont, Italy, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Panel Tasting
Decanter, The most exciting wines of 2017 (10/2/2017)
(GD Vajra, Bricco delle Viole, Barolo, Piedmont, Italy, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Michaela Morris
Decanter, GD Vajra Bricco delle Violle (10/1/2017)
(GD Vajra, Bricco delle Viole, Barolo, Piedmont, Italy, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Gary Walsh
The WINEFRONT (7/25/2016)
(G.D. Vajra Barolo Bricco delle Viole) Subscribe to see review text. | By Walter Speller
JancisRobinson.com (5/25/2016)
(G D Vajra, Bricco Delle Viole Barolo Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, 2012 Barolo: Grace Under Pressure (Mar 2016) (3/1/2016)
(G.d. Vajra Barolo Bricco Delle Viole) Subscribe to see review text. | By Walter Speller
JancisRobinson.com (11/16/2015)
(G D Vajra, Bricco delle Viole Barolo Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (1/24/2017)
(G.D. Vajra Barolo Bricco delle Viole) Light medium ruby color; aromatic, balsamic, dried cherry nose; tight, balsamic, dried cherry, charcoal palate; needs 7 years; long finish 94 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Decanter and The WINEFRONT and JancisRobinson.com and Vinous and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| G.D. Vajra Producer Website
The Vajra family has quietly amassed a serious collection of vineyards that make them one of Piedmont’s larger, family-owned estates, something they have accomplished while maintaining the already high level of their entry-level wines. Every wine in the range is absolutely delicious and full of personality. I can’t recommend these new releases highly enough. Antonio GalloniNebbioloNebbiolo is a red grape indigenous to the Piedmont region of Italy in the Northwest. The grape can also be found in other parts of the world, though they are not as respected.
Nebbiolo is often considered the "king of red wines," as it is the grape of the famed wines of Barolo DOCG, Barbaresco DOCG, and Roero DOCG. It is known for high tannins and acidity, but with a distinct finesse. When grown on clay, Nebbiolo can be very powerful, tannic, and require long aging periods to reach its full potential. When grown on sand, the grape exhibits a more approachable body with more elegant fruit and less tannins, but still has high aging potential.
"Nebbiolo" is named for the Italian word, "nebbia", which means "fog", in Italian and rightfully so since there is generally a lot of fog in the foothills of Piedmont during harvest.
Nebbiolo is a late-ripening variety that does best in a continental climate that boasts moderate summers and long autumns. In Piedmont, Nebbiolo is normally harvested in October.
More links:
Varietal character (Appellation America) | Nebbiolo on CellarTrackerBricco delle Viole On weinlagen-info
Bricco delle Viole is a 45.74 ha. vineyard (cru)/ 19.38 ha. Barolo MGA of the Barolo municipality.Italy Italian Wines (ItalianMade.com, The Italian Trade Commission) | Italian Wine Guide on the WineDoctorPiedmont Vignaioli Piemontesi (Italian only)
On weinlagen-infoLanghe Consorzio di Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe e Roero | Union of Producers of Albese Wines (Albeisa)BaroloRegional History:
The wines of Piedmont are noted as far back as Pliny's Natural History. Due to geographic and political isolation, Piedmont was without a natural port for most of its history, which made exportation treacherous and expensive. This left the Piedmontese with little incentive to expand production. Sixteenth-century records show a mere 14% of the Bassa Langa under vine -- most of that low-lying and farmed polyculturally. In the nineteenth century the Marchesa Falletti, a frenchwoman by birth, brought eonologist Louis Oudart from Champagne to create the first dry wines in Piemonte. Along with work in experimental vineyards at Castello Grinzane conducted by Camilo Cavour -- later Conte di Cavour, leader of the Risorgimento and first Prime Minister of Italy -- this was the birth of modern wine in the Piedmont. At the heart of the region and her reputation are Alba and the Langhe Hills. This series of weathered outcroppings south of the Tanaro River is of maritime origin and composed mainly of limestone, sand and clay, known as terra bianca. In these soils -located mainly around the towns of Barolo and Barbaresco -- the ancient allobrogica, now Nebbiolo, achieves its renowned fineness and power.
map of Barolo DOCG
An interesting thread on Traditional vs. Modern Barolo producers:
https://www.wineberserkers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=106291 |
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