I tried this wine in 2018 and it was ok, but nothing like most Baroli. Now, 3 years later, I'm blown away. Really delicious, sweet, balanced wine with decent structure. The wine opened up and improved over an hour of drinking, so give it 30 minutes upon opening. This wine is comparable to Baroli in this vintage.
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One Variety -- 3 Price-Points, Blind (Los Olivos, CA): Served blind in a flight of three of the same grape variety: one inexpensive, one, mid-range and one high-end. While outclassed by a pair of 2008s with superior pedigree (and vastly higher price tags), this bottling remains a delicious, satisfying fave of mine, showing very well even after a decade. I recall there having been more structure some years ago, but there was plenty of juicy dark red fruit evidencing plenty of typicity. I understand this is from a single vineyard that is part of Ravera, undoubtedly contributing to its quality and longevity.
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Last of nine bottles purchased on release, and the best one yet. Beautiful wine, and this was really firing on all cylinders. Some licorice, balanced, deep and rich yet nimble on its feet. Doesn't have the elegant complexity of Vajra Barolo Viole, but loaded with fun! From Zalto Universal stems; opened and gently poured, no decant (and no significant sediment).
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3 hr decant reveals a quite large amount of red fruit and fine tannins that show up at the finish and persist, the downfall of this wine is the obvious late harvesting of fruit as the acid is lacking, thus making this just a soft and large fruited wine. Not the vivacious quality normally associated from nebbiolo.
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Nose of berries, flowers, herbs, violets, bit of candy. Very reticent, only comes through after a couple of hours, I initially thought it might be corked. The palate is all about juicy, mouthwatering acidity, some firm but yielding tannin and the finish. This is very close to what you'd expect from a Barolo though it lacks a little density of flavour to be truly great value.
Took to the neighbors for outdoor pizza. PnP. This needed a bit more time to open than the '08 Baricci Brunello but was still enjoyable. Hearty bottle showing plums, dark cherries, anise and a bit of leather. Nice QPR when I recently paid upper teens.
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Ruby red with aromas and flavors of cherries and strawberries with some tart raspberries and some spice; Med bodied, very dry, smooth, soft, rich flavors; clean finish.
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Consumed over two nights and it held up well. Medium bodied, floral, cherry, licorice, hint of leather, with great mouthfeel. Would definitely buy again if could find in the upper teens.
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Popped and poured. Nose of cherry, strawberry, plum, black licorice and loamy earth. Cherry, red currant, plum, black licorice, leather, spice and earth on the palate. Leads to a dusty, dry, medium to long finish. Medium bodied with a soft texture. Still young and opened with air time. Paired with lasagna.
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En tiltalende lys rød farge. Mildt preg av urter samt flotte sødmefulle aromaer av røde bær og roseblader slår inn på nesa.
Vinen har et slankt, forfriskende og elegant anslag i munnen. Modne røde bær og lett syrlige kirsebær utpreger seg på tunga, mye syre og faste, men behagelige tanniner. Tankene dras også mot skogen og en mosegrønn, lett fuktig jordbunn.
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Really lovely right now and best bottle yet. The same flavors of cherry, leather, earth, spice and licorice as prior bottles, but the fruit seemed richer and riper, and less dried out. Medium body with great balance, a silky smooth texture, nice grip and good complexity. Really terrific with food.
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Rubino di media compattezza. Naso scuro, quasi nord piemontese, con carruba, chinotto, rosa, amarena, spezie orientali, menta. Intenso, gradevolmente fresco, di assoluta bevibilità.
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Had this with roast chicken, porcini mushrooms and butterball potatoes. All made for a perfect meal. The Vajra Neb shows lovely, soft red fruit, a distinct floral aspect, and a hint of licorice. Nicely structured, with excellent acidity. None of the volatility I found last time. Really a delightful wine, and a terrific value.
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Starts off with an odd tomato note on the nose, along with a bit of volatility (though just enough to brighten the wine). These things blow off, leaving a spicy and plummy nose with a hint of leather. The palate is firm, with somewhat gritty tannins and a velvety underlying texture, along with excellent acidity to keep everything focused. Nothing modern about this wine, and I'm loving it. It's also fairly complex, with the nose going through myriad changes -- sandalwood, spices, florals. Wish I had bought at least a half case.
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Rickspicks' note from earlier this month is spot on. This is just at the front of its drinking window. An excellent QPR in Nebbiolo and a step up from the '09 version.
