Elio Altare

The Dolcetto d'Alba 2020 is very pretty and full of varietal blue and violet fruits, almonds, liquorice and lavender nuances. Brilliant ruby red, juicy, fresh and approachable on the palate - the purity of the flavours is excellent and the floral notes give it a nice zest. SUPERIORE.DE

Altare Barbera d'Alba 2020 is supple, juicy and immediate, with an abundance of dark red and purple fruits, sweet spices and flowers. Silky and beautifully expressive in the glass, it will be a great pleasure to drink over the next few years with its lovely core of fruit and bracing acidity. SUPERIORE.DE

Clear, precise Nebbiolo with a bouquet of ripe cherries and subtle notes of tobacco. Polished on the palate, expansive and with silky tannin, straightforward and long the juicy fruit. Pure and sophisticated drinking pleasure! SUPERIORE.DE

"L'Insieme" is a small but concrete project of eco-solidarity. Just seven winegrowers from the Langhe have come together to support concrete solidarity projects every year with a part of the yield. The members include Elio Altare, Gianfranco Alessandria, Giuliano Corino, Federico Grasso, Giulio e Paolo Morando, Lorenzo Revello and Mauro Veglio. Under the label of the same name (L'Insieme: together, together, together), the wine producers support solidarity projects all over the world with 5 euros per bottled wine. To date, almost 500,000 euros have been donated in this way and a total of 42 important projects have been supported.

The deep dark L'Insieme combines the typical grapes of the Langa (Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto) with the racy spiciness of the Cabernet. A wine with a firm, powerful structure, harmoniously rounded tannins, a delicate melt and a beautiful finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"L'Insieme" is a small but concrete project of eco-solidarity. Just seven winegrowers from the Langhe have come together to support concrete solidarity projects every year with a part of the yield. The members include Elio Altare, Gianfranco Alessandria, Giuliano Corino, Federico Grasso, Giulio e Paolo Morando, Lorenzo Revello and Mauro Veglio. Under the label of the same name (L'Insieme: together, together, together), the wine producers support solidarity projects all over the world with 5 euros per bottled wine. To date, almost 500,000 euros have been donated in this way and a total of 42 important projects have been supported.

The deep dark L'Insieme combines the typical grapes of the Langa (Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto) with the racy spiciness of the Cabernet. A wine with a firm, powerful structure, harmoniously rounded tannins, a delicate melt and a beautiful finish. SUPERIORE.DE

La Villa is a blend of Nebbiolo and Barbera grapes with a wide bouquet of sour cherries and violets, in the taste of which all the components are precisely measured. Good fruit, polished tannin, fine acidity and a spicy finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"A blend of 60% Barbera and 40% Nebbiolo, the 2012 Langhe La Villa sees 18 months in new oak for extra richness and a beautifully plush style. Soft and luscious tones open the bouquet and the wine transitions seamlessly from dark fruit to savory spice. The tannins are round, ripe and well managed." Robert Parker

"The 2012 La Villa, a blend of 60% Larigi Barbera and 40% Arborina Nebbiolo, is superb. Wonderfully alive and nuanced, the 2012 races across the palate with beautifully layered fruit and fabulous overall balance. Dark red cherry, plum, spice and new leather notes meld together in the glass. As is typically the case, the Barbera gives richness and mid-palate, while the Nebbiolo is mostly felt in the wine's aromatics and structure." Antonio Galloni

Langhe Giàrborina (formerly Arborina) smells silky and nuanced, in the glass red cherries, blackberries and meadow flowers. A magnificent Nebbiolo, perfectly balanced, captivatingly elegant and with a promising future. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2015 Langhe Giàrborina reveals a soft and velvety disposition that is enhanced by layers of fruit, spice and smoke. There is a note of candied cherry or dried blackberry that serves to remind you that this was a warm growing season. The wine is executed in an up-front or accessible style that makes it perfect for grilled meats or succulent meatloaf." Robert Parker

