G.D. Vajra and Luigi Baudana
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It’s rare to find benchmark wines that remain affordable from one of a wine-growing region considered one of the finest in the world for centuries, but not impossible. Well, if you’ve read the title of this newsletter, there’s no surprise who we have in mind: G.D. Vajra and the now-sister estate of Luigi Baudana.
G.D. Vajra is responsible for some of the finest Barolos we offer and also excels with their more entry-level options. The lineup as a whole is quite simply the best in Piedmont today. At all price points they are benchmark wines against which all others are judged.
The entry-level wines consist of often unique regional blends and varietal wines. The wide selection of equally interesting options (red, white, and sparkling) all make for winning pizza- or pasta-night pairings. They’re wines that are so utterly charming and affordable, that you’ll want to buy by the case.
As we climb the ladder, there are small-production wines from rare grapes (Freisa) and the cellar-defender Langhe Nebbiolos and village-level Barolos. At the top end, we find single-vineyard Barolos including the Ravera, which goes for triple digits from others addresses. The Bricco delle Viole is the highest vineyard in Barolo, named for the violets that blossom across its southern exposure. In its position above the thick fogs, it receives the most sunlight with the earliest sunrise and latest sunset, as well as a wildly dramatic diurnal temperature swing. The wines are lifted with refined tannins and minerality. Coste di Rose is home to a wide range of soil types, including sandstone. Per Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate, this results in unique aromatics and a darker fruit profile than the Bricco delle Viole.
In 2009, G.D. Vajra was entrusted by Luigi and Fiorina Baudana to carry on the legacy of their cherished garagiste operation upon their retirement. The estate’s holdings don’t exceed seven acres, making them one of the smallest wineries in all of Piedmont. As a result, these unique, old-vine wines are made in highly limited qualities. The results that live up to their heritage, offering perfumed, mineral- and fruit-driven expressions of Nebbiolo with plenty of aging potential.
Across the line, reviewers praise the complexity and value offered by these two estates. We’re proud to offer multiple vintages of these excellent Barolos and a wide range of the varietal wines and region blends.
G.D. Vajra is responsible for some of the finest Barolos we offer and also excels with their more entry-level options. The lineup as a whole is quite simply the best in Piedmont today. At all price points they are benchmark wines against which all others are judged.
The entry-level wines consist of often unique regional blends and varietal wines. The wide selection of equally interesting options (red, white, and sparkling) all make for winning pizza- or pasta-night pairings. They’re wines that are so utterly charming and affordable, that you’ll want to buy by the case.
As we climb the ladder, there are small-production wines from rare grapes (Freisa) and the cellar-defender Langhe Nebbiolos and village-level Barolos. At the top end, we find single-vineyard Barolos including the Ravera, which goes for triple digits from others addresses. The Bricco delle Viole is the highest vineyard in Barolo, named for the violets that blossom across its southern exposure. In its position above the thick fogs, it receives the most sunlight with the earliest sunrise and latest sunset, as well as a wildly dramatic diurnal temperature swing. The wines are lifted with refined tannins and minerality. Coste di Rose is home to a wide range of soil types, including sandstone. Per Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate, this results in unique aromatics and a darker fruit profile than the Bricco delle Viole.
In 2009, G.D. Vajra was entrusted by Luigi and Fiorina Baudana to carry on the legacy of their cherished garagiste operation upon their retirement. The estate’s holdings don’t exceed seven acres, making them one of the smallest wineries in all of Piedmont. As a result, these unique, old-vine wines are made in highly limited qualities. The results that live up to their heritage, offering perfumed, mineral- and fruit-driven expressions of Nebbiolo with plenty of aging potential.
Across the line, reviewers praise the complexity and value offered by these two estates. We’re proud to offer multiple vintages of these excellent Barolos and a wide range of the varietal wines and region blends.
You can browse the selections below and shop the range on our webstore now.
5% off any 6-11in-stock wines from G.D. Vajra and Luigi Baudana
10% off any 12 or more in-stock wines from G.D. Vajra and Luigi Baudana
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Saturday, September 28th at 9 am Pacific.
