Elio Altare

Firmly anchored in La Morra, Elio Altare has been vinifying a Barolo in Serralunga d'Alba on a rented plot for a few years, vinified and bottled separately. A fascinating and powerful Nebbiolo with elegant fruit, truffle, leather and floral aromas. Full-bodied, juicy and long on the palate, with a remarkably elegant tannin structure. SUPERIORE.DE

"Mid to deep ruby with orange tinges. Amazing depth. There are hints of mint and cardamon and a suggestion of spice. Brooding and a little rich but without being sweet. Holds back on the palate, but at the same time is transparent and layered. Long, firm, polished tannins. Still not ready by far." Jancis Robinson

"This red wine offers a blend of plum, black cherry, leather, liquorice and spice aromas. Notes of dried fig and chocolate add an exotic touch, while it finishes fresh and invigorating, with fine balance and length." Wine Spectator

"Lots of spice with flowers. Bloody and iron undertones. Full and chewy with plenty of structure. Juicy and flavorful. Very structured with lots of tannins. Needs time to soften. Aged for two years in bottle. Muscular and unique. Drink after 2027." James Suckling

"The 2017 Barolo Riserva Cerretta Vigna Bricco is pliant and creamy, with all of the depth of Serralunga backing it up. Black cherry, plum and spice all build in a sumptuous, full-bodied Barolo that captures the best the vintage had to offer. Dark fruit, smoke, game, licorice and incense add layers of dimension as the 2017 starts to open in the glass. Let's see what happens here." Vinous

"The Elio Altare 2017 Barolo Riserva Cerretta Vigna Bricco is extremely generous and rich, owing to the very hot and dry growing season. This Riserva opens to rich black fruit, plum and blackcurrant. The fruit is framed by tarry smoke and spice. The wine is very firm and structured to the palate, with an ample, full-bodied style that concludes with a hint of velvety softness." Wine Advocate

"Dark shining, slightly cloudy ruby red. In the nose of ripe cranberries, black cherries, some plums, in addition fine noble wood, reminds in the reverberation discreetly of milk chocolate. On the palate with a noble balsamic tone, hearty, with ripe dark berry fruit, shows proper pressure, in the finish abundant and still young tannin." Falstaff

Firmly rooted in La Morra, Elio Altare has been vinifying a Barolo on a rented plot in Serralunga d'Alba for a few years, which is vinified and bottled separately. A fascinating and powerful Nebbiolo with elegant fruit, truffle, leather and floral aromas. Full-bodied, juicy and long in flavour, with a remarkably elegant, well-built tannin structure. SUPERIORE.DE

"Powerful ruby colour with a fine garnet sheen. Opens with slightly earthy notes of black truffle and balsamic tones, then ripe plum, some dried tomato, wild raspberry. A substantial and gripping attack, lots of dark fruit, opens up with powerful tannins, full-bodied pressure on the final, ends on earthy tones." Falstaff

"The Elio Altare 2018 Barolo Riserva Cerretta has plenty of dark blackberry flavours complemented by spicy oak, all to great effect. The oak continues on the palate and in the tannins with roasted spices, nutmeg and vanilla pods." Wine Advocate

"The Barolo Riserva Cerretta Vigna Bricco 2018 is a big, powerful wine that shows the full range of Serralunga. Black cherry, smoke, tobacco, gravel, liquorice and incense open up to reveal a Barolo of enormous depth and resonance. The Cerretta clearly stands out in this range due to its size, but the whole works so well. The 2018 is still developing. It is very promising." Vinous

The grapes of UnoPerUno come from the cru vineyards Arborina in La Morra, Cannubi in Barolo, Pernanno in Castiglione Falletto, Sarmassa in Barolo and Cerretta in Serralunga d'Alba and are individually destemmed. As a result of this intensive manual work, only 1,300 bottles of this exceptional wine are sold in well-stocked specialist shops, and only in the best vintages. Due to the manual destemming, no green overtones of the stems get into the mash, making the tannins silkier and creamier than in the conventional process. The result is something to be savoured: UnoPerUno is of high fruit intensity, has an incredible depth and structure and is a benchmark of the appellation every year in its purity and clarity on the nose and palate. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright ruby garnet. In the nose with stony hints, some graphite, then rich plum fruit, Amarena cherry, also hints of liquorice and mint. On the palate then very powerful and compact, opens on dark fruit, tightly meshed and polished, plus powerful tannin, dark elegance, spans a wide arc, can store for a long time." Falstaff