"The 2015 Langhe Giarborina, Altare's 100% Nebbiolo, exudes energy, tension and class. At this early stage, it is quite primary, which is not surprising for a young Giarborina. Readers will have to give the 2015 at least a few years in bottle to allow it to flesh out." Antonio Galloni

La Villa a blend of Nebbiolo and Barbera grapes with a wide bouquet of sour cherries and violets, in whose taste all components are precisely measured. Good fruit, polished tannin, fine acidity and a spicy finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2016 Langhe La Villa is a blend of Nebbiolo and Barbera. This plump, rich and ripe vintage is another good choice for a cheesy pasta dish with its 15% alcohol and solid acidity. The Barbera is what gives the wine its fleshy succulence and freshness, and the Nebbiolo adds the structure and the elegance. The finished product is opulent and dense." Robert Parker

"Opulent and oaky, broad and concentrated, offering vanilla, spice and chocolate notes. Balanced and vibrant, with a long, fruit-, spice- and tar-filled aftertaste." Wine Spectator

"The 2016 La Villa is a blend of 60% Nebbiolo and 40% Barbera, both from Arborina. In this vintage, the weight and texture of Barbera dominate, at least in the early going. Creamy and expansive on the palate, the 2016 La Villa has a lot to offer once it fully comes together. Silky and beautifully perfumed, the 2016 is already quite expressive. It will be interesting to see if time brings a bit more harmony, although the 2016 certainly seems to have a good bit of potential." Vinous

La Villa is a blend of Nebbiolo and Barbera grapes with a wide bouquet of sour cherries and violets, in the taste of which all the components are precisely measured. Good fruit, polished tannin, fine acidity and a spicy finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2015 La Villa, Altare's Barbera/Nebbiolo blend, needs time to fully come together. The interplay of Barbera fruit with Nebbiolo aromatics and structure once again proves to be alluring. Sweet floral notes lead into cedar, anise and bright, red-toned fruits. Silky and energetic on the palate, the 2015 exudes freshness. What surprises me most is the wine's restraint, especially given the natural power of 2015." Antonio Galloni

Langhe Giàrborina (formerly Arborina) smells silky and nuanced, in the glass red cherries, blackberries and meadow flowers. A magnificent Nebbiolo, perfectly balanced, captivatingly elegant and with a promising future. SUPERIORE.DE

"Seeing a short maceration time and only a brief aging period in barrique, the 2016 Langhe Giàrborina offers a rich, plummy and soft approach. The wine is ready to drink right out of the gate with a veal lasagna and bechamel sauce." Robert Parker

"The 2016 Langhe Giarborina is another breathtaking wine from Altare. Soaring aromatics and finely knit fruit are the signatures of an exceptional vintage in which the Altare family captured all the potential of the year. A regal, aristocratic wine, the 2016 has it all. Polished tannins add to the wine's considerable appeal. Above all else, the 2016 Giarborina is a wine of exceptional balance. There is so much to like." Vinous

A classically composed, perfect introduction to the Altare Nebbiolo from its own vineyards in Barolo, Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d'Alba. The Elio Altare winery, with its modern imprint (use of barriques), has always been one of the producers whose Barolo seems less hard and brittle when young and rarely begs for more than 10 years of further bottle ageing.

Deep, dark fruit with a delicacy and complexity that only in the long finish brings the wonderfully fine-grained tannin and power to the palate that we love so much in wines. This immensely well-structured red from an excellent vintage is already a great pleasure early on and therefore does not necessarily become more accessible as it matures, but gains in size, complexity, elegance and finesse. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2017 Barolo is absolutely impeccable and shows why Altare remains at the top of the pack. Silky, aromatic and alluring, the 2017 is exquisitely beautiful. It is a bit lighter in body than usual, but that is very much in keeping with the style of the year. Crushed flowers, sweet red berries and rose petal grace the silky finish. The straight Barolo isa blend of sites in La Morra, Castiglione Falletto and Novello." Vinous

