G.D. Vajra Kyè 2022 – A Wild and Beautiful Freisa You Need to Know

Bold, Perfumed, Unexpected—This Is Kyè

Freisa is one of Piemonte’s oldest grapes, historically rustic, even controversial, but thanks to the visionary work of Aldo Vajra—who began reviving the variety back in the 1980s—it has become something beautiful and unexpected. Freisa doesn’t usually get the spotlight. It’s a cousin of Nebbiolo, with that same wild structure and perfume, but it's often been written off as rustic. Kyè is named for the surprised expression people often have when they realize just how elegant and complex a Freisa can be.

Made entirely from organically farmed estate fruit—including a parcel planted in 1980 next to the family winery—this wine is handled with the same care as Vajra’s Barolo. In 2022, the fruit was intensely concentrated thanks to a warm, dry season and naturally low yields, with harvest timed for freshness and energy. The wine sees a long, slow fermentation, followed by aging in both stainless steel and large Slavonian oak casks to preserve its perfume and texture.

The 2022 Kyè is a showstopper aromatically: rose petals, wild strawberries, violet, clove, white pepper, blue fruits and a cool mineral lift. It’s layered and vibrant, but never loud. The tannins are fine, shaped by Freisa’s Nebbiolo lineage, but the palate is supple and poised. This is not just a curiosity or a footnote to Barolo. It’s a complete wine of its own—serious, expressive, and deeply delicious.

This is not a big, heavy red. It’s not polished to perfection. What it is—is alive. Complex, expressive, and impossible to fake. Kyè doesn’t try to be anything other than what it is, and that’s exactly what makes it so special. Throw a light chill on it, pack a picnic, and enjoy that slight rusticity out in nature. Kyè captures the heart of Vajra’s work: a respect for tradition, an openness to rediscovery, and the kind of grace that only comes from doing things the right way, slowly and by hand.

91 Points, Wine Advocate

The organic G.D. Vajra 2022 Langhe Freisa Kyè exhibits a dark color and sun-drenched flavors of black fruit, spice and a hint of balsam herb or eucalyptus essence. Freisa is genetically linked to Nebbiolo, although this variety offers more black and purple fruits over a robust and loosely knit texture. This edition of Kyè has a hint of sweetness over a medium-plus finish.