Red Wine Elio Altare Langhe Larigi 2013. In 1948 the Altare family purchased a farm in what is now the prized Barolo sub-region of La Morra which boasted 5 hectares of Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto vineyards along with flourishing orchards. In the 1970s the challenging economic climate in Italy sent Elio Altare abroad in search of inspiration from the winemakers of Burgundy. He returned full of ideas to revitalise the estate such as using small oak barrels for ageing the wines and organic cultivation in the vineyards. In 2016 Elio handed over the reins to his daughter, Silvia, whose passion and hard work has helped to cement the estate’s status as one of the most exciting producers in the Piedmont. The family’s Langhe Larigi is a soft yet intensely-flavoured wine which is crafted in limited quantities from Barbera vines planted in 1948. On the nose there are rich aromas of cassis, blackberries, and dark plums while the palate offers crushed wild berry flavours and hints of dried herbs. The wine is aged in oak barrels for 18 months which softens the structure and adds attractive sweet spice and vanilla notes. This is an ideal red wine to drink alongside red meat or tomato-based pasta dishes and it can also be cellared for another five years or so.
2013
Red Wine Elio Altare Langhe Larigi 2013
Red Wine Elio Altare Langhe Giarborina 2013. Decant 1 hour before serving. Elio Altare is regarded as a legendary figure on the Piedmontese wine scene thanks to his maverick transformation of his family’s estate and his encouragement and support of the next generation of young winemakers in the region. After travelling to Burgundy in the 1970s Elio was inspired to adopt a lighter, more elegant approach to winemaking which has firmly cemented the estate’s reputation as a leading Barolo producer. This elegant Nebbiolo is the most expressive of Elio Altare’s three Langhe Nebbiolos with grapes sourced from the estate’s Arborina vineyard where the oldest vines date back to 1948. To add extra complexity and to soften Nebbiolo’s notoriously high tannins the wine is aged in oak barrels for 14 months. On the nose there are powerful hints of crushed dark cherries, vanilla and baked earth while the first sip reveals a generous full body, firm tannins, and a very long finish.The well-developed structure of this Nebbiolo make it an excellent partner for red meats like a prime steak or a hearty beef stew. This is also a wine which will respond well to extended cellar ageing and will continue to mature and evolve over the next decade or so.
2013
Red Wine San Filippo Le Lucere Brunello di Montalcino 2013. Decant 1 hour before serving. This masterful Brunello frequently receives scores in the high 90s from top wine critics like James Suckling. The wine begins life in a stunning 2 hectare single vineyard named Le Lucere which is farmed organically and sits at 200 metres above sea level. This spot has a reputation for producing well-structured, powerful Brunellos which will age and develop beautifully in the cellar. The grapes are typically harvested in October and are crushed right away when they reach the winery. Following fermentation the young wine is transferred to barriques for 24-28 months and the wine is then aged in the bottle for 10 months before it is deemed ready for release. The result is a rich and very complex wine with firm tannins, a generous full body and luscious dark fruit seasoned with hints of leather, spice and bitter herbs. The San Filippo winery is located to the south of the stunning hilltop town of Montalcino, an area which is known for producing many of the most ageworthy and elegant Brunellos and is home to legendary wineries like Biondi Santi. Founded in 1972, the estate was later purchased by Roberto Giannelli who has worked tirelessly to make San Filippo one of Brunello’s top producers. Today the estate is 22 hectares in size of which 11 hectares are currently under vine with Sangiovese planted as well as international varieties like Merlot and Syrah.
2013