Thursday, March 21, 2024

Drink of the Week. A special Riesling from Italy.




Drink of the Week. 




A special Riesling from Italy.






GD Vajra “Petracine” Riesling Langhe (AOC) 2021, 13% ABV



When you think of Riesling around the world, European vineyards such as Alsace and Germany, along with New Zealand and South Australia,  will probably cross your mind.


But surely not Italy - unless you are familiar with this special organic Riesling by GD Vajra from the Langhe (Piedmont). Otherwise, it is a surprise, as it was for me, and a very pleasant one indeed, vibrant and massively appealing. 


The pioneer of Riesling in Piedmont is Aldo Vajra. Aldo got passionate about this variety during his University studies, investigated more and more about it and planted the first clones in Langa in 1985. This is how Pètracine was born, a wine whose name evokes the roots digging into the rock. It is an exercise of biodiversity, born by a massal selection from Alsace, Palatinate and Rhine. “This is a wine that requires patience, much like the great reds of our land.”


Beautifully aromatic (peach and apricot and lemon, no hint at all of petrol or diesel here) greet you and take you on to a bone-dry palate. No shortage of minerality, but it is well-balanced, and that surprisingly fresh acidity is a key part of the equation. The invigorating character of this beauty lingers long at the finish. A great food wine. Enjoy it with the usually recommended Asian cuisines but with many other dishes as well including pork, white fish and seafood.


The wine is imported to Ireland by Liberty Wines and you can find it by checking with your Liberty stockists or by searching online. Price seems to be around 40 euro. Very Highly Recommended.

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