nebbiolo
Barolo Wines: A Brief Introduction
Barolo wines, often referred to as the "King of Wines" and the "Wine of Kings," originate from the renowned Barolo region in Piedmont, Italy. These wines are crafted from the Nebbiolo grape variety, known for its bold tannins and complex flavors.
Rich in history and tradition, Barolo wines are aged for several years before release, resulting in a remarkable depth of flavor and a characteristic brick-orange hue. They are celebrated for their notes of cherry, truffle, and rose, along with earthy undertones that develop beautifully with age.
Nebbiolo Grape Across Italian Regions
Nebbiolo is a noble grape variety primarily cultivated in the Piedmont region of Italy, renowned for wines like Barolo and Barbaresco. In the Valtellina region of Lombardy, Nebbiolo is known as Chiavennasca, producing elegant and structured wines. Moving towards the north, in the Valle d'Aosta region, the grape is called Picotendro, showcasing a more delicate profile. Lombardy's Nebbiolo wines are known for their balanced acidity and softer tannins, offering a different expression compared to the robustness of Piedmont. Despite these regional variations, Nebbiolo retains its hallmark characteristics of high tannins, complex flavors, and excellent aging potential.
GD VAJRA - Barolo Albe 2019
Since 1971, Aldo Vajra has been a pioneer in organic farming in Piemonte, nurturing vineyards and preserving soil through sustainable practices. With a labor of love that prioritizes manual work and attention to detail, Vajra wines embody the rich biodiversity of their surroundings.
This 2019 Barolo is produced with grapes from high elevation 380 to 480m altitude, south, south-est and south-west exposure, sorted manually ( no stems were included ), fermentation in custom designed tini for 27 days and aged after for 23 months in large Slavonian oak casks of 50 and 75 hectolitres.
For me this wine is still very young, it shows aromas of red berries, red currants, floral (roses ) , sweet spices and some earthy notes , enough fruit to balance the high tannins and refreshing acidity. What i love about this type of wine is that due to its high acidity and tannins it’s very versatile with food pairing and also the earthy/tar notes blends very well with charred meats/veggies.
If you like to drink it now please aerate/decant a bit before service and don’t serve too warm!
