Alcohol: 15%
Grape(s): Freisa
Localization: Piedmont, Italy
Tasting Notes: This wine has developed its own cult following over the years. Named after a local dialectal expression for "who is it," the Langhe Freisa Kyè is super intense in this hot vintage. The wine draws upon those vintage conditions to present an extra dark appearance, with aromas of Morello cherry, dried blackberry, and spice. I always get a subtle note of black pepper with the popular Freisa grape. The mouthfeel is rich, and you can really sink your teeth into this cheerful and unusual red from Piedmont. Only 6,000 bottles are hitting the market now.
94 points Vinous: The Langhe Freisa Kyé is polished, understated, and supremely beautiful. Over the last few years, the Vajras have tamed some of the rusticity of Freisa, but there is still plenty of varietal character here. All the elements are very well balanced. Wild cherry, plum, spice, licorice, tobacco, grilled herbs, and coffee abound. Then again, that is Freisa, when it is made with this level of ambition.
Notes: Kyè: the sun or the moon? To them, this is the seduction of Freisa, an ancient local grape that is distinctive, fierce, and untamable. -Milena and Aldo Vaira.
The Domain: The Vajra family has farmed Bricco Delle Viole, the highest cru in Comune di Barolo, since the 1880s. At the young age of fifteen, Aldo Vajra embraced the dream to revive his family legacy. Displaying a vision and commitment belying his young age he took over the estate in 1968, turning a new page.
Aldo soon acquired the first organic certification of the region (1971), created private biotype selections (selezioni massali) of Nebbiolo and Dolcetto, pioneered the renaissance of Freisa, a noble yet forgotten local grape (1980) and the cultivation of Rhine Riesling in Piemonte (1985).
Today, the Vajra family continues the vineyard research focusing on the influence of soil and climate change. The winery is trail-blazing the rediscovery of Chiaretto di Nebbiolo and the wines of the 17th century – long before Barolo was created - through two limited-production wines: “N.S. della Neve” (a champagne-method rosé nature) and “Claré JC”, a partial whole-cluster fermentation of pure Nebbiolo.
High elevation vineyards are a unique factor to the Vajra wines, for their ability to express finesse and remarkable complexity overpower.
Attention to details and humility towards nature, uncompromised efforts, and humanity: so are Aldo and Milena, now joined by their energetic children Giuseppe, Francesca, and Isidoro, and by an amazing team of young professionals, in their quest for an authentic expression of their land into the wines. G.D. Vajra is an independent winery, entirely family-owned.
