2020 G.D. Vajra Barolo Ravera DOCG, Piedmont

The G.D. Vajra 2020 Barolo Ravera reveals wild forest berry, cherry, licorice root and sweet summer fruit. The effect is focused or chiseled thanks to animating acidity and pinpoint fruit flavors. Located in the village of Novello, Ravera benefits from open panoramas and cooler temperatures from the mountains. These factors make this cru one of the most promising in this era of climate change. This is a Barolo for the purists.

96 points Monica Larner robertparker.com

Bright ruby-colored, the 2020 Barolo Ravera is fresh and fruity with notes of cherry candies, lilacs, darker spice (almost anise, but sweeter), and sweet sage, but it's all well-integrated. Medium-bodied on the palate, it takes on more depth and richness, with a velvety, iron-rich texture that Giuseppe Vajra believes can be attributed to the microclimate of the vineyard, where nights are cooler and the lower parts of the vineyard are warmer. Drink 2026-2046. (

96 points jebdunnuck.com 

The G.D. Vajra Barolo Ravera DOCG from Piedmont is a benchmark example of Nebbiolo from one of the Langhe’s most esteemed crus. G.D. Vajra, founded in 1972 by Aldo Vajra, has long been celebrated for its elegant and terroir-driven Barolos. Today Aldo’s children, Giuseppe, Francesca and Isidoro, continue the legacy, crafting wines that combine purity, precision and tradition. Ravera, located in the commune of Novello, is among the most highly regarded vineyards in Barolo, known for producing structured, age-worthy wines with great aromatic complexity.

The Ravera vineyard sits at an altitude of around 400 metres on clay-limestone soils with a high concentration of marl. This terroir, combined with its cooler microclimate, produces Nebbiolo with firm tannins, vibrant acidity and remarkable aromatic lift. Grapes are hand-harvested, fermented with indigenous yeasts and given long maceration on skins to gently extract colour and tannin. Ageing takes place in large Slavonian oak casks, allowing the vineyard character to shine without overt oak influence.

In the glass, the wine shows a luminous garnet hue. The bouquet is complex and perfumed, offering rose petal, violet and dried herbs alongside red cherry, raspberry and pomegranate, with undertones of tar, leather and spice. On the palate it is full-bodied yet elegant, with red and dark fruits framed by fine-grained tannins and racy acidity. The structure is firm but beautifully balanced, leading to a long, mineral and savoury finish that speaks of Ravera’s pedigree.

Food pairings highlight its depth and structure: braised beef short ribs, osso buco, roast lamb, or earthy vegetarian dishes like mushroom risotto or truffle pasta. This is a wine built for the cellar, capable of ageing gracefully for 15 to 20 years, developing layers of tobacco, dried roses, forest floor and spice with time.