G.D. Vajra, Barolo Bricco delle Viole, 2014

Bricco delle Viole is Vajra's crown jewel, from the highest vineyard in the comune of Barolo at up to 480 meters above Vergne, where altitude lends perfume, freshness and structure. The 2014 was a cooler, rain-challenged growing season across Piedmont, and producers like Vajra who farmed meticulously made elegant, fragrant, lighter-framed Barolos that have come around early. This bottle is drinking beautifully now, with the lift this site is known for and a graceful rather than blockbuster build. Enjoy it over the next several years.