G.D. Vajra: A Victory for Value Sale 8-21-24

G.D. Vajra and Luigi Baudana
 

Your Three-Day Discount Starts Now
 
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.
 
Check the purchase record of any staff member, and you’ll know why we call G.D. Vajra one of our favorite producers in the Piedmont. The estate 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 latter, 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.
 
If you’re not familiar with the Luigi Baundana estate, here’s a quick primer: 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 are wines made in highly limited qualities and offer a wholly unique interpretation of the varietal. The technical skill of Vajra is on full display with these old vines, resulting in wines that live up to the heritage of the estate and a wholly different interpretation of Nebbiolo in terms of aromatic lift and fruit profile. Their two estate vineyards offer perfumed and fruit driven expressions of Nebbiolo against minerality with clear 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 4-8 in-stock wines from G.D. Vajra and Luigi Baudana
10% off any 9 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, August 24th at 9 am Pacific.
 
We offer nineteen options from G.D. Vajra and Luigi Baudana on sale now, including:
 
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, 15 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, 17 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 bottles at VinopolisG.D. Vajra Bricco delle Viole, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 96 points
“Aromas of underbrush, pine forest, woodland berries and cedar form the enticing nose. Full-bodied and savory, the structured palate delivers ripe Morello cherry, raspberry compote, star anise and cinnamon before closing on pipe tobacco notes. Tightly knit but refined tannins provide the backbone, while surprisingly fresh acidity for the hot vintage keeps it balanced. Drink 2024–2032.”
 
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 point
s “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:
 
G.D. Vajra ‘Clare J.C.’ Langhe Nebbiolo 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $21.90, that’s $20.81 at 5% off and $19.71 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points
“This is one of my favorite go-to wines for informal nights with family and friends. The G.D. Vajra 2022 Langhe Nebbiolo Claré J.C. opens to a lean appearance with bright ruby highlights. It remains true to the grape, in simple or almost transparent terms, with fresh berry fruit, cassis, blue flower and iris. I love the punchy, electric quality of this wine and its streamlined approach. You’ll love it too (and love the low shelf price).”
 
G.D. Vajra Barbera d’Alba 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $19.50, that’s $18.53 at 5% off and $17.55 at 10% off, 27 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 90 points
“The G.D. Vajra 2022 Barbera d’Alba is a nicely concentrated effort with dark cherry fruit, blackberry and cinnamon-like sensations from the grape skins. With that extra density comes extra fruit weight and a powerful 15% alcohol content. The wine does carry muscle for sure, but the results are firm and tight.”
 
G.D. Vajra Barbera d’Alba Superiore 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $29, that’s $27.55 at 5% off and $26.10 at 10% off, 25 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93+ points
“Just bottled, the 2021 Barbera d’Alba Superiore is fabulous. Rich and inky, with tremendous depth, the 2021 is so vibrant in the glass. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, sweet spice and mocha are all dialed up, with a kiss of French oak that adds raciness.”
 
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, 9 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, 15 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 nineteen in-stock selections from G.D. Vajra and Luigi Baudana on sale now on our webstore!


 
Don’t miss our three additional sales going on now:
 
Donnhoff
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Donnhoff
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles of Donnhoff
 
Paitin
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Paitin
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles of Paitin


5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Cayuse
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles of Cayuse


Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.

 
Donnhoff sale ends Thursday, August 22nd at 9 am Pacific. Paitin sale ends Friday, August 23rd at 9 am Pacific. Cayuse sale ends Saturday, August 24th at 9 am Pacific.