94pts Wine Enthusiast

A time machine to the old Langhe, before tourism found these hills. This vibrant Nebbiolo leaps with candied cherries and plump raspberries, while fresh-cut wild mint adds an aromatic lift. Its gentle bubbles and supple texture make this dangerously drinkable, buy it in threes. Here's a wine that reminds us what wine is truly for: pure joy, shared moments, and the kind of happiness that sparks creativity. It's the wine you didn't know you were craving, until now. 

90pts Jeb Dunnuck

The bright transparent ruby 2024 Langhe Nebbiolo Clare J.C. is a preview of what is to come. The nose is fresh and inviting with poppy red fruit, floral perfume, and wet stones, while the palate is snappy and refreshing, medium-bodied, and lovely, with ripe notes of white pepper and spice, likely accentuated by the addition of whole clusters in fermentation and a light carbonic maceration that add a lively verve and zest to the wine. Drink over the near term and serve with a light chill.

89pts Wine Spectator

This pure red is embedded with cherry, raspberry and floral flavors. Rich, supple and harmonious, with light tannins gripping the finish.

Winemaker Notes

The 2024 Clarè J.C. Langhe Nebbiolo has a transparent and bright red ruby color. The nose reveals tones of raspberries, rosehip, fresh berries and sweet spices. The palate is enlightened by aromatics of white pepper, fresh citrus peel and wild strawberries, a lively carbonic and silky tannins

About the Winery

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 over power. Attention to details and humility towards the 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.