"Representing a blend of fruit from Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, La Morra and Novello, the Elio Altare 2017 Barolo sets off the vintage on the right foot. Of course, 2017 delivered all kinds of extreme weather, from frost to dry heat, but this battle-ready Barolo emerges unscathed. Save for the high 15% alcohol content, this wine avoids the classic trappings of a hot vintage. The fruit is not dried out, nor is it jammy. Indeed, this wine shows better balance than most, with a lovely freshness to all that dark and luscious fruit." Robert Parker

Dark, concentrated ruby. In the nose plums, mocha, smoke, menthol, spices and some new leather. Clear in the drink, muscular and broad-shouldered. Despite its fullness, it is always precise and clear, the tannins are smooth. The personality of this Barolo from the top locations La Morra, Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d'Alba inspires us until the long finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Lustrous ruby. Finely spiced raspberry nose. Elegant, juicy palate and fragrant finish with wonderful tannins. Precise and finely built." Jancis Robinson

"The 2015 Barolo is an absolutely glorious wine. Sensual, silky and polished, the 2015 has so much to offer. Bright red berry fruit is nicely complemented by an array of floral and spiced notes that add nuance. Polished tannins add to the wine's considerable near-term appeal, but the straight Barolo also has a track record here of aging exceptionally well. Vineyard sites include Pernanno, Sarmassa, Rochettevino and Cerretta. Don't miss it." Vinous

"Elio Altare gives me a bit of his winemaker's wisdom: "Wine is like a marriage—it needs to be consummated early." With that in mind, the 2015 Barolo is engineered for near- and medium-term drinking with lots of plump fruit that jumps right out. The wine is open and inviting. Dark fruit is followed by warm tones of tilled earth and cured tobacco. Grapes are harvested from different parcels in four vineyard passes. In 2015, the team had the time to wait for each parcel to mature properly because the harvest was relaxed and spread over more comfortable timing." Robert Parker

Classically composed, perfect entry into the Altare Nebbiolo from own vineyards in Barolo, Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d'Alba. The Elio Altare winery has always been one of the producers with its modern imprint (use of barrique), whose Barolo seems less hard and brittle when young and rarely begs for more than 10 years of further bottle ripening.

Deep, dark fruit with a delicacy and complexity that only on the long finish brings the wonderfully fine-grained tannin and power to the palate that we love so much in wines. This immensely well-structured red from an excellent vintage is already a great pleasure early on and therefore does not necessarily become more accessible as it matures, but gains in size, complexity, elegance and finesse. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, intense ruby with a fine garnet sheen. Intense and inviting nose, full of ripe fruit, blackberries and dark cherries, fresh plums in the background. Round and juicy on the attack and course, spreads out richly with fine-meshed tannin over the course, deep, long finish." Falstaff

"Bright and floral, with lovely aromatic top notes that give the wine energy, the 2016 Barolo is a terrific introduction to the Altare Barolos. Lavender, rose petal, mint, spice and new leather are some of the many notes that grace this silky, mid-weight Barolo." Vinous

"This is a classic interpretation of Nebbiolo that offers beautiful intensity and balance. The bouquet is pure, elegant and direct with highly distinguishable aromas of wild cherry, tobacco, earth and licorice root. It sees two years in used barrique, and this time in wood contributes to the volume and depth of the palate. The wine is almost ready to drink out of the gate, or comfortably within the next 10-year window." Robert Parker

The extremely juicy, single-varietal Barbera Larigi is a dream and unfortunately still underestimated. Plum, cherry, a little chocolate and leather caress the palate, the wine leads into a long and fresh finish and has completely thrilled us! SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2018 Langhe Larigi opens to rich and deeply saturated fruit. The wine shows generous tones of blackberry and syrupy crème de cassis and also imparts much of the soft, velvety texture of those fruits. This is a single-vineyard expression of Barbera from the Altare family estate in La Morra. Larigi finishes with contained alcohol, opulence and lots of rich varietal character over the medium-bodied finish." Robert Parker

