Winemaker Notes
An outstanding example of Barbera from old vines, some dating back to 1949. Strained, deeply rooted plants produce the most tasteful berries. Vajra Barbera Superiore is a wine of intense aromatics, structure and longevity.
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Offering a level of aromatic clarity and elegance that is not always easy for this grape, the G.D. Vajra 2022 Barbera d'Alba Superiore Viola delle Viole has beautiful aromas of earthy iris, gentle oak spice, toasted allspice and a very ripe or soft quality of fruit. It all balances out smoothly to the senses. The tannins are tucked softly within that texture to good effect, giving support but no harshness. This is a well-made Superiore with both intensity and balance.
-
James Suckling
This wine has an exuberant nose of crushed blueberries, spices, cedar and a subtle hint of tile. On the palate it’s full-bodied with compact, precise tannins. There is a balanced and lovely interplay between the vibrant fruit, focused tannins and lively acidity.
-
Vinous
The 2022 Barbera d'Alba Superiore is a rich, heady, powerful wine. Dark red/purplish fruit runs through this dense, muscular wine. Readers will find a distinctive Barbera of uncommon depth, structure and complexity.
Friendly and approachable, Barbera produces wines in a wide range of styles, from youthful, fresh and fruity to serious, structured and age-worthy. Piedmont is the most famous source of Barbera; those from Asti and Alba garner the most praise. Barbera actually can adapt to many climates and enjoys success in some New World regions. Somm Secret—In the past it wasn’t common or even accepted to age Barbera in oak but today both styles—oaked and unoaked—abound and in fact most Piedmontese producers today produce both styles.
An historic village situated right in between the famous regions of Barolo and Barbaresco, Alba is also the name for the larger wine region surrounding the village.
In a sense, “Alba” is a catch-all phrase, and includes the declassified Nebbiolo wines made in Barolo and Barbaresco, as well as the Nebbiolo grown just outside of these regions’ borders. In fact, Nebbiolo d’Alba is a softer, less tannic and more fruit-forward wine ready to drink within just a couple years of bottling. It is a great place to start if you want to begin to understand the grape. Likewise, the even broader category of Langhe Nebbiolo offers approachable and value-driven options as well.
Barbera, planted alongside Nebbiolo in the surrounding hills, and referred to as Barbera d’Alba, takes on a more powerful and concentrated personality compared to its counterparts in Asti.
Dolcetto is ubiquitous here and, known as Dolcetto d'Alba, can be found casually served alongside antipasti on the tables of Alba’s cafes and wine bars.
Not surprisingly, given its location, Alba is recognized as one of Italy’s premiere culinary destinations and is the home of the fall truffle fair, which attracts visitors from worldwide every year.