5% off any 6-11in-stock wines from G.D. Vajra and Luigi Baudana
10% off any 12 or more in-stock wines from G.D. Vajra and Luigi Baudana
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Saturday, September 28th at 9 am Pacific.
We offer seventeen options from G.D. Vajra and Luigi Baudana on sale now, including:
G.D. Vajra Albe, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $33.50, that’s $31.83 at 5% off and $30.15 at 10% off, 35 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “This is certainly one of the most popular and versatile wines made in Italy, and deservedly so. The well-priced G.D. Vajra 2019 Barolo Albe shows some ripe fruit and softness with cherry, dried raspberry and crushed rose. This vintage is similar in character to the 2016 release in that both vintages offer a linear style with good structure at the back. The mouthfeel is polished and long, affording accessibility and complexity too.”
Luigi Baudana Serralunga, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “This wine is a blend of fruit from Baudana, Cerretta and Costabella. The Luigi Baudana 2019 Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d’Alba shows the firmness and structure that this village is known for with pretty perfumes of rose, rusty nail, autumnal leaf, licorice and tar. Costabella is an early-ripening site, and fruit is sourced from the youngest vines in Cerretta and Baudana (leaving a selection from the older vines for the single-vineyard wines).”
Luigi Baudana ‘Baudana’, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Was $89, Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 23 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “With fruit from Serralunga d’Alba, the 2018 Barolo Baudana is a very different wine when compared to the other single-vineyard expressions from this estate. This has to do with site and soil, and in the case of this celebrated subzone, the wines are always more powerful, more structured and mineral-driven. Dark fruit is followed by rusty notes of iron ore and crushed clay. This wine offers good substance both in terms of finish and texture. Cascina Adelaide does a great job with the Baudana”.
Luigi Baudana ‘Baudana’, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 14 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points “The 2019 Barolo Baudana is absolutely captivating. Effusive and bright in the glass, with tons of freshness and remarkable fruit purity, the Baudana offers up generous dark red fruit, spice, leather, kirsch, hard candy, cedar, tobacco and underbrush. There’s terrific depth here and exceptional balance, too. Rose petal, white pepper and chalk lift the high-toned, intensely saline finish.”
Luigi Baudana Cerretta, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Was $79, Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 16 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2018 Barolo Cerretta is a potent, searing wine, its mid-weight structure notwithstanding. Scorching tannins wrap around a core of dark red/black fruit, gravel, smoke, crushed rocks, menthol, licorice and game. The 2018 is going to need a number of years to come around and for those formidable tannins to soften.”
G.D. Vajra Coste di Rose, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Was $62.50, Displayed Price: $57.50, that’s $54.63 at 5% off and $51.75 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points “The 2018 Barolo Coste di Rose is a delicate, understated Barolo that will need a bit of time to fully emerge. There’s lovely purity to the fruit here, but also some angular contours that need to resolve. The 2018 is a mid-weight wine in the style of the vintage, and yet there is fine balance.”
G.D. Vajra Coste di Rose, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 13 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “Compared to Bricco delle Viole, Coste di Rose is distinguished by sandstone soils at lower elevations of 340 to 350 meters above sea level. There is a lot of variability in the soils, and as they change, Nebbiolo behaves differently, picking up new aromas and textural qualities along the way. The G.D. Vajra 2019 Barolo Coste di Rose shows a darker core of fruit with dusty earthy tones and campfire ash. The grape skins were quite thick in 2019, meaning that less work was done with submerged cap and other extractive methods. The beauty of this wine is the mouthfeel, which feels rich, tight and silky. Coste di Rose was first made in 2015.”
G.D. Vajra Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2018 Barolo Ravera is a powerful, tightly wound wine. Gravel, smoke, cured meats, spice, leather, tobacco and menthol emerge, but only with quite a bit of reticence. This deceptively mid-weight Barolo has a good bit of brawn. It will be interesting to see if the fruit emerges from behind the tannins.”