This wine is practically a Barolo, except for the fact that it is released a year earlier. Langhe Giàrborina draws its fruit from the top Arborina site in La Morra. Blackberries and plums are surrounded by smoke, tar and black liquorice in the most refined and elegant way. A magnificent, single-varietal Nebbiolo, impeccably balanced, impressively elegant and with a promising future. SUPERIORE.DE

"A pure expression of Nebbiolo (that is made like a Barolo but released one year earlier), the Elio Altare 2018 Langhe Giàrborina gives us a sneak peek of this cool vintage (and its performance in Arborina, La Morra, where this fruit is cultivated). Giàrborina is a richly saturated expression with dark fruit, plenty of blackberry, spice, tar and campfire ash. The wine shows that extra degree of color saturation and fruity concentration that is a hallmark of the Altare family. There is a touch of cedar or sweet oak on the finish." Robert Parker

Deep dark sparkling ruby with a fine garnet rim. On the nose, a colourful bouquet of black cherry, elderberry, graphite and a strong cassis note. On the powerful palate, the black fruits again, plus a wonderful balance and freshness with a picture-book tannin that further rounds off the perfect impression. SUPERIORE.DE

"From the Altare family's historic cru that extends from right under the panoramic platform at the main house and the tasting room, comes this homegrown and classic wine. The 2017 Barolo Arborina opens to an immediate note of bold cherry and redcurrant that is lifted and pure. That fruit intensity is followed softly by leather, sweet tobacco and crushed flowers. Arborina offers terrific intensity and smoothing textural richness that embraces the concentrated style of the vintage." Robert Parker

"The 2017 Barolo Arborina is creamy, ample and sensual. In 2017, the flavor profile is a bit darker than usual, but all the elements are so impeccably balanced. A wine of total harmony and class, the 2017 dazzles right from the get go. There is a bit of French oak that needs time to integrate, but that won't be an issue, as these wines have a track record of aging at least a few decades with no problems." Vinous

Arborina 2015 presents itself opulent, centered and almost complete. Dark bouquet of cherries and blackberries, perfectly connected to the wood on the palate. A perfectly structured Barolo with harmony and richness. Powerful and unstoppable he storms into a terrific final, showing much liveliness and freshness! SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2015 Barolo Arborina is soft, pretty and sensual. The warmth of the vintage has softened the typically hard young Arborina tannins, which in turn gives the wine more near-term approachability than is often the case. Floral, cedar and tobacco notes add an attractive upper register to this very pretty and nuanced Barolo from Altare." Vinous

"L'Insieme" is a small but concrete project of eco-solidarity. Just seven winegrowers from the Langhe have come together to support concrete solidarity projects every year with a part of the yield. The members include Elio Altare, Gianfranco Alessandria, Giuliano Corino, Federico Grasso, Giulio e Paolo Morando, Lorenzo Revello and Mauro Veglio. Under the label of the same name (L'Insieme: together, together, together), the wine producers support solidarity projects all over the world with 5 euros per bottled wine. To date, almost 500,000 euros have been donated in this way and a total of 42 important projects have been supported.

The deep dark L'Insieme combines the typical grapes of the Langa (Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto) with the racy spiciness of the Cabernet. A wine with a firm, powerful structure, harmoniously rounded tannins, a delicate melt and a beautiful finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Firmly anchored in La Morra, Elio Altare has been vinifying a Barolo in Serralunga d'Alba on a rented plot for a few years, vinified and bottled separately. A fascinating and powerful Nebbiolo with elegant fruit and floral aromas. Full-bodied, juicy and long on the palate, the dense tannin structure is of remarkable elegance. SUPERIORE.DE

"Medium ruby. Concentrated cherry of great depth. Equal parts of energetic acidity and concentrated fruit that is truly à point. Finely chiselled tannins carrying the whole. Long, muscular finish that is super-elegant at the same time. Long and electrifying." Jancis Robinson

