2021 G.D. Vajra Bricco delle Viole Barolo DOCG, Piedmont

The organic G.D. Vajra 2021 Barolo Bricco delle Viole first shows a fragile side, but it eventually rolls onto much greater momentum and focus as it opens in the glass. This is always one of my favorite wines from this excellent producer, and I love it especially thanks to its fine nuances of redcurrant, pressed flower and something a little savory like peat moss. There is a hint of ashy stone or brimstone. All of these little details emerge with terrific sharpness in an epic vintage such as 2021. Fruit comes from a seven-hectare plot at 400 to 480 meters in elevation on Sant'Agata marl soils with marine fossils.

The Vaira family of G.D. Vajra has added a new vineyard to its holdings. The new parcel is located in Bonoretto in Diano d'Alba and is planted to Barbera and Riesling.

97 points robertparker.com

Dark cherries, orange rind, dried flowers and cinnamon on the nose. The palate is incisive and medium- to full-bodied with tender fruit, refined and polished tannins and a long, persistent, flavorful finish. Elegant and almost ethereal in essence. Really well crafted and detailed. Better in 2026.

97 points jamessuckling.com

G.D. Vajra Bricco delle Viole Barolo DOCG is one of the most refined and expressive single-vineyard Barolos produced in Piedmont. Bricco delle Viole, the highest vineyard in the commune of Barolo, sits on steep, south-facing slopes with ancient marine soils rich in limestone and clay. The altitude here allows Nebbiolo to ripen slowly and evenly, preserving acidity and aromatic complexity while building depth and structure.

Giuseppe Vaira and his team farm the site organically, with a deep respect for biodiversity and minimal intervention. The fruit is handpicked at full physiological ripeness, gently fermented with indigenous yeasts, and macerated for over 40 days to develop layers of texture and aromatic lift. The wine is then matured in large Slavonian oak casks, allowing the vineyard to speak without heavy oak influence.

Bricco delle Viole is all about grace and detail. Aromas of rose petals, red cherry, blood orange, and sweet spices lead into a silky, tightly structured palate with refined tannins, vibrant acidity and a long mineral finish. There’s a floral purity and inner brightness to this wine that sets it apart.

It’s a Barolo that drinks beautifully in its youth with decanting, but it’s also built for the long haul. Perfect with white truffle risotto, braised duck, tajarin with porcini, or aged cheeses. Cellar confidently for 15 to 25 years.