Elio Altare : Barolo 2022

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Barolo 2022 by Elio Altare

Tasting

Nose
The nose opens generously with ripe red fruit, led by raspberry and cherry, alongside floral notes of wild rose. Hints 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. Firm yet polished by careful ageing, the tannins 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 partner for rich, flavourful cuisine: braised meats, pasta with ragù, truffle risotto or aged cheeses all find a natural echo in the structure and aromatic complexity of this wine.

Serving and ageing

The Barolo 2022 Elio Altare is best served between 16 and 18°C, after extended decanting to fully reveal its aromatic bouquet. Its optimal drinking window extends from around 2027 to 2042.

Elio Altare crafts a delicate, balanced Piedmontese red wine

The estate

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

The vineyard

This Barolo comes from Nebbiolo grown in the communes of La Morra, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d'Alba and Barolo, on predominantly clay-limestone marl soils, at altitudes of between 250 and 450 metres, with mainly south-facing exposures. The vineyard is farmed organically, using only copper and copper sulphate against fungal diseases, and yields are carefully managed through green harvesting.

The vintage

In Piedmont, the 2022 vintage was marked by a particularly dry winter and a prolonged drought from April to October, intensified by episodes of intense summer heat. This water stress led to reduced yields and smaller berries, while the low humidity kept the grapes in excellent health. A few welcome rains in late July and in September brought much-needed relief, resulting in an earlier-than-average harvest.

Vinification and ageing

The Barolo 2022 is fermented in rotary fermenters with indigenous yeasts, without inoculation or the addition of selected yeasts. The wine is neither fined nor filtered, in order to preserve the integrity of the raw material. It is aged for two years in French oak barriques, followed by a resting period to reach the minimum regulatory duration of 38 months before release.

Grape variety

This Barolo is made from Nebbiolo.