G.D. Vajra Barolo Coste di Rose 2019/2021

G.D. Vajra Barolo Coste di Rose 2019 is a prestigious red from Piedmont, Italy, known for its floral elegance and vibrant aromatics. According to G.D. Vajra, the 2019 vintage enjoyed one of the longest growing seasons of the decade, giving a wine with excellent phenolic ripeness and marked acidity.

The Wine Advocate
RP 95

Reviewed by: Monica Larner

Compared with the Bricco delle Viole, the Coste di Rose stands apart for its sandstone soils at lower altitudes, between 340 and 350 metres above sea level. There's great variability in the soils, and as they change, the Nebbiolo behaves differently, picking up new aromas and textural qualities along the way. The G.D. Vajra 2019 Barolo Coste di Rose shows a darker core of fruit, with dusty earth tones and notes of campfire ash. The skins were quite thick in 2019, which meant less intervention with cap submersion and other extractive methods. The great beauty of this wine is in the mouthfeel, which is rich, firm and silky. Coste di Rose was first made in 2015.

In my opinion, the most interesting portfolio of wines in Piedmont is the one carefully crafted by G.D. Vajra. Given the range of flavours and the diversity of local grapes used, my annual tasting at this winery is always one of my favourites. This year I tasted with Isidoro Vaira, one of three siblings who run the winery alongside sister Francesca and brother Giuseppe. Parents Milena and Aldo Vaira are also actively involved, making this a dynamic family project.

The Wine Advocate
RP 96

Reviewed by: Monica Larner

The G.D. Vajra 2021 Barolo Coste di Rose (a certified organic wine) is especially perfumed and floral in this vintage. It may just be the power of suggestion, given the wine's name ("slope of roses"), but it's impossible not to find subtle notes of old roses or wild rose in this magnificent Nebbiolo.

The 2021 vintage reaches an exceptional level. The characteristic tar notes appear, with nuances recalling oil paint or linseed oil. I love the clarity and definition of the texture.

The Vaira family, owners of G.D. Vajra, recently added a new vineyard to their holdings. The new plot is in Bonoretto, in Diano d'Alba, and is planted with Barbera and Riesling.

Published: 30 January 2025