2010 Langhe Riesling ‘Petracine’, G.D Vajra
Langhe, Piedmont, Italy
G.D. Vajra’s 2010 Pétracine is one of Piedmont’s great Riesling curiosities and a wine with real pioneer spirit behind it. Now mature, it moves beyond youthful citrus into a more complex register of peach, apricot, lime peel, dried flowers, wet stone, honeyed apple and a faint smoky, waxy note that only time can bring.
On the palate, it is dry, mineral and beautifully lifted, with Riesling’s natural acidity still giving shape to the wine. The fruit has softened into orchard and stone fruit, while the finish carries citrus, salt, stone and a fine savoury tension. It is not loud or obvious. It is precise, quietly fascinating and full of alpine-Piedmontese character.
For when
You want a white wine with age, nerve and a story worth telling.
Pairs with
Grilled trout, roast pork, smoked eel, crab, chicken with lemon and herbs, Alpine cheeses, mushroom risotto or Thai-style salads with lime and herbs.
Aldo Vaira was the pioneer of Riesling in Piedmont, drawn to the variety during his university years before researching its potential in the Langhe. Pétracine takes its name from roots digging into stone, a fitting image for Riesling planted high above Barolo, where elevation, rocky soils and cool air give the wine its tension and clarity. The vines were sourced from Pfalz and Rheingau in Germany, with the rest coming from Alsace.
G.D. Vajra remains one of the Langhe’s most thoughtful estates, combining deep regional tradition with a quietly adventurous spirit.
Whats in the bottle
100% Riesling