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Another nice bottle. Nice flavors: cherry, leather, earth and a hint of licorice. Medium, lean body with bright acidity and a medium, slightly dry, sharp finish. Fruits are a bit dried rather than ripe and rich. Plenty of character and very enjoyable. Enjoyed it with a slightly smokey ham and the earthiness of the wine was a great complement.
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Opened another one just to see if the issues I had with the past couple of bottles remained. Happily, this one did not have any hint of oxidation. The flavors and aromas are just a bit muted, but what is there is a nice combination of cherry, leather, spice, earth and florals. Light to medium weight with a grippy finish. Drank it at an italian buffet - pasta, veal scallopini, chicken marsala - and it paired nicely with everything. Best with food, and after 30+ minutes of air.
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From 75cl, good cork, opened and left to stand for 2 hours. Delicious pure raspberry fruit, flanked with leather, violets and just enough grippy tannins to make this a stunning accompaniment to a rich beef pie with cepes. 89P
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Opened one and it tasted old and oxidized. Opened another one (this one) and it also tasted a bit tired. Not sure what has happened. Will not score this one either, but would give it 86-87 if I had to score - due to the oxidized flavors.
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Vínsmakk #1 haust 2013 (Marbakkabraut 12): Þriðja vínið í seinni hlutanum. Mjög ljóst á litinn. Anís, kóngabrjóstsykur. Náttúrlega bara opnað og hellt sem kemur kannski niður á einkunn.
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Enjoyed at a wine bar in Asheville, NC (Fig Bistro). I ordered a 1/2 glass to assess what 2010 Barolo could be. Our waitress indicated this wine was opened the night before. Didn't take notes but rose petals, menthol, black cherry on nose with similar palate profile - very smooth with high acids & nice tannic backbone. On PNP this would overwhelm but it was kicking on night 2 - For $20.00+/- this is a 6 pack / case buy. Very impressed. 91++
Surprisingly good on its own and went grilled with a pork belly appetizer. If opening now I'd decant for 4+ hours.
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Another great performance from the 2010 Vajra Nebbiolo. On the first night, it was all about cherry and herbs with a young acid/tannin balance. However, as seems to be the case with this wine, it came alive after many hours of air. Rich cherry sauce, dark soil, herbs, spice and a slight hint of menthol showed on the nose. On the palate, it was lively with red berry fruits, minerals and all spices. The finish closed down slightly but is sure to give more with a few years of age. This is a beautiful Nebbiolo and if it's any indication, 2010 should be amazing.
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A nose which, while not beautiful per se, kept on revealing little subtleties with more time. Violets, ripe plums, a squirt of soy sauce, wet earth aromas predominant. Smooth entrance, fine but grippy tannins alongside a hint of acidity in the midpalate with red fruits and earth flavours. Good length with a tight bitter twist.
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From 75cl, OK cork. Not decanted, which was probably a mistake. Attractive bright red (cherry?) fruit in a surly poultice of raw leather; the tannins get in the way of mid-palate pleasure at this stage. If there is enought fruit concentration to survive another 2-3 years while the tannins resolve it might yet scrape 90P, but the wine in this bottle went distinctly thin and flabby by day 2. On this weekend's showing: 88P.
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Six hours after a double-decant and slow-O, the 2010 Vajra Nebbiolo shows enticing ripe cherry with hints of fresh herbs, floral rose and hints of spice. On the palate it was round and fun, yet with a good structure providing a ying yang of mouth-watering acidity and firm tannin. Red fruits, orange zest, spice and inner floral notes collaborate on the palate to form a lovely presence. The finish was slightly drying with cheek puckering tannin yet still lively and fun.
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Decided to have this with lasagna instead of a sangiovese - it was a pretty good match. Bright cherry, pomegranate and strawberry fruits with some licorice and a hint of tar. Definitely some floral components as well. Light bodied with a lot of structure and good acidity. Medium, earthy, fruity finish. Overall a wine that has slightly delicate flavors that complements rather than dominates.
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Decanted and began drinking immediately. Quite open, smells like cherry, pomegranate, and plenty of tar and rose. Good bright acidity, easygoing tannins, lots of sappy tar on the palate, good tart pomegranate-like fruit, some earth and flowers. Tasty and expressive, quite an enjoyable wine and a good value.