"The 2018 Barolo Unoperuno is terrific. Bright and beautifully perfumed, the Unoperuno impresses with finesse. Crushed flowers, sweet red berry fruit, kirsch, cinnamon, mint and dried flowers all soar out of the glass. Readers will find a Barolo of uncommon finesse and elegance. As has been the case for a few vintages now, the Unoperuno is made from a blend of vineyard sites, with all the fruit destemmed by hand. The purity of the flavors is unreal." Vinous

"Ripe, boasting plum, black cherry and coffee aromas and flavors framed by vanilla, caramel and leather accents. Lush and broad on the palate, yet with ample acidity to drive the lingering finish and keep this balanced. A more flamboyant '18." Wine Spectator

"As the wine name suggests, this Barolo is assembled a single berry at a time, "one by one." With a high price point that reflects a labor–intensive winemaking process, the Elio Altare 2018 Barolo Unoperuno shows some softness and sweetness of a hot vintage. This wine is made of a blend of fruit selected from Arborina (in La Morra), Cannubi (in Barolo), Pernanno (in Castiglione Falletto), Sarmassa (in Barolo) and Cerretta (in Serralunga d'Alba). The bouquet reveals soft cherry confit and dried raspberry with spice, leather and dark licorice. Made entirely by hand, this is a limited production of 1,300 bottles." Wine Advocate

The grapes of UnoPerUno come from the cru vineyards Arborina in La Morra, Cannubi in Barolo, Pernanno in Castiglione Falletto, Sarmassa in Barolo and Cerretta in Serralunga d'Alba and are individually destemmed. As a result of this intensive manual work, only 1,300 bottles of this exceptional wine are sold in well-stocked specialist shops, and only in the best vintages. Due to the manual destemming, no green overtones of the stems get into the mash, making the tannins silkier and creamier than in the conventional process. The result is something to be savoured: UnoPerUno is of high fruit intensity, has an incredible depth and structure and is a benchmark of the appellation every year in its purity and clarity on the nose and palate. SUPERIORE.DE

"Just medium ruby red. Deeper and more complex than the pure Barolo and a little more closed. Raspberry and the scent of cardamom. Still youthful and compact with an endless finish. Very elegant and very tannic, but beautifully precise." Jancis Robinson

"A beam of cherry highlights this supple red, along with aromas of iron and wet hay, and a hint of eucalyptus. The texture is impressive until the tannins flex their muscles. Firm yet open, with a lingering finish." Wine Spectator

"A crisp and bright Barolo with aromas and flavours of oranges, flowers and crab apples. Medium body. Very crisp and fresh. Fine and polished tannins. Already bright and delicious. But give it time to develop in the bottle. It is destemmed by hand. Better after 2025." James Suckling

"The 2019 Barolo Unoperuno is a wine of absolute class and elegance. Bright and translucent, with compelling inner sweetness, the 2019 is simply beautiful. Crushed red berry fruit, orange peel, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco are all finely brought out. The wine has fantastic energy and resilience. Give it a few years to develop." Vinous

"Silvia Altare calls her 2019 Barolo Unoperuno, made from a blend of fruit from Arborina (in La Morra), Cannubi (in Barolo) and Badarina and Ceretta (in Serralunga d'Alba), a "super mega blend from classic single vineyards". The berries are selected by hand and with the utmost care. Unoperuno actually means "one at a time" in Italian, and this gives you an idea of the demanding work required to make this wine in a very limited production (about 1,200 bottles are released annually in autumn). The result is a gently elegant wine with ripe tannins and lots of dark fruit and black cherry in the background. There are also mild mineral tones and a hint of earth or rust." Wine Advocate

