Wine Advisor
Elio Altare, Langhe Rosso Larigi 2017
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
Larigi is a historic family vineyard in La Morra planted to the Barbera grape. The Elio Altare 2017 Langhe Larigi pours from the bottle with a darkly saturated appearance and bold aromatic intensity. The hot vintage underlines aromas of blackberry preserves, candied cherry, cola and scorched earth. The wine rests in new oak for 18 months, so you get plenty of integrated smoke, tar and spice as well. The alcohol content is 16%, one of the highest measures I have seen in this report. You hardly feel it whatsoever because the wine offers terrific overall balance despite all that natural richness and opulence. A mere 1,920 bottles were released.
About the Producer
Elio and Lucia’s eldest daughter Silvia has been fully involved in the winery since early 2000, while Elena, their youngest daughter, moved to Germany where she is now running a small wine import company. Elio, his wife Lucia, Silvia and the entire staff follow every single aspect of the work: in the vineyards from pruning to harvest, in the cellar from winemaking to sales, logistics, office work and marketing. The Altare family was originally from the town of Dogliani before buying the farm in La Morra. Back then, the estate covered 5 hectares of nebbiolo, barbera and dolcetto vineyards, along with some peach, hazelnut and apple trees. Those were times when orchards gave higher yields and more profits than vineyards. Back then it wasn’t easy, given the economic crisis that lasted for years. Elio, along with other friends, decided to learn more about winemaking by traveling beyond the borders of Piemonte, trying to learn from the success that other regions were enjoying. Up to today we farm about 10 hectares with an average production of 70,000 bottles.
