Barolo, Elio Altare 2019

The 2019 Barolo is bright and effusive in the glass, with lovely aromatic presence and fine balance. Aromatic and broad, with gorgeous balance, the 2019 will be easy to drink and enjoy young. Crushed red berry fruit, blood orange, mint, cinnamon, pomegranate, cedar and sweet floral top notes. This is such a classy Barolo from Altare. (Drink between 2026-2039)

Lovely perfume to this with flowers, cherries, and orange peel. Medium-bodied with firm and fine tannins. Pretty length. Bright at the end. Drink after 2026 but already so attractive.

The 2019 Barolo is a beautiful new release from Elio Altare. Silvia Altare (Elio's daughter) tells me, "The 2019 vintage was easy to make, resulting in wines that are rich, fat and powerful. The 2018 vintage was lean and 2017 was hot, but 2019 is classic." This wine sees fruit sourced from across three villages of Barolo (some estate-owned and some leased), and winemaking was straightforward, with short maceration times and few rackings, Silvia says. The results are vinous and fruit-forward with plump cherry and blackberry over a textured, full-bodied approach. The wine needs a few more years of bottle age.