"Shiny ruby red. Inviting nose, of ripe raspberries, peppermint, white pepper, balsamic, of precious wood and minimally of cold smoke, very inviting. Shows very polished on the palate, with pronounced fruit and perfectly integrated tannin, powerful, with pressure, lingers long." Falstaff

The grapes for UnoPerUno come from the cru sites Arborina in La Morra, Cannubi in Barolo, Pernanno in Castiglione Falletto, Sarmassa in Barolo and Cerretta in Serralunga d'Alba and are individually destemmed. As a result of this intensive manual labour, just 1,300 bottles of this exceptional wine are sold in the well-stocked specialist shops, and only in the best vintages. Due to the manual destemming, no green overtones from the stems get into the mash, making the tannins silkier and creamier than with the conventional method. The result is something to savour: UnoPerUno has a high fruit intensity, incredible depth and structure and is a benchmark of the appellation every year in its purity and clarity on the nose and palate. SUPERIORE.DE

"Intensely bright ruby colour with a fine garnet rim. Very clear and appealing nose, inspiring with notes of raspberry and wild strawberry, some dried thyme in the background. Lots of fine-meshed tannins, coated in sweet enamel, builds up for a long time, then compact pressure on the final." Falstaff

"Cherry, plum, fruitcake and mineral flavors are wrapped in toasty oak. Balanced, expressive and inviting, with a lush texture and substantial warmth from the ripe profile. This red lingers, with a long, fresh and spice-infused aftertaste." Wine Spectator

"The Barolo Unoperuno 2020 is an assemblage from the top vineyards Cannubi, Arborina, Cerretta, Pernanno, Sarmassa and Bricco Ambrogio, all destemmed by hand. Silky and floral, with a medium-weight structure, the 2020 is initially quite open. Bright, red-coloured fruit, mint, spice, cedar, tobacco and incense unfold effortlessly in the glass. It is beautifully made and wonderfully exotic." Vinous

"The Elio Altare 2020 Barolo Unoperuno begins with floral aromas of crushed rose and lilac and then moves into rich fruit with dark currant and plum. The nose reveals toasted and baked oak spices, which also characterise the palate. It shows a softness or fullness that is rare for Nebbiolo, and the tannins are already quite silky and accessible." Wine Advocate

The Barolo Cannubi with its interpretation of the Nebbiolo grape, probably the purest at Altare, has been the ambitious project of daughter Silvia since 2011 and represents an exciting rounding off of the already almost unique collection. Sparkling, brightening ruby garnet. A very clear and inviting nose, smelling of ripe raspberries and plums, a little rose petals, subtle hints of cloves in the background. Round and balanced on the palate, plump ripe fruit, then starts with bundled, dense tannin, fills the palate full, a firework of spices in the final. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, radiant ruby garnet. Exciting nose of ripe raspberries, ripe cranberries, in addition noble nuances of black tea, fine undergrowth in the reverberation. At first juicy and tightly woven on the palate, opens profoundly and long, with very great tension, firm pressure in the final, pure Nebbiolo elegance." Falstaff

"The 2018 Barolo Cannubi is silky and gracious, and yet there is a good deal of stuffing behind all of that Cannubi finesse. Crushed rose petal, mint, sweet dried cherry and licorice build with a bit of time. It's all class and pedigree here. Impressive." Vinous

"Fluid and elegant, boasting strawberry, cherry, rose, mineral, spice and wild herb aromas and flavors. Firm, harmonious and long, with finely wrought tannins and a graceful profile." Wine Spectator

"This is a collectors' wine that owes its high bottle price to the prestige of the Cannubi cru and availability. A mere 1,500 bottles were produced of the Elio Altare 2018 Barolo Cannubi. The Altare family was able to get a lease on this special vineyard, and the first vintage made was 2011. This wine shows classic elegance, a graceful bouquet and fine tannins that give structure to the wine's mid–weight texture." Wine Advocate

The Barolo Cannubi with its interpretation of the Nebbiolo grape, probably the purest at Altare, has been the ambitious project of daughter Silvia since 2011 and represents an exciting rounding off of the already almost unique collection. Sparkling, brightening ruby garnet. A very clear and inviting nose, smelling of ripe raspberries and plums, a little rose petals, subtle hints of cloves in the background. Round and balanced on the palate, plump ripe fruit, then starts with bundled, dense tannin, fills the palate full, a firework of spices in the final. SUPERIORE.DE

