2018 Barolo Le Albe
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The Vajra family does a fabulous job with all their wines. The Barolo Albe is a mid-tier offering, not as inexpensive as their Dolcettos and Barberas, but also priced below their single vineyard Barolos. It is one of my go-to wines on restaurant lists, as it offers so much value. Done in a forward, fruity style, the Albe offers tons of appeal in its dark fruit, leather and spice notes. Naturally, the 2018 shows the modest complexity of the vintage, but it is a gorgeous wine in every way. I loved it.
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Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
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This wine consistently delivers one of the greatest values to be found in Italian wine. The G.D. Vajra 2018 Barolo Albe has all its cards in play as an immediately enjoyable and extremely food-friendly Nebbiolo. This really is the top of the category in that sense. With straightforward winemaking (fermentation is in steel and aging in large Slavonian oak casks), the wine offers bold cherry, wild plum and plenty of fragrant blue flower and violet. This vintage has the added benefit of softly textured richness.
The 2018 Barolo Albe is a pleasant, easygoing Barolo that shows the limits of the year in its light-bodied structure. Crushed flowers, sweet red berry fruit, mint and sweet pipe tobacco are nicely lifted. I imagine the 2018 will offer its best drinking sooner rather than later.
Aromas of ripe raspberries and dark spice follow through to a medium-to full-bodied palate, with some fine, fruit and spice-coated tannin and a medium finish that firms up at the end. Sustainable. Give this a year or two. Best from 2024.