Lorenzo Biscontin
After making it into Wine Spectator’s 2024 Top Ten with its 2020 Barolo “Albe,” the winery in Vergne, a hamlet of Barolo, has earned prestigious scores in Wine Enthusiast’s most important honorable mention categories: “Editor’s Choice,” “Cellar Selection,” and “Hidden Gems.”
“Cellar Selection” is awarded to wines that Wine Enthusiast critics consider “collectible” for their perceived aging potential. “Editor’s Choice” is awarded by the American magazine’s editors to wines deemed exceptional for their unique quality, character, and consistency. Finally, “Hidden Gems” is awarded to wines that don’t fit the classic canons of the winery’s terroir, but were a pleasant surprise for the taster.
Tastings are always blind and to receive the “Cellar Selection” or “Editor’s Choice” distinction, wines must score over 90 points, while for “Hidden Gems” the minimum score is 87, with a bottle price above $20.
It’s worth remembering the Wine Enthusiast ratings:
• 90 – 93 points: Excellent wines, highly recommended.
• 94 – 97 points: Superb wines, great achievement.
• 98 – 100 points: Classic wines, the pinnacle of quality.
G.D. Vajra wines that received the “Cellar Selection” distinction this year are 2021 Barolo DOCG Ravera and 2021 Barolo DOCG Bricco delle Viole.
The “Editor’s Choice” awards went to 2021 Albe Barolo DOCG, 2024 Dolcetto d’Alba DOC, and 2024 Langhe DOC Nebbiolo. 2024.
2023 Langhe DOC Pinot Noir, N.S. della Neve Metodo Classico Brut sparkling wine, 2024 Claré J.C. Langhe DOC Nebbiolo, and 2024 Moscato d’Asti DOCG were recognized as “Hidden Gems.”
These are the tasting notes from Wine Enthusiast Editors:
G.D. Vajra Barolo DOCG 2021 Ravera – 98
This wine carries the practiced perfection of Jordan, Kobe, and LeBron, legends who mastered their craft through relentless dedication. Like watching Alicia Keys command the piano or those NBA icons in their prime, the nose demands attention: dark cherries fresh and jammy, allspice, cracked pepper, bay leaf, and sage dance with warmed rose petals. The palate moves with the fluid grace of a championship-winning jumper, each element precisely where it needs to be. Structured yet silken tannins provide the foundation, while bright acidity orchestrates ripe dark berries and juicy strawberries in perfect harmony. The finish brings it home with Nebbiolo’s signature earthy, savory brilliance; this is greatness born of practice and precision. Drink Now – 2050 + — Jeff Porter
G.D. Vajra Barolo DOCG 2021 Bricco delle Viole – 97
Great wines evoke emotions along with firing the senses. This wine hits the soul like Sappho’s sanctuary, “where cold water ripples and roses bloom everywhere,” making you want to feel more, express more, share more. This is the true essence of wine, and like Sappho’s verses, it reveals its beauty layer by layer just as this wine opens with aromas of boysenberry jam mingling with sour cherries, hints of licorice root and allspice, all dusted with rose petals. The palate is pure elegance, charming and flirtatious enough to give you butterflies, as savory notes and subtle dried orange peel weave through red fruits and lifted acidity. This is purity in a bottle. Drink Now – 2050 — Jeff Porter
G. D. Vajra Albe Barolo DOCG 2021 – 94
This is Barolo’s soul in a glass, capturing the region’s magic through carefully blended vineyards. Wild cherries and crushed raspberries dance with fresh mint and bay leaf, while sweet and savory spices swirl beneath. The palate sparks with bright acidity, carrying crunchy red fruits, both fresh and dried, but always vibrant. Fine tannins lay down elegant rails for the wine to travel, showing why Barolo captures the world’s imagination. Drink Now – 2045 — Jeff Porter
G.D. Vajra Langhe DOC Nebbiolo 2024 – 94
Bright as a just-picked cherry, this Nebbiolo zips across the palate like lightning in a summer storm. Rose petals and almost-ripe raspberries dance with wisps of bay leaf, while tart cherries and red currants build like a wave, letting the savory herbs play between their bright beats. It’s a lesson in how to make a serious wine sing for everyone’s table. — Jeff Porter
G.D. Vajra Dolcetto d’Alba DOC 2024 – 93
Pop rocks meet purple plums in this electric Dolcetto that refuses to sit still. Violets and damson fruits burst from the glass with teenage energy, while the palate crackles with fresh blackberries and bright acidity. It’s the kind of wine that makes you wish all serious things could be this much fun. — Jeff Porter
G.D. Vajra Moscato d’Asti DOCG 2024 – 93
Like love birds dancing through spring air, this wine intertwines white peach and jasmine with an effortless grace and lift. The sweetness floats with perfect balance, carried by zippy acidity that makes every ripe fruit note seem precisely placed, never tipping towards excess. This is sunshine translated into wine. — Jeff Porter
G.D. Vajra N.S. della Neve Metodo Classico Brut NV – 91
Vibrant and linear, this tangy sparkler offers aromas of rose, red berry and a hint of pastry dough. On the racy palate, small, continuous bubbles and lively acidity accompany juicy red cherry, pomegranate, citrus and bread crust before a dry, crisp finish. — Kerin O’Keefe
G.D. Vajra Langhe DOC Pinot Nero 2023 – 93
Planted at 1600 feet, this Pinot Noir breaks records and tradition with equal grace. Split cherries and violet flowers float skyward, while the palate balances plush fruit with fine-boned structure, ripe berries wrapped in black tea leaves, proving that some rules are meant to be elegantly broken. — Jeff Porter
G.D. Vajra Claré J.C. Langhe DOC Nebbiolo 2024 – 94
A time machine to the old Langhe, before tourism found these hills. This vibrant Nebbiolo leaps with candied cherries and plump raspberries, while fresh-cut wild mint adds an aromatic lift. Its gentle bubbles and supple texture make this dangerously drinkable, buy it in threes. Here’s a wine that reminds us what wine is truly for: pure joy, shared moments, and the kind of happiness that sparks creativity. It’s the wine you didn’t know you were craving, until now. — Jeff Porter
Beyond individual scores, seeing so many different wines recognized is a aknowledgment to the winery’s overall philosophy and the consistency with which it is pursued.
“Being recognized with such high ratings across the various categories is a source of great pride and satisfaction for us,” comments Aldo Vaira, who leads the company with his wife Milena and their children Giuseppe, Francesca, and Isidoro. “Every one of our wines, from Barolo to the labels designed for everyday dining, embodies the same commitment and attention: we believe that each one should sincerely express the land from which it is born, regardless of price or prestige. These accolades encourage us to continue along the path of quality and respect for the land.” Respect underscored also by the decision, among the first in Piedmont, to manage the vineyards and cellar under the EU organic certification rules.