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I have not had a lot of nebbiolo, so not exactly sure what to expect. This reminded me a lot of a pinot noir initially, especially the light texture and strawberry and cherry fruits. But it also had more licorice, damp earth and structure than a typical pinot. Took on some weight and depth after some airtime but also became slightly bitter, less fruity and a bit harsh when consumed alone. More enjoyable with food - it was a terrific match with a pork tenderloin. 89-90 now but also with the potential for upside with more time.
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Didn't take formal notes, but I noted that this bottle was quite good. Had with braised rabbit in red sauce over paparadelle and it was a perfect pairing.
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I first had this in a rapid tasting at Vajra a few months ago. It stood out for its expansive aroma, with actual red-roses content. Therefore I was pleased to catch it in a little more detail as part of AL's Langhe Nebbiolo tasting. He'd double-d.ed 4 hrs before. Nose: classy, minty, tarry; with background light purple fruit… or, actually, that's dried purple rose petals… plus tobacco! That is a quite exciting nose! It was wine 8 (of 12) in the tasting, and the first to show that modern weightless puff in the mid-palate. I take that as micro-oxygenated tannins; although joined in this case by nicely integrated alcohol. Minor, lingering, nicely-narrow fruit. Ooh, and really good acidity - this is racey! Still comes across as a 'lesser' wine, compared to good Barolo, in that the serious core of concentration isn't there. So this won't be for the long term. However, that is a complex, classy nose, and the structure is there for excellent, vital drinking (with air) over the next 6 years. Some tasters preferred the '09 which followed; but, to me, that merely highlighted the '10. Vajra are on the edge of being overly-modern; and the hot-vintage '09 was more mulled, more liqueur, lower acid, rounder, and more international in flavour - no delicate-tar and roses in sight! Anyway, the '10 showed as 91-92… 92?! Marginal WOTN ahead of also-impressive Produttori, GB Burlotto, Castello di Verduno and Colla.
The nose showed intense raspberry, red floral tones, tar, animal musk, undergrowth and dark chocolate. On the palate it was medium-bodied with concentrated, tart cherry fruit, tobacco and leather. The finish was long with dry, red berries and grainy tannin that coated the palate. This is a little painfully to drink now but should be marvelous in a few years time.
I have to note, that after three days of being open, this wine continued to show amazing fruit and purity with no signs of deterioration. It's a beautiful Nebbiolo that will find a place in my cellar.
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-- decanted immediately before initial taste -- -- tasted non-blind over a few hours --
NOSE: red fruited; mineral; roses; dried basil and oregano; tight to moderately expressive; hint of strawberry jam.
BODY: dark ruby color of medium depth; medium bodied.
TASTE: red-fruited, with good acidity and not much tannin; clean --- not funky; some dried herb notes on the long finish, which is of medium-light intensity; about three hours in, the dried herb (sage) notes gain in intensity, the fruit profile darkens a bit, and the finish gains in intensity; no tar flavor; 14% alc. well-hidden; decant if drinking now, but will likely improve a little with a couple years laying down. A nice daily drinker --- good QPR. Gut impression score: 87-89
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10/21/2021 - Cityracer wrote:
Expired,
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4/26/2021 - WhinyWiner Likes this wine: 92 Points
I tried this wine in 2018 and it was ok, but nothing like most Baroli. Now, 3 years later, I'm blown away. Really delicious, sweet, balanced wine with decent structure. The wine opened up and improved over an hour of drinking, so give it 30 minutes upon opening. This wine is comparable to Baroli in this vintage.
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3/22/2021 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 91 Points
One Variety -- 3 Price-Points, Blind (Los Olivos, CA): Served blind in a flight of three of the same grape variety: one inexpensive, one, mid-range and one high-end. While outclassed by a pair of 2008s with superior pedigree (and vastly higher price tags), this bottling remains a delicious, satisfying fave of mine, showing very well even after a decade. I recall there having been more structure some years ago, but there was plenty of juicy dark red fruit evidencing plenty of typicity. I understand this is from a single vineyard that is part of Ravera, undoubtedly contributing to its quality and longevity.
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5/8/2020 - xwine wrote:
Last of nine bottles purchased on release, and the best one yet. Beautiful wine, and this was really firing on all cylinders. Some licorice, balanced, deep and rich yet nimble on its feet. Doesn't have the elegant complexity of Vajra Barolo Viole, but loaded with fun! From Zalto Universal stems; opened and gently poured, no decant (and no significant sediment).
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2/19/2020 - Louvin Likes this wine: 90 Points
1 hr decant, much better than previous bottle couple years ago, tannins are softer and fruit is gorgeous, so still time is helping.