"The 2015 Barolo Riserva Cerretta Vigna Bricco is a bold and amply fleshed out expression with dried cherry, blackberry preserves, prune and more dried fruit at the back. The wine carries a 15% alcohol content, but in the case of this sunny and hot 2015 vintage, I feel that the fruit is more dried out as a result. With fruit from Serralunga d'Alba, you get a lot of brawn and muscle, with background tones of red brick and iron ore." Robert Parker

"The 2015 Barolo Riserva Cerretta Vigna Bricco is a dark, powerful wine that expresses the depth and gravitas of Serralunga in spades. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, new leather, licorice and menthol all add to an impression of power and gravitas. Ample and creamy in feel, the 2015 has a lot to offer. This is the first vintage in which the Cerretta will be released as a Riserva, although in reality the wine has always been sold with the bottle age needed to qualify as a Riserva. In other words, the wine itself is unchanged from previous editions." Vinous

Great Barolo Cannubi of garnet red colour and with a distinct scent of wild berries. The elegant fruity taste shows typical strong tannins and a great acidity. Great class with excellent storage potential - made by Altare. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling ruby with a garnet shimmer. Fragrant and finely drawn nose with notes of ripe cherries, raspberries and a hint of cinchona bark and rose petals. Dense, rich tannin, develops a lot of power in the course, pithy, rich notes of raspberry, needs additional maturity." Falstaff

"The 2011 Barolo Cannubi represents the inaugural vintage of this new classic. Elio Altare lost his lease on the Brunate cru, but gained a 2,500-square-meter section of Cannubi (and Cannubi Valletta) in its place with 20-year-old vines. Elio says that the two vineyards are actually very similar with comparable exposures and sandy soil types. To my palate, however, this wine tasted riper and more evolved than the Brunate. It reveals bold berry notes of strawberry, prune and flinty mineral nuances. The vintage heat is more evident in this Cannubi expression. The wine also shows soft lines and a yielding texture." Robert Parker

"A regal, aristocratic Barolo, Altare's 2011 Cannubi is just as fabulous today as it has been on the previous occasions I have tasted it. Ripe, silky tannins caress the palate as this lifted, precise Barolo shows off its multi-dimensional, exquisitely beautiful personality. Elio Altare won't divulge the exact location of the parcel he is sourcing fruit from. Much like a great spot for white truffles, this dirt clearly produces fruit of the highest level. The 2011 Cannubi is nearly impossible to resist today, but it will be even better once some of the baby fat drops off. This is one of the wines of the vintage." Antonio Galloni

"Bright and delicate, despite the brooding tannins. Strawberry, cherry, rose and black pepper flavors mingle as this unfolds into a long, spicy aftertaste." Wine Spectator

"Fabulous perfumes of flowers, berries, strawberries, and sandalwood. Full body, ultra-fine tannins, and a long finish that lasts for minutes. A fabulous Cannubi. All about class." James Suckling

Barolo Cannubi from Piedmont's Dream Year 2012 is of garnet red colour and with a distinctive scent of wild berries. The elegant fruity taste shows typical strong tannins and a great acidity. Great class with excellent storage potential! SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2012 Barolo Cannubi is shaping up to be magnificent. Next to the other 2012s, all of which play across a single dimension, the Cannubi stands out because of its creamy, multidimensional personality. Suave, silky tannins reinforce that impression. Like all of the 2012s here, the Cannubi is not a big wine, but it shows remarkable finesse. The Cannubi also has a bit more tannic bite on the finish, which is probably a combination of the manual punchdowns used here and traces of green tannin from the hail damage. Knock out aromatics, fine tannins and veins of supporting, saline-infused minerality all leave a lasting impression. The 2012 saw four days on the skins, a bit less than the other Barolos. More importantly, it is a testament to what a quality-obsessed grower can achieve in a year with plenty of challenges." Antonio Galloni

