2011 Elio Altare Barolo

The 2011 Barolo shows elegance and poise with a meaningful feeling of purity and focus. Elio and daughter Silvia Altare added some additional fruit from the Liste cru for the first time to make this base Barolo. It sees no filtration or clarification. Pretty berry notes with licorice and toasted almond fill the palate. Wild berries and pressed cherry give the wine vertical lift and energy.

Mid crimson with the beginning of orange on the rim. Dense nose of ripe fruit and oak but really well judged. Very tight and closed on the palate with massive, sweet-tasting tannins with layers of fruit underneath. Very long and persistent. Could certainly do with another year in the bottle. (WS)

Altare's 2011 Barolo is dark, sensual and super-expressive. Cherry, plum, tobacco, smoke, spice and leather meld together in an effortless, gracious Barolo built on texture and volume. The richness and breath of the vintage comes through in spades in an open, expressive Barolo that will drink well with minimal cellaring.