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12/12/2019 - xwine wrote:
Better a couple of years ago, and lacking energy, but still pretty good.
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5/26/2017 - Louvin wrote:
3 hr decant reveals a quite large amount of red fruit and fine tannins that show up at the finish and persist, the downfall of this wine is the obvious late harvesting of fruit as the acid is lacking, thus making this just a soft and large fruited wine. Not the vivacious quality normally associated from nebbiolo.
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4/17/2017 - Dj6544 wrote: 89 Points
Nose of berries, flowers, herbs, violets, bit of candy. Very reticent, only comes through after a couple of hours, I initially thought it might be corked. The palate is all about juicy, mouthwatering acidity, some firm but yielding tannin and the finish. This is very close to what you'd expect from a Barolo though it lacks a little density of flavour to be truly great value.
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8/20/2016 - Bellissimo wrote:
Took to the neighbors for outdoor pizza. PnP. This needed a bit more time to open than the '08 Baricci Brunello but was still enjoyable. Hearty bottle showing plums, dark cherries, anise and a bit of leather. Nice QPR when I recently paid upper teens.
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3/12/2016 - CieloVista wrote: 90 Points
Ruby red with aromas and flavors of cherries and strawberries with some tart raspberries and some spice; Med bodied, very dry, smooth, soft, rich flavors; clean finish.
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3/6/2016 - Bellissimo Likes this wine:
Consumed over two nights and it held up well. Medium bodied, floral, cherry, licorice, hint of leather, with great mouthfeel. Would definitely buy again if could find in the upper teens.
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9/29/2015 - xwine wrote:
Another excellent bottle of this great QPR. Took awhile to open up, but when it did . . . . Simply lovely aromatics, very floral.
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9/26/2015 - miadelt Likes this wine: 90 Points
Needed over 3 hours to open up. Medium bodied but intense flavors. Drink or hold.
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6/15/2015 - hoservin wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Nose of cherry, strawberry, plum, black licorice and loamy earth. Cherry, red currant, plum, black licorice, leather, spice and earth on the palate. Leads to a dusty, dry, medium to long finish. Medium bodied with a soft texture. Still young and opened with air time. Paired with lasagna.
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3/7/2015 - heiamat.no Likes this wine: 88 Points
En tiltalende lys rød farge. Mildt preg av urter samt flotte sødmefulle aromaer av røde bær og roseblader slår inn på nesa.
Vinen har et slankt, forfriskende og elegant anslag i munnen. Modne røde bær og lett syrlige kirsebær utpreger seg på tunga, mye syre og faste, men behagelige tanniner. Tankene dras også mot skogen og en mosegrønn, lett fuktig jordbunn.
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3/1/2015 - Ricky99 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice drinkable italian
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1/26/2015 - rickspicks wrote: 92 Points
Really lovely right now and best bottle yet. The same flavors of cherry, leather, earth, spice and licorice as prior bottles, but the fruit seemed richer and riper, and less dried out. Medium body with great balance, a silky smooth texture, nice grip and good complexity. Really terrific with food.
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12/23/2014 - Ludi Likes this wine: 90 Points
Rubino di media compattezza. Naso scuro, quasi nord piemontese, con carruba, chinotto, rosa, amarena, spezie orientali, menta. Intenso, gradevolmente fresco, di assoluta bevibilità.
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11/2/2014 - xwine wrote:
Had this with roast chicken, porcini mushrooms and butterball potatoes. All made for a perfect meal. The Vajra Neb shows lovely, soft red fruit, a distinct floral aspect, and a hint of licorice. Nicely structured, with excellent acidity. None of the volatility I found last time. Really a delightful wine, and a terrific value.
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5/20/2014 - xwine wrote:
Starts off with an odd tomato note on the nose, along with a bit of volatility (though just enough to brighten the wine). These things blow off, leaving a spicy and plummy nose with a hint of leather. The palate is firm, with somewhat gritty tannins and a velvety underlying texture, along with excellent acidity to keep everything focused. Nothing modern about this wine, and I'm loving it. It's also fairly complex, with the nose going through myriad changes -- sandalwood, spices, florals. Wish I had bought at least a half case.
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12/29/2013 - EMTAME wrote: 91 Points
Rickspicks' note from earlier this month is spot on. This is just at the front of its drinking window. An excellent QPR in Nebbiolo and a step up from the '09 version.
