Azienda Agricola Vajra
G.D. Vajra's Albe is 100% Nebbiolo from three high Barolo crus, Coste di Vergne, Fossati and La Volta, aged 26 months in large Slavonian oak. Rose petal, red cherry, tar and licorice over firm acidity and ripe tannin. Galloni rates it among Barolo's
How G.D. Vajra's high-cru Nebbiolo smells and tastes, drawn from the producer's notes, critic scores and the consensus of 33,000-plus Vivino drinkers.
Classic high-toned Nebbiolo: rose petal and violet lift first, then red cherry and crushed raspberry from Vajra's Coste di Vergne, Fossati and La Volta crus. With air the savoury Barolo register opens, tar and dried leather, the note Vivino drinkers cite most often after red fruit. Sweet spice and tobacco trail behind from the 26 months in large Slavonian oak.
Rose petal
Violet
Cherry
Plum
Raspberry
Tobacco
Tar
Leather
LiquoriceMedium-bodied and super-refined, the frame Antonio Galloni praises in Albe. The 380 to 480 metre vineyards give bright, low-pH acidity that carries marasca cherry, raspberry and licorice, while the ripe but firm Nebbiolo tannin stays polished rather than austere. Botti rather than barrique ageing keeps the fruit transparent, with tobacco and forest-floor depth underneath.
Long and savoury, closing on tar, dried rose and crushed-stone minerality, with fine tannin that grips lightly and invites another sip.
Albe is Vajra's tribute to traditional blended Barolo, elegance ahead of power, and the entry into the range that critics repeatedly call one of the appellation's best values. The Vivino crowd rates it 4.0 across 33,000-plus ratings, and the 2021 reaches 4.2; drink the structured 2021 from 2025 and the brighter, 50th-vintage 2022 a little younger.
Live UK listings for Barolo Albe, where the 2021 starts near 28 pounds and the in-stock 2022 sits around 39 pounds, against a typical Barolo DOCG band of 40 to 50 pounds.
Our six-dimension read on Albe: a strong food and value Barolo with real cellar potential, less suited to everyday drinking.
Lowest UK live price near GBP 28 sits well below the typical Barolo DOCG band of GBP 40 to 50. Wine-Searcher flags it great value and Galloni rates Albe among Barolo's best buys. Ratio well under 0.85.
Nebbiolo's high acidity and ripe, firm tannin make Albe a versatile table red: it cuts fat, matches braised meat and bridges to truffle. Medium-tannin reds with bright acidity score high on food.
Barolo DOCG is one of Italy's most prestigious denominations, and Vajra is a benchmark Langhe estate. The classification, the producer's reputation and the cellar potential make Albe a strong occasion bottle.
Barolo DOCG mandates 38 months ageing, 18 in oak; Vajra gives 26 months in Slavonian botti. Firm Nebbiolo tannin and 14% ABV underpin a 10-to-15-year window, with 2021 grouped among top recent vintages.
Scoring is rule-based and deterministic. The model and weightings are documented in our editorial methodology.
A compact view of what the Barolo denomination actually requires, and how this bottle sits inside it. Pulled from the official Italian disciplinare.
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Vintage-by-vintage drinking windows and quality for G.D. Vajra Albe, from the superb, cellar-worthy 2021 to the brighter, more youthful 2022.
The 50th vintage of Albe, from a warm, mostly dry 2022 growing season. Vibrant and energetic on the palate, with fresh cherry, spice, rose petal and orange peel over Vajra's signature elegant, high-elevation frame. Medium-bodied and a touch more approachable young than the structured 2021.
A superb Barolo vintage: a warm 2021 season tempered by cool nights before harvest, which preserved tension and aromatic lift in Vajra's high-cru Nebbiolo. Galloni groups 2021 with 2010 and 2016, citing finessed, ripe tannins and bright acidity. Albe drinks well from release but rewards five-plus years in the cellar.
Drink-now / hold guidance reflects general style cues for this wine, not a forecast for a specific bottle. Where vintage-level editorial notes exist, they appear above.
What sits behind a sub-40-pound Barolo: three high-elevation Langhe crus, 26 months in large Slavonian oak, organic farming and Vajra's benchmark reputation.
Italian wine law sorts bottles into a pyramid. DOCG sits at the top: tightly drawn boundaries, prescribed grapes, mandatory ageing, government tasting before release. DOC is the same idea with looser thresholds. IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) is broader still, requiring only that 85% of the grapes come from the named territory.
Barolo is in the DOCG tier. That is not a quality verdict, it is a description of how much freedom the producer has at vinification and ageing.
Barolo falls within Piedmont , covering Cuneo, Langhe: Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d'Alba, La Morra, Monforte d'Alba, Novello, Verduno, Grinzane Cavour, Diano d'Alba, Cherasco, Roddi. The denomination is further divided into 11 sub-zones.
Albe blends Nebbiolo from Coste di Vergne, Fossati and La Volta, hillside Barolo fruit at 380 to 480 m where yields are low and farming is hand-worked, the single biggest cost lever behind the bottle.
Barolo DOCG mandates 38 months ageing with 18 in wood; Vajra holds Albe 26 months in 40 to 75 hl Slavonian casks, tying up cellar space and capital for over two years before release.
The Vaira family farms organically and bottles its own fruit at the Vergne estate. Certified organic viticulture and estate control raise growing costs versus bought-in négoce Barolo.
