G.D. VAJRA Barbera d’Alba

“Wine improves with age. I improve with wine.”

As I write some of these blogs I sometimes get a little caught up in the emotion. For a variety of reasons. Well, this is one of those columns. My son and his wife( my daughter) gave me this bottle as a Christmas present. Now, he knows little or nothing about wine. He doesn’t even like it (which leads me to question his lineage frankly) but it means that he really had to work to get this present. So with that in mind, here we go.

Unlike many Italian wines, where the wine bears the name of the region, Barbera is the name of the grape used in production. Chianti, for example, is a place in the Tuscany Region where some of the finest wines in the world are produced. Now, because of this, Barbera wine can be produced almost anywhere in the world where this grape will not only grow, but flourish. Still though, the majority of this wine comes from the Piedmont Region of Italy and can be labeled as Barbera d’Asti, Barbera del Monferrato or Barbera d’Alba. Similar in name, but as different as Sangiovese is to Pinot Noir. As a comparison, Barbera d’Alba tend to be more bold, more fragrant with a little more weight and texture.

The winery

G.D. Vajra is an estate bottled wine. The Vajra family has farmed this land located between Milan and Monaco, since the 1880’s. At the tender age of fifteen, Aldo Vajra took over the winery in an effort to revive his family’s legacy. In 1971 he was granted the first organic certification in the region. Part of his effort was to revive some of the historical crop of the region so he was able to reintroduce grapes like Nebbiolo and Freisa.

The Barbera d’Alba is fermented for a minimum of twenty days and aged for twelve months in stainless steel barrels with a small amount in wood. The result is a magnificent wine with, as I said above, joins both flavor and texture with a wonderful, full bouquet. What I mean by texture, and this is purely subjective, is a velvety feel on the palate that lasts. Not overpowering, but delicate. Made from 100% Barbera grapes it displays a deep purple red color. Hints, very slight hints, of raspberry, blackberry and dark fig give it a character and a juicy taste which both pleases and quenches thirst. As you tip the glass to your lips, give it just a very slight pause so you can cherish and appreciate the bouquet one more time, which is truly amazing. You can really come to appreciate the effort to produce this wine. The maceration. The delicate and perfectly executed aging.

Emotion. A good wine enjoyed with family and friends can evoke strong emotions. Good time, pleasant surroundings with good food and conversation. Add to it a nice wine and you have a complete experience, and that is what enjoying wine and life is about.

I found this wine to be simply wonderful. At the risk of repeating myself too many times, this is a wine of which the family can be proud. Aldo and his family have established a legacy in the Piedmont, and this is only one of the bricks in their wall. Another note, should you find yourself with the opportunity to travel in this region, the winery is open for tours. No food is served during the tour, but you can sample four of their fine wines.

Versatility abounds with this wine. It goes equally well with duck or goose, pork or venison, salami and prosciutto as well as a wide variety of cheeses and vegetables. Or try it on its own, out on the patio or on the couch.

Closure – Natural cork
Alcohol – 15% Price – about $25 (an excellent value)
So, taking everything into account, including where I got this bottle, I would rate this wine a very strong 9 out of an unattainable 10 grapes. It truly does have it all and from presentation to consumption it has every imaginable attribute a wine drinker could desire