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12/2/2013 - rickspicks wrote: 91 Points
Another nice bottle. Nice flavors: cherry, leather, earth and a hint of licorice. Medium, lean body with bright acidity and a medium, slightly dry, sharp finish. Fruits are a bit dried rather than ripe and rich. Plenty of character and very enjoyable. Enjoyed it with a slightly smokey ham and the earthiness of the wine was a great complement.
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10/22/2013 - rickspicks wrote: 90 Points
Opened another one just to see if the issues I had with the past couple of bottles remained. Happily, this one did not have any hint of oxidation. The flavors and aromas are just a bit muted, but what is there is a nice combination of cherry, leather, spice, earth and florals. Light to medium weight with a grippy finish. Drank it at an italian buffet - pasta, veal scallopini, chicken marsala - and it paired nicely with everything. Best with food, and after 30+ minutes of air.
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10/20/2013 - honest bob wrote: 89 Points
From 75cl, good cork, opened and left to stand for 2 hours. Delicious pure raspberry fruit, flanked with leather, violets and just enough grippy tannins to make this a stunning accompaniment to a rich beef pie with cepes. 89P
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10/11/2013 - rickspicks wrote:
Opened one and it tasted old and oxidized. Opened another one (this one) and it also tasted a bit tired. Not sure what has happened. Will not score this one either, but would give it 86-87 if I had to score - due to the oxidized flavors.
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10/4/2013 - bitdrerik wrote: 89 Points
Vínsmakk #1 haust 2013 (Marbakkabraut 12): Þriðja vínið í seinni hlutanum. Mjög ljóst á litinn. Anís, kóngabrjóstsykur. Náttúrlega bara opnað og hellt sem kemur kannski niður á einkunn.
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9/22/2013 - CWilliam wrote: 91 Points
Enjoyed at a wine bar in Asheville, NC (Fig Bistro). I ordered a 1/2 glass to assess what 2010 Barolo could be. Our waitress indicated this wine was opened the night before. Didn't take notes but rose petals, menthol, black cherry on nose with similar palate profile - very smooth with high acids & nice tannic backbone. On PNP this would overwhelm but it was kicking on night 2 - For $20.00+/- this is a 6 pack / case buy. Very impressed. 91++
Surprisingly good on its own and went grilled with a pork belly appetizer. If opening now I'd decant for 4+ hours.
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7/1/2013 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another great performance from the 2010 Vajra Nebbiolo. On the first night, it was all about cherry and herbs with a young acid/tannin balance. However, as seems to be the case with this wine, it came alive after many hours of air. Rich cherry sauce, dark soil, herbs, spice and a slight hint of menthol showed on the nose. On the palate, it was lively with red berry fruits, minerals and all spices. The finish closed down slightly but is sure to give more with a few years of age. This is a beautiful Nebbiolo and if it's any indication, 2010 should be amazing.
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6/5/2013 - lightning wrote: 90 Points
A nose which, while not beautiful per se, kept on revealing little subtleties with more time. Violets, ripe plums, a squirt of soy sauce, wet earth aromas predominant. Smooth entrance, fine but grippy tannins alongside a hint of acidity in the midpalate with red fruits and earth flavours. Good length with a tight bitter twist.
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5/17/2013 - honest bob wrote: 88 Points
From 75cl, OK cork. Not decanted, which was probably a mistake. Attractive bright red (cherry?) fruit in a surly poultice of raw leather; the tannins get in the way of mid-palate pleasure at this stage. If there is enought fruit concentration to survive another 2-3 years while the tannins resolve it might yet scrape 90P, but the wine in this bottle went distinctly thin and flabby by day 2. On this weekend's showing: 88P.
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5/5/2013 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 92 Points
Six hours after a double-decant and slow-O, the 2010 Vajra Nebbiolo shows enticing ripe cherry with hints of fresh herbs, floral rose and hints of spice. On the palate it was round and fun, yet with a good structure providing a ying yang of mouth-watering acidity and firm tannin. Red fruits, orange zest, spice and inner floral notes collaborate on the palate to form a lovely presence. The finish was slightly drying with cheek puckering tannin yet still lively and fun.
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5/2/2013 - rickspicks wrote: 90 Points
Decided to have this with lasagna instead of a sangiovese - it was a pretty good match. Bright cherry, pomegranate and strawberry fruits with some licorice and a hint of tar. Definitely some floral components as well. Light bodied with a lot of structure and good acidity. Medium, earthy, fruity finish. Overall a wine that has slightly delicate flavors that complements rather than dominates.
