The first impression of Luigi Baudana's 'Dragon' Langhe Bianco is the brilliant pale yellow colour and a complex nose where floral notes of acacia and hawthorn blossoms mingle with fresh bread, tropical fruits, and a subtle stoney, minty freshness. On the palate, it is vibrant and savoury, a flavourful experience with a long and persistent finish. It opens up over time in your glass, layered aromas of lime pie, apricot, green apple, flint, and white flowers emerge, all underscored by a pronounced minerality, showing its balanced structure and depth.

Critic Review

Decanter Magazine: 90Pts (2021 Vintage)

"This unusual field blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Nascetta features pithy green and yellow fruits with some cream and tangerine inflections. Intense, spicy and complex. Luigi Baudana has been managed by G.D Vajra since 2009."
James Button

About the Producer

This small estate has just over four hectares of vineyard, all in the commune of Serralunga d'Alba. Their tiny cellar is situated in the village of Baudana, while their vineyards are primarily in the 'crus' of Baudana and the highly regarded Cerretta. After 30 years running the winery, and without heirs to take over the business, Luigi and Fiorina Baudana took the difficult decision to sell. As part of his research, Luigi visited the Vajra winery incognito one day, and was so impressed with the way they dealt with people and communicated their philosophy that he rang Aldo soon afterwards to ask if he would be interested in buying the estate. A deal was soon done, and the Vajra family have run this estate alongside Luigi and Fiorina ever since. The first vintage was 2009 and from then onwards we can see the true expression of the new Luigi Baudana.

Vineyard and Winery

The Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc vineyards are located mid-slope on the north-east shoulder of Cerretta Piani. A fold in the slope makes the plot cooler and more suitable for white grapes. Below the thin topsoil lies one of the oldest conglomerates of all Piemonte: 14-million-year-old Helvetian soil. The Nascetta is grown in the Comune of Novello, the birthplace of the variety, at the top of the Ravera hill. The vineyards are located at 370-430 metres above sea level. Vajra has always believed in sustainable farming and keeps the turf natural and green in the vineyard. Traditional pruning is practised as well as using the guyot mixed system of trellising. No irrigation is used, while green harvest is decided according to the vintage.

The grapes were hand harvested and then carefully sorted. The fruit underwent a whole cluster gentle pressing with a pneumatic press. The fruit underwent a whole cluster gentle pressing with a pneumatic press ahead of fermentation. The wine was kept on fine lees to avoid oxidation throughout the winter.