G.D. Vajra Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 29 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 97 points “The organic G.D. Vajra 2019 Barolo Ravera (with fruit from the most sought-after cru in the village of Novello) reveals gorgeous tonality and color. The wine shines bright with dark ruby and garnet gemstone. Healthy Nebbiolo colors like this can be admired across the 2019 vintage. Ravera represents a union of different geologies from Barolo and Castiglione Falletto. The site has shown extraordinary versatility, especially in the face of climate change, to make wines of both strength and elegance. It is softly textured but also strong in fiber, with silky sensations followed by dark fruit and concentration. Ravera has a character all its own, and the operative word here is power.”
Varietal Wines:
Luigi Baudana ‘Dragon’ Langhe Bianco, Piedmont 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $19, that’s $18.05 at 5% off and $17.10 at 10% off, 16 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Dragon is a unique white blend from the Langhe. Originally produced by Luigi Baudana during the 1980s with Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc, it has evolved to embrace Nascetta, the most exciting white heirloom varietal of the Langhe, and a tiny amount of Riesling. The original vineyard was located in Cerretta Piani in Serralunga d’Alba. The Nascetta was instead planted in Comune di Novello, the very place of origin of this grape, at the top of the Ravera hill. Dragon opens to fresh fruit aromas such as kiwi, lime and pear. Hints of minerality like flint and sea stones complete the elegant bouquet. The palate is citrusy whit flavors of orchard fruit, macerated elder flower and candied orange peel that shine through the fresh and vibrant acidity.”
G.D. Vajra Dolcetto d’Alba 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $18, that’s $17.10 at 5% off and $16.20 at 10% off, 34 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 90 points “Made only in stainless steel, the 2021 Dolcetto d’Alba shows a purplish color with inky concentration. The bouquet is simple and direct with loads of sweet candied cherry, crème de cassis and bitter almond. This is another terrific take on one of Piedmont’s most versatile grapes.”
G.D. Vajra Freisa ‘Kye’ Langhe Rosso 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $36, that’s $34.20 at 5% off and $32.40 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 92 points “The G.D. Vajra 2021 Langhe Freisa Kyè has a delicate bouquet with intertwined berry and floral elements that could recall Japanese cherry blossom or even a Sicilian almond blossom. Beyond that, the wine offers an interlude of fresh blue fruits with elderberry and juniper. It shows terrific freshness and more tart flavors to close.”
G.D. Vajra Langhe Nebbiolo 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $21.90, that’s $20.81 at 5% off and $19.71 at 10% off, 31 bottles in stock now
Winery Notes “The 2022 Langhe DOC Nebbiolo has a lively light garnet color. On the nose, it displays raspberry, red cherry and mountain wild berries, florals with violet and rose whiffles, a hint of lavender and mint all wrapped in an ethereal scent. On the palate, there is elegance, aromatic fragrance of crunchy red fruits, orange zest, chalky minerality and a lifted finish.”
G.D. Vajra Moscato d’Asti DOCG 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $16, that’s $15.20 at 5% off and $14.40 at 10% off, 21 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 89 points “The G.D. Vajra 2022 Moscato d’Asti was born in a warm vintage and shows fragrant aromas of white peach, tropical fruit, candied lemon and a hint of sage or dried jasmine blossom. This informal dessert wine delivers soft foam and more sweet flavors over a creamy finish.”
Winery Tasting Note “Beautiful bright gold color. Delicate aromas of stone fruits, grapefruit, peach and white pear. A whiffle of elderflower, hints of sage, lychee and pineapple weave the bouquet. This Moscato has a beautiful texture, wrapped by a creamy and persistent finish.”
Shop our seventeen in-stock selections from G.D. Vajra and Luigi Baudana on sale now on our webstore!
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
Marietta
5% off any 6-11 in-stock bottles from Marietta
10% off any 12 or more in-stock bottles from Marietta
Marie-Courtin: Exhilarating and Vinous Champagnes
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles from Marie-Courtin
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles from Marie-Courtin
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Marietta sale ends Thursday, September 26th at 9 am Pacific. Marie-Courtin sale ends Friday, September 27th at 9 am Pacific.