Elio Altare : Barolo 2022

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for Elio Altare's 2022 Barolo

Tasting Notes

Nose
The nose expresses itself generously with ripe red fruit, raspberry and cherry leading the way, alongside floral notes of wild rose. Touches of liquorice complete this first impression, before aeration reveals more tertiary nuances of leather and tar, typical of a patiently crafted Nebbiolo.

Palate
The palate reveals a finely chiselled tannic structure, carried by the high acidity characteristic of the Nebbiolo grape. The tannins, firm yet polished by careful ageing, soften with aeration to offer an elegant, deep texture, with a long finish marked by the return of red fruit, liquorice and darker nuances.

Food and Wine Pairing

This Barolo is an ideal match for rich, flavourful cuisine: braised meats, pasta with ragù, truffle risotto or well-aged cheeses will find a natural echo in the structure and aromatic complexity of this wine.

Serving and Ageing

It is recommended to serve the 2022 Elio Altare Barolo between 16 and 18°C, after extended decanting to fully reveal its aromatic bouquet. Its optimal tasting window extends from approximately 2027 to 2042.

Elio Altare Crafts a Delicate and Balanced Piedmontese Red Wine

The Estate

Founded in 1948 in Annunziata di La Morra, in Piedmont, the Elio Altare estate owes its renown to the stylistic revolution led by Elio Altare from the 1970s onwards, which placed him at the heart of the Barolo Boys movement. Now run by his daughter Silvia Altare, official owner since 2016, the estate cultivates around ten hectares under organic farming, combining technical rigour with a deep attachment to terroir.

The Vineyard

The Barolo is made from Nebbiolo grown in the communes of La Morra, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d'Alba and Barolo, on predominantly marl-limestone soils, at altitudes ranging from 250 to 450 metres, with mainly south-facing exposures. The vineyard is managed through organic farming using only copper and copper sulphate against fungal diseases, along with careful yield management through green harvesting.

The Vintage

The 2022 vintage in Piedmont was marked by a particularly dry winter and prolonged drought from April to October, exacerbated by episodes of intense summer heat. This water stress led to reduced yields and smaller berries, while the low humidity helped preserve excellent sanitary conditions. Some welcome rainfall at the end of July and in September provided much-needed relief, resulting in an earlier-than-average harvest.

Winemaking and Ageing

The 2022 Barolo is fermented in rotary tanks using indigenous yeasts, with no inoculation or addition of selected yeasts. The wine is neither fined nor filtered, in keeping with a philosophy of preserving the raw material. Ageing takes place over two years in French oak barrels, followed by a resting period to reach the minimum statutory duration of 38 months before release.

Grape Variety

This Barolo is made from Nebbiolo.