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G.D. Vajra Barolo Albe 2021

$5299

Aldo Vaira, and his son Giuseppe, the two generations now managing the domaine, have an interesting specialty: Barolo from high altitudes. Even their residence is way up in Vergne, the highest-altitude village in the DOC.

High altitudes have some well-known effects. The vines ripen later, so you get longer growing seasons and better acidities. You have thinner soils with rocky outposts, so you get more minerality.

But here is a lesser-known consequence: You get quite a bit of variation in when the sun rises. The Vairas observe that in three of their vineyards, Fossati, Le Coste, and La Volta, the dawns are approximately 20 minutes apart. There are three dawns. Hence, they call the blend from these vineyards “Albe,” which is Italian for “dawns.”

Cute, yes, but also profound. Barolo was traditionally blended because you wanted different parts to contribute to a greater whole. For this to work, you need a diversity of terroir. The dawns themselves, of course, don’t provide this diversity, but they do correlate strongly with differences in micro-climate and other terroir features.

And it works. Antonio Galloni has pronounced that “The Albe may be the single best value in Barolo today.” This is Barolo for drinking now, but also for aging a year, two, or five.

Shipping

Every step of the journey is managed to uphold the integrity of each bottle.

  • Nationwide Access: Flat-rate shipping available to most U.S. states with delivery in 3-5 business days.
  • Temperature-Monitored Shipping: We closely monitor weather conditions and make informed decisions to ensure shipments travel safely, with insulated packaging and refrigerated transport available when required.
  • Wine-Specific Protective Packaging: Specialized materials designed to maintain label integrity and prevent breakage during transit.
  • Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

Returns & Exchanges

We stand behind every bottle we sell.

  • If the wine is less than 10 years old and it is corked, you may return it to us for a full refund or exchange within 60 days of purchase. You must show us proof of purchase. We understand that you may not live near a shop and that it is difficult to ship open bottles of wine to us, so if there's any problem feel free to Contact Us and we'll work it out.
  • For wines older than 10 years, the consumer bears the risk of a faulty cork, but we accept returns of older bottles if the wine is faulty as a result of improper storage. Please come by the store or Contact Us if there is a problem.
  • We may, at our discretion and to the extent permitted by law, accept returns of unopened wines within 30 days of purchase if they were properly stored by the purchaser, subject to a 15% re-stocking fee.

View our complete return policy →

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Email: help@flatiron-wines.com
Phone: (415) 780-1405


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Antonio Galloni

91 points

"The 2021 Barolo Albe is bright, aromatic and vibrant in the glass. Medium in body and super-refined, the 2021 is a delight. This is one of the more understated recent vintages I can remember tasting. It’s a terrific introduction to this range." —Antonio Galloni

Robert Parker

95 points

"That's the equivalent of this wine. The G.D. Vajra 2021 Barolo Albe is an enormously versatile expression of Nebbiolo, with an affordable price, that offers more value for your money than most Barolos out there. The bouquet focuses on dark berry, pressed flower and crushed stone. It offers good sharpness over broad lines. The mouthfeel is medium-plus in texture and it closes with silky, accessible tannins. Fruit comes from three cru sites: Coste di Vergne, Fossati and La Volta." —Monica Larner

Decanter

93 points

"This multi-MGA Barolo is made from the estate's younger vines, although the average age is a respectable 30 years. Winemaker Giuseppe Vaira calls it a "blend with immediate drinkability". Indeed, it is already irresistible with its emerging and lively aromas of peppery strawberries, dried violets and crushed allspice. On the palate it is silky and refined, with a clarity of crisp red fruits. The multi-layered tannins support it without overpowering it - it is very seamlessly blended. It promises to reveal even more with a little more time in the bottle."

Kerin O'Keefe

94 points

"The 2021 Albe is a fantastic Barolo, starting with its alluring fragrance of red berries, dark spices, dog rose and a balsamic whiffs of camphor. The palate shows youthful tension tempered by succulent raspberries, orange peel, star anise and crushed mint framed in taut, fine-grained tannins. Made with Nebbiolo organically grown in high-altitude vineyards, it has bright acidity that keeps it energized. D" —Kerin O’Keefe

More about G.D. Vajra

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Nebbiolo

  • Vintage

    2021

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Organic

  • Style

    Earthy , Elegant , Minerally

  • Sweetness

    Dry

  • Body

    Full Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Tasting Profile