"Lustrous mid ruby. Perfumed and almost a little exotic and very fine. Complex, super inviting and with a whisper of oak, but still holding back a little. A thick layer of fine tannins over fresh raspberry fruit. Such fine but powerful tannins! Amazing length." Jancis Robinson

"Cherry and menthol are the main themes of this elegant red wine, which is rounded off by notes of plum, iron, spice and tobacco. It is balanced, with a long, juicy finish." Wine Spectator

"With only 2,500 bottles released from three barrels, this is a gorgeous interpretation of Nebbiolo. The Elio Altare 2019 Barolo Cannubi is slender in form but rich and long lasting on the palate. The wine reveals tones of wild berry, crushed rose and exotic spice." Wine Advocate

"The 2019 Barolo Cannubi shows why this site is so magical. It offers all the suppleness that Cannubi is so known for, but married to the natural tension of the year. Sweet red cherry, kirsch, cinnamon, blood orange and mint open nicely in the glass. With its gorgeous inner perfume and total sensuality, the Cannubi is an absolute winner." Vinous

"Lots of crushed stone, hints of salted caramel, and fresh flowers. Some crab apple and cranberries. Medium-bodied with plenty of tannins, but not aggressive. Rough velvet. Give this time. Better after 2028." James Suckling

"Bright ruby garnet. In the nose noble and catchy, of juicy blood orange, wild strawberries, with fine floral components, sweet raspberries and bright spice. On the palate very compact and very powerful, shows very elegantly woven and with tightly woven tannins, builds for a long time without being overbearing, big." Falstaff

The Barolo Cannubi, probably Altare 's purest interpretation of the Nebbiolo grape, has been daughter Silvia's ambitious project since 2011 and is an exciting addition to what is already an almost unique collection. Sparkling, bright ruby-garnet colour. Very clear and inviting nose, with aromas of ripe raspberries and plums, some rose petals and a subtle hint of cloves in the background. Round and balanced on the palate, full-bodied ripe fruit, then takes off with bundled, dense tannins, fills the palate, a firework of spices on the final. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, medium-dense ruby-garnet colour. Presents itself with notes of blood orange, raspberry and some plum. Plucky, full-bodied tannins with a firm core, coated in sweet enamel, full-bodied pressure on the final, still very young overall." Falstaff

"Plum, cherry, sandalwood, vanilla and toasty oak flavors meld into the rich texture of this mellow red. Broad on the palate, with terrific balance and a lingering aftertaste of fruit and sweet spices. Leaves you with a burst of black pepper." Wine Spectator

"The Elio Altare 2020 Barolo Cannubi takes a modernist approach to the MGA with some oak spice, tar and liquorice surrounding firm, crunchy cherries and red fruits. The combination of fruit and oak spice gives this wine power, texture and lift and then folds over the palate with richness and beautiful volume." Wine Advocate

"The Barolo Cannubi 2020 is of great class. Floral, soaring aromas merge with a core of dark, red fruit. Medium-bodied and nuanced, with plenty of youthful tannin, the 2020 is bursting with energy and all the classicism that is so typical of this site, enhanced by Altare's approach today, which combines textural richness with vibrancy. Today, the Cannubi is the most restrained of the 2020 Altare Barolos - probably a good sign for its future." Vinous

The grapes of UnoPerUno come from the cru vineyards Arborina in La Morra, Cannubi in Barolo, Pernanno in Castiglione Falletto, Sarmassa in Barolo and Cerretta in Serralunga d'Alba and are individually destemmed. As a result of this intensive manual work, only 1,500 bottles of this exceptional wine are sold in well-stocked specialist shops, and only in the best vintages. Due to the manual destemming, no green overtones of the stems get into the mash, making the tannins silkier and creamier than in the conventional process. The result is something to be savoured: UnoperUno has a high fruit intensity, incredible depth and structure, and is a benchmark of the appellation every year in its purity and clarity on the nose and palate. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling, intense ruby garnet. Appealing and profound nose, opens with notes of ripe plums and black cherries, some pomegranate and blood orange. Shows lots of plump fruit on the attack, opens with lots of dense, smoothly integrated tannin, creamy, sweet melting on the final." Falstaff