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4/25/2013 - Beerzebub Likes this wine:
Decanted and began drinking immediately. Quite open, smells like cherry, pomegranate, and plenty of tar and rose. Good bright acidity, easygoing tannins, lots of sappy tar on the palate, good tart pomegranate-like fruit, some earth and flowers. Tasty and expressive, quite an enjoyable wine and a good value.
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3/12/2013 - rickspicks wrote: 90 Points
I have not had a lot of nebbiolo, so not exactly sure what to expect. This reminded me a lot of a pinot noir initially, especially the light texture and strawberry and cherry fruits. But it also had more licorice, damp earth and structure than a typical pinot. Took on some weight and depth after some airtime but also became slightly bitter, less fruity and a bit harsh when consumed alone. More enjoyable with food - it was a terrific match with a pork tenderloin. 89-90 now but also with the potential for upside with more time.
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2/11/2013 - defnefferson Likes this wine: 91 Points
Didn't take formal notes, but I noted that this bottle was quite good. Had with braised rabbit in red sauce over paparadelle and it was a perfect pairing.
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1/23/2013 - campingfleurie Likes this wine: 92 Points
I first had this in a rapid tasting at Vajra a few months ago. It stood out for its expansive aroma, with actual red-roses content. Therefore I was pleased to catch it in a little more detail as part of AL's Langhe Nebbiolo tasting. He'd double-d.ed 4 hrs before. Nose: classy, minty, tarry; with background light purple fruit… or, actually, that's dried purple rose petals… plus tobacco! That is a quite exciting nose! It was wine 8 (of 12) in the tasting, and the first to show that modern weightless puff in the mid-palate. I take that as micro-oxygenated tannins; although joined in this case by nicely integrated alcohol. Minor, lingering, nicely-narrow fruit. Ooh, and really good acidity - this is racey! Still comes across as a 'lesser' wine, compared to good Barolo, in that the serious core of concentration isn't there. So this won't be for the long term. However, that is a complex, classy nose, and the structure is there for excellent, vital drinking (with air) over the next 6 years. Some tasters preferred the '09 which followed; but, to me, that merely highlighted the '10. Vajra are on the edge of being overly-modern; and the hot-vintage '09 was more mulled, more liqueur, lower acid, rounder, and more international in flavour - no delicate-tar and roses in sight! Anyway, the '10 showed as 91-92… 92?! Marginal WOTN ahead of also-impressive Produttori, GB Burlotto, Castello di Verduno and Colla.
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1/13/2013 - Gooka wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 3 hours.
Very delicious and balanced. Strawberries, sweet cherries, flowers in a medium body with good acidity, smooth tannins in medium+ long finish.
Kind of Burgundian style with tons of aromatics and elegance.
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12/16/2012 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 92 Points
The nose showed intense raspberry, red floral tones, tar, animal musk, undergrowth and dark chocolate. On the palate it was medium-bodied with concentrated, tart cherry fruit, tobacco and leather. The finish was long with dry, red berries and grainy tannin that coated the palate. This is a little painfully to drink now but should be marvelous in a few years time.
I have to note, that after three days of being open, this wine continued to show amazing fruit and purity with no signs of deterioration. It's a beautiful Nebbiolo that will find a place in my cellar.
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11/16/2012 - JOsgood wrote:
So pure and balanced. Fresh and crisp. Good tannic core.
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11/8/2012 - EMichels wrote: 91 Points
Big red licorice nose; Strawberry nose; Bright; Pure; Clean finish; Tart
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11/5/2012 - dcwino wrote: 88 Points
Kelly and Kevin’s excellent adventure before WWS 2012; 11/4/2012-11/11/2012 (La Morra): Sweet cherry fruit, strawberry, red fruits, stemmy and earth. Good acidity and drinking well.
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10/14/2012 - grafstrb wrote:
-- decanted immediately before initial taste --
-- tasted non-blind over a few hours --
NOSE: red fruited; mineral; roses; dried basil and oregano; tight to moderately expressive; hint of strawberry jam.
BODY: dark ruby color of medium depth; medium bodied.
TASTE: red-fruited, with good acidity and not much tannin; clean --- not funky; some dried herb notes on the long finish, which is of medium-light intensity; about three hours in, the dried herb (sage) notes gain in intensity, the fruit profile darkens a bit, and the finish gains in intensity; no tar flavor; 14% alc. well-hidden; decant if drinking now, but will likely improve a little with a couple years laying down. A nice daily drinker --- good QPR. Gut impression score: 87-89
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