G.D. Vajra 'Langhe Rosso' 2023

The story of how G.D. Vajra came to be is equal parts cinematic and hilarious. Aldo Vajra was a rebellious college student in Turin in the 1960s, getting into way too many marches and demonstrations until his father spotted him and, as punishment, sent him to stay at the grandparents' farm in the Langhe. He fell in love with farming, met the love of his life, and started a winery. Flash forward to now, the second generation (Giuseppe, Isidoro, and Francesca) run things, but still work hand in hand with Aldo. 

Their Langhe Rosso is like a perfect picture of Piedmont. Mostly Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Dolcetto, with smaller amounts of Freisa, Albarossa, and Pinot Noir. Each vineyard is harvested manually, the varieties vinified separately, then aged 18 to 24 months, partly in steel and partly in barrel.

Blackberries and flowers, then something earthier moves in, hay and tobacco and a little spice. Bright summer berries on the palate with this cool graphite fling running through it, like a stream you didn't know was there.