"The 2017 Barolo Unoperuno is sensual, silky and nuanced. Crushed red berry fruit, blood orange, spice, mint and rose petal are some of the aromas and flavors that grace this exquisite, translucent Barolo. Heady and exotic from the first taste, the 2017 is vivid and beautiful, with silky tannins that add to its appeal. The Unoperuno is a selection of grapes, meticulously destemmed, from all of the Altare vineyards. Vinification in small lots, in barrel, has made a big difference here. In 2017, the Unoperuno is hugely appealing." Vinous

"The Elio Altare 2017 Barolo Unoperuno (with each berry selected "one by one") draws its fruit from Arborina in La Morra, Cannubi in Barolo, Pernanno in Castiglione Falletto, Sarmassa in Barolo and Cerretta in Serralunga d'Alba. The wine reveals dark and saturated fruit, but the characteristic that stands out in this wine is its slightly spicy quality, with dried blackberry, ginger and cinnamon stick. This Barolo imparts a soft and thickly textured approach that wraps thickly over the palate." Wine Advocate

The grapes of UnoPerUno come from the cru vineyards Arborina in La Morra, Cannubi in Barolo, Pernanno in Castiglione Falletto, Sarmassa in Barolo and Cerretta in Serralunga d'Alba and are individually destemmed. As a result of this intensive manual work, only 1,300 bottles of this exceptional wine are sold in well-stocked specialist shops, and only in the best vintages. Due to the manual destemming, no green overtones of the stems get into the mash, making the tannins silkier and creamier than in the conventional process. The result is something to be savoured: UnoPerUno is of high fruit intensity, has an incredible depth and structure and is a benchmark of the appellation every year in its purity and clarity on the nose and palate. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright ruby garnet. In the nose with stony hints, some graphite, then rich plum fruit, Amarena cherry, also hints of liquorice and mint. On the palate then very powerful and compact, opens on dark fruit, tightly meshed and polished, plus powerful tannin, dark elegance, spans a wide arc, can store for a long time." Falstaff

"The 2018 Barolo Unoperuno is terrific. Bright and beautifully perfumed, the Unoperuno impresses with finesse. Crushed flowers, sweet red berry fruit, kirsch, cinnamon, mint and dried flowers all soar out of the glass. Readers will find a Barolo of uncommon finesse and elegance. As has been the case for a few vintages now, the Unoperuno is made from a blend of vineyard sites, with all the fruit destemmed by hand. The purity of the flavors is unreal." Vinous

"Ripe, boasting plum, black cherry and coffee aromas and flavors framed by vanilla, caramel and leather accents. Lush and broad on the palate, yet with ample acidity to drive the lingering finish and keep this balanced. A more flamboyant '18." Wine Spectator

"As the wine name suggests, this Barolo is assembled a single berry at a time, "one by one." With a high price point that reflects a labor–intensive winemaking process, the Elio Altare 2018 Barolo Unoperuno shows some softness and sweetness of a hot vintage. This wine is made of a blend of fruit selected from Arborina (in La Morra), Cannubi (in Barolo), Pernanno (in Castiglione Falletto), Sarmassa (in Barolo) and Cerretta (in Serralunga d'Alba). The bouquet reveals soft cherry confit and dried raspberry with spice, leather and dark licorice. Made entirely by hand, this is a limited production of 1,300 bottles." Wine Advocate

The grapes of UnoPerUno come from the cru vineyards Arborina in La Morra, Cannubi in Barolo, Pernanno in Castiglione Falletto, Sarmassa in Barolo and Cerretta in Serralunga d'Alba and are individually destemmed. As a result of this intensive manual work, only 1,300 bottles of this exceptional wine are sold in well-stocked specialist shops, and only in the best vintages. Due to the manual destemming, no green overtones of the stems get into the mash, making the tannins silkier and creamier than in the conventional process. The result is something to be savoured: UnoPerUno is of high fruit intensity, has an incredible depth and structure and is a benchmark of the appellation every year in its purity and clarity on the nose and palate. SUPERIORE.DE

