2014 G.D. Vajra, Langhe Riesling, Piedmonte, Italy.
The new 2014 Vajra Riesling is brilliant, fresh, detailed and briskly dry with good vigor and intensity, it is a charming and character filled white, and it’s my all time favorite Italian white wine and certainly the best Riesling in Italy, in my opinion of course. Giuseppe Vajra has led the way with Riesling in the Langhe, and while it looks like there are almost 20 producers now making this varietal there, his wines are a step ahead, and rival some fine efforts from Germany and Austria! The 2014 vintage was none too easy in Piedmonte, so this wine’s remarkable poise, vitality and deliciousness makes it even more special, and style wise it reminds me somewhat of Muller-Catoir, of the Pfalz in Germany and or Knoll in Austria with it’s dry and zesty nature and elegant delicacy. The 2014 G.D. Vajra Langhe Riesling starts with orange blossom, lime, white rose and lemongrass leading to a light to medium palate of tangy green apple, lemon/lime, wet stones, steely peach, a hint of tart herb, saline and verbena. This vintage is not overt or as dense as the 2011 or 2013, but it is exceptionally graceful and beautiful, wonderfully crafted and with a vibrant array of flavor, it should age well and gather a bit more width over the next few years and take on a more earthy and spicy depth that it only hints at now. This crunchy and taught dry Riesling is lovely and sharply focused, it makes for an intriguing wine, one that you could easily substitute for a Premier Chablis and or a Cru Sancerre once in a while with thrilling results, this is world class stuff from Vajra, as I was just in Germany tasting outstanding Riesling added perspective and shows how impressive this wine really is, be sure to look for it and don’t miss his fantastic 2012 Barolo/Nebbiolo offerings either, both under his G.D. Vajra label and the Baudana lineup, great and inspired wines all!
($45 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive
