G.D. Vajra Barolo Bricco delle Viole 2022

Shut tight right now. Dried cherry, mint, chalk and white pepper emerge slowly, with a salivating, herb-edged tension that keeps the nose lively even as the wine resists opening up. On the palate it's lean and compressed, Bricco delle Viole has never been about weight, and the 2022 doubles down on that linear intensity with an unyielding firmness that feels like the vintage and the site pulling in the same direction. There's real substance here, but patience is non-negotiable. Give it time to shed those tightly-knit contours. Drink 2030–2045.