On the in-stock 2022 near 39 pounds, HMRC still-wine duty of 2.67 pounds plus 20% VAT account for roughly 9 to 10 pounds of the shelf price before the retailer's margin.
Albe is Vajra's blended classico tier, not a Bricco delle Viole or Ravera single vineyard. That keeps it near 28 to 39 pounds, well under the producer's cru bottlings and the wider Barolo average.
As Vajra's most-produced Barolo, sold across many UK and global retailers, Albe benefits from scale and competition; Wine-Searcher and Galloni both flag it as a benchmark value Barolo.
Dishes that complement this wine
Pairings built on Albe's structure, from Brasato al Barolo to truffle egg pasta, plus the chilli-and-sugar dishes its firm Nebbiolo tannin clashes with.
Albe's firm but polished Nebbiolo tannin needs collagen and fat to soften against. Long-braised beef, classically cooked in Barolo itself, melts the tannin into a savoury whole while the wine's bright acidity cuts the richness of the braise.
Try with: Brasato al Barolo · Ossobuco alla Milanese · beef short rib · oxtail stew · More pairings →
The forest-floor, tar and dried-rose notes Albe shows from its high crus bridge straight to white truffle and butter-rich egg pasta from the Langhe. Aroma meets aroma, while the wine's acidity keeps a buttery dish from cloying.
Try with: Tajarin al Tartufo · Tagliatelle al tartufo · porcini risotto · agnolotti del plin · More pairings →
Medium-bodied and savoury, Albe matches the weight of roast game and lamb without overpowering it. Its tar and tobacco depth echoes the gamey, herbal notes of the dish, and the high acidity refreshes the palate between richer bites.
Try with: roast venison · rack of lamb · roast pheasant · wild boar ragù
Nebbiolo's acidity and grippy tannin slice through the fat and crystalline salt of long-aged Italian hard cheese, while Albe's red-cherry fruit answers the cheese's nutty sweetness. A natural Piedmontese cheeseboard match.
Try with: aged Parmigiano Reggiano · Castelmagno · pecorino stagionato · Bra duro
Albe's low-pH freshness lifts a meat ragù or stuffed pasta the way a squeeze of acidity lifts a heavy sauce. The wine's licorice and spice shadow the slow-cooked meat, and the tannin stays in balance against the egg-pasta richness.
Try with: agnolotti del plin · tajarin al ragù · pappardelle al cinghiale · lasagne · More pairings →
Albe's firm Nebbiolo tannin and 14% alcohol amplify chilli heat and turn harsh against sugar. Sweet-glazed or vindaloo-hot dishes flatten its rose and tar perfume and leave the tannin tasting bitter. Reach for an aromatic white or a soft Dolcetto instead.
Skip with: vindaloo · sweet-and-sour pork · chilli crab · honey-glazed ham · Pairing guide →
Albe rewards five to fifteen years in the cellar; the 2021 ranks among the top recent Barolo vintages, grouped by Galloni with 2010 and 2016.
Peak around 2030. Best in the years above; holds without falling over either side.
A short splash decant softens the first-pour edge and opens the aromatics.
Barolo DOCG mandates 38 months ageing, 18 in oak; Vajra gives 26 months in Slavonian botti. Firm Nebbiolo tannin and 14% ABV underpin a 10-to-15-year window, with 2021 grouped among top recent vintages.
£28.25 is the lowest tracked offer for the current vintage and we have no signal of further discounting.
Read directly from each retailer’s public product page once a day. Last refresh: 7 Jun 2026, 14:12 BST. We do not hold stock and we do not accept payment for placement.
Confidence · HighDrawn from what drinkers consistently report on Vivino and Wine-Searcher, summarised in our own words. A crowd read across many tasters, not a single critic.
Confidence · MediumFrom the official Italian disciplinare for this denomination, cross-checked against the Ministry of Agriculture register.
Confidence · HighOur reading of the price, drawn from the disciplinare, public UK duty rates, and typical landed-cost benchmarks. Not a quote from the producer or a retailer.
Confidence · MediumStyle guidance for this kind of wine at this price point. Treat it as advice, not a forecast for the bottle in your hand.
Confidence · MediumIt is 100% Nebbiolo, as Barolo DOCG requires. Vajra sources Albe from three high-elevation crus, Coste di Vergne, Fossati and La Volta, between 380 and 480 metres in the commune of Barolo.
Classic Nebbiolo: rose petal, violet and red cherry on the nose, with savoury tar, dried leather and licorice underneath. The palate is medium-bodied and refined, with bright acidity and ripe, polished tannin from 26 months in large Slavonian oak casks.
Slow-braised beef such as Brasato al Barolo, truffle and egg pasta from the Langhe, roast game and aged Italian hard cheese. Avoid fiery chilli heat and sweet glazes, which clash with its firm tannin.
Albe drinks well from release but rewards five to fifteen years in the cellar. The 2021 is a top recent vintage built for the long haul; the brighter 2022, the cuvee's 50th vintage, can be enjoyed a little younger.
Yes. Wine-Searcher flags it as great value and critic Antonio Galloni rates Albe among the best buys in the appellation. UK live prices start near 28 pounds, below the typical Barolo DOCG band of 40 to 50 pounds.
Yes. The Vaira family farms organically and pioneered organic viticulture in the Langhe. Albe is the estate's tribute to traditional blended Barolo, made with elegance ahead of power.
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