Dolcetto d'Alba 2024 G.D. Vajra

The Dolcetto d'Alba 2025 from G.D. Vajra is the most generous and immediately appealing cuvée from the domaine — the wine that Aldo Vajra himself cherished deeply, nurturing a sincere preference for it and consistently cultivating Dolcetto in his vineyard's finest exposures, much as the vignerons of old planted this variety in choice land, just above the Nebbiolo. A tribute to a variety too often underestimated, elevated by altitude and the rigour of a house whose every wine tells a terroir story.

Terroir and vineyards

Historically, Dolcetto was cultivated in Piedmont's finest lands, just above Nebbiolo vineyards — a tradition the Vajra family faithfully continues. This Dolcetto d'Alba comes from several domaine parcels in the communes of Barolo — the crus Coste di Vergne, Fossati and Pascolo — and Novello with the cru Ravera, all planted at around 400 metres altitude on the heights of Vergne, the highest village in Barolo commune. This altitude is crucial: far from the thermal inversion affecting north-facing slopes and valley floors, the vines benefit from an extended growing season that enables complete phenolic ripeness, remarkable natural freshness and aromatic precision of a purity difficult to achieve in the plains. The vines, averaging 25 to 30 years old, have been farmed under certified organic agriculture since the domaine's origins — Aldo Vajra was among the very first Piedmont vignerons to adopt such practices, from the 1970s onwards. Berries are hand-harvested in the first half of September, meticulously sorted in vineyard and cellar, then vinified precisely over 15 to 20 days in stainless steel with daily punchdowns, malolactic fermentation in stainless steel, and ageing on steel until bottling the following spring after harvest — a deliberately minimalist approach that preserves the brightness of the fruit and the variety's natural freshness intact.

Tasting profile

The colour is an intense, deep violaceous red, bright and with fine colour density characteristic of young Dolcetto. The nose is immediately generous and expressive: aromas of blue and violet fruits — blackberry, blueberry, plum, morello cherry — impose themselves with clarity, accompanied by notes of mountain flowers, gentle spices — white pepper, light cinnamon — and balsamc and earthy touches that add depth and complexity. With time in glass, hints of undergrowth and raw cacao enrich the bouquet. On the palate, the attack is soft and enveloping — the name Dolcetto ('little sweet') speaks true, but tells only part of the story: the tannins, well present and finely structured, provide backbone and grip to a generous, fruited palate. The fresh acidity of altitude perfectly balances the variety's richness, and the finish concludes with that note of sweet almond with slight bitterness that is the absolute and irresistible signature of well-vinified Dolcetto — typical, elegant and persistent. A wine of pure pleasure and for the table, to drink in its youth or keep for two to four years.

The domaine

G.D. Vajra is one of Piedmont's absolute reference houses, founded by Aldo Vajra in 1971 in Vergne, in the western part of Barolo commune. A pioneer of organic farming in Piedmont, he passed to his children Milena, Giuseppe and Isidoro the same rigorous vision and terroir passion. Over 40 hectares of altitude vineyards, the domaine produces a range of exemplary consistency and regularity — Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera, Freisa, Riesling and Dolcetto — all marked by the freshness, precision and natural tension that are the signature of this unique high-altitude vineyard in Piedmont.

Food pairings

This Dolcetto d'Alba will pair beautifully with Italian antipasti — bresaola, mortadella, burrata in olive oil — fresh egg pasta with white ragù, pizza funghi, scrambled eggs with truffles, a grilled pork cutlet or characterful Piedmont charcuterie. Its natural sweetness and almond finish also make it an ideal companion to soft or semi-aged cheeses — Taleggio, Fontina, Reblochon. Served between 14 and 16 °C, lightly chilled, it will reveal all the gourmandise, freshness and charm of a Piedmont variety of too-often overlooked elegance.