The 2021 Nebbiolo Clare J.C. is a deep, translucent ruby color. It wafts up with a dazzling mix of crushed violets, lavender and blackberries tinged with a hint of sour citrus. This splashes across the palate, coming across as energetic and playful in nature, as tart wild berries are motivated by zest acidity, while leaving a coating of minerals and liquid stone in their wake. The 2021 finishes with a bitter twang and crunchiness, like biting into a raw cranberry, yet also remarkably fresh. The Clare J.C. is produced from younger Nebbiolo vines using about 20% whole-cluster fruit to create a throwback-styled wine, one that emphasizes a lighter, more energetic and slightly off-dry character. Enjoy it with a minute chill, but not cold.

This wine is a stroke of genius and is quickly becoming an icon of the entry-level category of Italian wines. The G.D. Vajra 2021 Langhe Nebbiolo Claré J.C. is all Nebbiolo sourced from various sites with different soil types that are all specific to the Langhe. The wine is luminous and bright with lots of bright cherry and raspberry. My sample showed some very mild trapped CO2, but it only served to create more lift and energy.