The Barolo DOCG Albe 2020 enters the Top 10 by Wine Spectator for the first time this year, ranking ninth.
A result of absolute excellence for a winery that is constantly at the top of the appellation in terms of quality, as demonstrated by the 5 presences of the company’s wines in the last 11 editions of the “Top 100” of the American magazine.
The name Albe recalls the vineyards from which this wine is born. It is in fact an assembly of different vineyards between 380 and 480 meters above sea level located in the municipality of Barolo and with different exposures from south-east to south-west. The different exposures mean that walking through these vineyards you can enjoy the view of three sunrises every day.
In a time when single vineyard wines are increasingly promoted, the recognition received by Albe enhances the traditional practice of assembly.
It is no coincidence that in the description of the wine, Wine Spectator emphasizes elegance and quality consistency, a balance that can be obtained and maintained thanks to the use of grapes from different vineyards.
“When I began my adventure, the great Barolos were always born from the union of different vineyards. It was the way to first achieve a harmony and finesse that would otherwise be difficult – underlines Aldo Vaira who with his wife Milena founded the company in 1972 –. This is the case for Albe, a wine that is giving us great satisfaction. The splendid result achieved in the Wine Spectator ranking is the fruit of many people who work with G.D. Vajra: the vineyard team, the cellar team, the hospitality team, for every gesture and every detail, even the most hidden, cared for with love”.
From an agronomic point of view, the 2020 vintage was probably one of the longest of the decade. Starting with an early budding, the vegetative cycle slowed down during the spring and summer and then concluded with a late harvest.
An abundant flowering just before mid-May laid the foundation for fragrant, airy wines dominated by red tones. The numerous rains during the summer determined a less regular fruit set with much more work in the vineyards, but also milder temperatures, leading to an estimated vegetative cycle of 213 days.
The grapes for Barolo Albe were harvested in the first half of October, manually selected three times: directly from the vine, as whole bunches at the selection tables, grape by grape after destemming.
The vinification took place in truncated cone-shaped vats, with gentle punching down and pumping over, for about 30-50 days. The refinement was done for 26 months in large Slavonian oak barrels of 40, 50 and 75 hectolitres.
Bruce Sanderson, senior editor of Wine Spectator, describes the Barolo DOCG Albe 2020 as follows:
“This effusive red displays cherry, raspberry, rose, iron, juniper and hay flavors, underscored by vibrant acidity. Harmonious and supple in texture, with a long aftertaste of red fruit, mineral and floral elements. Best from 2028 through 2049”.
A style that represents a precise oenological choice by the winery. The Albe project was born in G.D. Vajra 21 years ago, to offer restaurants a valid alternative in the choice of Barolo to include in the wine list.
“We had two dreams when we created it – says Giuseppe Vaira –, to be able to bring Barolo every day to the table of wine lovers and to be the first Barolo for all those young people who, in and from the glass, expect poetry, taste and wonder.
Albe combines the quality and care that we put into each wine with the typical drinkability of the most classic Barolos, so as to allow everyone the pleasure of consuming it also in the restaurant”.