Barolo Cannubi is garnet red in colour with a scent of wild berries. The elegant fruity taste shows typical strong tannins and a great acidity. Great class with excellent storage potential! SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling, medium-density garnet red. The nose is compact and attractive, with aromas of ripe cherry, raspberry and blackberry, and a hint of truffle at the back. Juicy and salty on the palate, charming, ripe raspberry note, opens with hearty, present tannin, sweet enamel that lasts long." Falstaff

"2013 Barolo Cannubi shows special intensity and verve that served as a hallmark for this classic vintage. The good news at the Altare winery is that the woman who leases out this parcel of Cannubi has renewed the contract, after heated negotiations, for six more years. That means that we can count on seeing this wine until 2024. This wine is absolutely distinguished by its fine and polished nature, but it feels firm and structured, even a bit fatter than expected, once it hits the palate. The effect is complete and generous. Wait a few moments and the wine takes a turn toward very floral and perfumed aromas." Robert Parker

"Lustrous mid ruby with orange tinges. Plenty of sweet marasca cherry on the nose as well as the palate. A touch smoky too. Succulent fruit that closes up on the finish. Lovely, chewy tannins on the finish, but still a little austere and in need of further age." Jancis Robinson

"One of the firmer wines in this lineup. In 2013, the Cannubi is distinguished for its focus, tension and overall energy. Bright red stone fruit, blood orange, mint and sweet tobacco are all nicely pushed forward. Beams of focused, nervous tannins give the wine its shape and overall persistence. The lifted aromatics and translucent fruit are pure Cannubi. Even so, the 2013 needs time to come into its own. Today, it is decidedly nervous." Antonio Galloni

Barolo Cannubi is garnet red in colour with a scent of wild berries. The elegant fruity taste shows typical strong tannins and a great acidity. Great class with excellent storage potential! SUPERIORE.DE

"Shining ruby with a garnet shimmer. Very intense, seductive nose, full of ripe, dark cherries, forest raspberries, some rhubarb, very clear. Fine-meshed, dense tannin in many layers, very clear and straightforward, flows calmly along, after violets and raspberries, salty." Falstaff

"Of the new 2014 Barolo releases from Elio and Silvia Altare, I am most impressed by the 2014 Barolo Cannubi. This wine dances or flutters over the palate with fine-tuned aromas of wild rose, white cherry, autumnal leaf and campfire ash. The mouthfeel is stitched together with silken threads. Because so much fruit was lost due to difficult weather conditions and hail in 2014, only 1,200 bottles were produced." Robert Parker

"The 2014 Barolo Cannubi is sensual, polished and nuanced, but very much in the midweight style of the year. Fresh and vibrant, it has enough depth to drink well for another 20 years. The pedigree of Cannubi comes through in the wine's creamy, enveloping texture. Next to the other Barolos in the range, the Cannubi is defined by its silky tannins and beautifully layered feel – the qualities that make the best wines from this site so coveted." Antonio Galloni

Also the 2015 edition of the shows the typical Cannubi attributes finesse, precision and an unmistakable opulence. Tight and generous on the palate, then with floral and fine fruity notes. The tannin is fine and the finish is long and elegant, as one would expect from a great Nebbiolo from the Altare family. SUPERIORE.DE

"Just mid ruby. Fairly deep ruby. Great precision and depth on the nose. The fruit fills out the palate without being oppressive or heavy. Firm, super-polished, fine tannins rolled out like a carpet for the intense fruit." Jancis Robinson

"The 2015 Barolo Cannubi is a gorgeous wine with a real glossy shine and bright quality that transcends the wine's appearance, bouquet and mouthfeel. There is so much volume here, and the wine covers the entire palate evenly and smoothly. In an increasing order of intensity among Altare's Barolos, this was the second to last wine we tasted." Robert Parker

"The 2015 Barolo Cannubi is another stellar wine in this range. One of the more closed wines in the lineup, the Cannubi is going to need the better part of a decade to start coming into its own. Today, it is dense, powerful and full of energy, and yet there is a purity to the fruit that represents the purest essence of what Cannubi is all about. There is certainly a lot to look forward to here." Vinous