The Elio Altare 2020 Langhe Rosso Larigi is 100% Barbera, with just three barriques (or 900 bottles) produced. Yields were reduced because some of the vines suffer from the floral disease Flavescence dorée, which is unfortunately popping up throughout the region. These results are very rich and plump with ripe fruit flavors and blackberry preserves. The wine is very generous and soft in texture. It ages in oak for softness, but the natural freshness of the grape is intact.

A pure expression of Barbera from the family's historic vineyards in La Morra, the Elio Altare 2019 Langhe Rosso Larigi shows dark color concentration and generous fruit weight with punchy aromas of plum, candied cherry and baked blackberry. The wine ages in barrique for 18 months to offer plenty of savory spice and toast. This is a release of 1,400 bottles.

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 (measured at 14.5%), opulence and lots of rich varietal character over the medium-bodied finish.

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.

Elegant and powerful, with vanilla and toast notes wrapped around plum and blackberry fruit flavors. The vibrant acidity keeps this reined in and extends the spicy aftertaste. Drink now through 2023. 160 cases made, 100 cases imported.??–BS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Langhe Select to Add