"Just medium ruby red. Deeper and more complex than the pure Barolo and a little more closed. Raspberry and the scent of cardamom. Still youthful and compact with an endless finish. Very elegant and very tannic, but beautifully precise." Jancis Robinson

"A beam of cherry highlights this supple red, along with aromas of iron and wet hay, and a hint of eucalyptus. The texture is impressive until the tannins flex their muscles. Firm yet open, with a lingering finish." Wine Spectator

"A crisp and bright Barolo with aromas and flavours of oranges, flowers and crab apples. Medium body. Very crisp and fresh. Fine and polished tannins. Already bright and delicious. But give it time to develop in the bottle. It is destemmed by hand. Better after 2025." James Suckling

"The 2019 Barolo Unoperuno is a wine of absolute class and elegance. Bright and translucent, with compelling inner sweetness, the 2019 is simply beautiful. Crushed red berry fruit, orange peel, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco are all finely brought out. The wine has fantastic energy and resilience. Give it a few years to develop." Vinous

"Silvia Altare calls her 2019 Barolo Unoperuno, made from a blend of fruit from Arborina (in La Morra), Cannubi (in Barolo) and Badarina and Ceretta (in Serralunga d'Alba), a "super mega blend from classic single vineyards". The berries are selected by hand and with the utmost care. Unoperuno actually means "one at a time" in Italian, and this gives you an idea of the demanding work required to make this wine in a very limited production (about 1,200 bottles are released annually in autumn). The result is a gently elegant wine with ripe tannins and lots of dark fruit and black cherry in the background. There are also mild mineral tones and a hint of earth or rust." Wine Advocate

"Shiny ruby red. Inviting nose, of ripe raspberries, peppermint, white pepper, balsamic, of precious wood and minimally of cold smoke, very inviting. Shows very polished on the palate, with pronounced fruit and perfectly integrated tannin, powerful, with pressure, lingers long." Falstaff

The grapes for UnoPerUno come from the cru sites Arborina in La Morra, Cannubi in Barolo, Pernanno in Castiglione Falletto, Sarmassa in Barolo and Cerretta in Serralunga d'Alba and are individually destemmed. As a result of this intensive manual labour, just 1,300 bottles of this exceptional wine are sold in the well-stocked specialist shops, and only in the best vintages. Due to the manual destemming, no green overtones from the stems get into the mash, making the tannins silkier and creamier than with the conventional method. The result is something to savour: UnoPerUno has a high fruit intensity, incredible depth and structure and is a benchmark of the appellation every year in its purity and clarity on the nose and palate. SUPERIORE.DE

"Intensely bright ruby colour with a fine garnet rim. Very clear and appealing nose, inspiring with notes of raspberry and wild strawberry, some dried thyme in the background. Lots of fine-meshed tannins, coated in sweet enamel, builds up for a long time, then compact pressure on the final." Falstaff

"Cherry, plum, fruitcake and mineral flavors are wrapped in toasty oak. Balanced, expressive and inviting, with a lush texture and substantial warmth from the ripe profile. This red lingers, with a long, fresh and spice-infused aftertaste." Wine Spectator

"The Barolo Unoperuno 2020 is an assemblage from the top vineyards Cannubi, Arborina, Cerretta, Pernanno, Sarmassa and Bricco Ambrogio, all destemmed by hand. Silky and floral, with a medium-weight structure, the 2020 is initially quite open. Bright, red-coloured fruit, mint, spice, cedar, tobacco and incense unfold effortlessly in the glass. It is beautifully made and wonderfully exotic." Vinous

"The Elio Altare 2020 Barolo Unoperuno begins with floral aromas of crushed rose and lilac and then moves into rich fruit with dark currant and plum. The nose reveals toasted and baked oak spices, which also characterise the palate. It shows a softness or fullness that is rare for Nebbiolo, and the tannins are already quite silky and accessible." Wine Advocate