2018 Altare, E. - Barolo DOCG (750ml)

The Altare family has farmed in La Morra since 1948, when Giuseppe Altare established the estate. His son Elio took over the vineyards after a formative trip to Burgundy in 1976, and the changes he brought to the cellar, shorter macerations, rotary fermenters, and aging in new French barrique, put him at odds with his father, who briefly disinherited him. Elio went on to become one of the founding figures of the modernist movement in Barolo, and the estate is now run entirely by his daughter, Silvia, who has led it since 2016.

This Barolo is sourced from Nebbiolo vines planted across La Morra, home to some of the appellation's most prized parcels, where soils of marl, limestone, and clay give the wine its structure. The grapes are farmed without pesticides or chemical treatments, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and the finished wine matures for twenty-four months in French oak barriques, a mix of new and once-used barrels that lend gentle spice without overwhelming the fruit.

The wine shows ruby red with garnet highlights, its bouquet built around violet and balsamic notes layered over ripe plum. On the palate it is concentrated yet polished, with soft, well-integrated tannins and a long, spiced finish. Serve it with beef tenderloin, grilled steak, or a rich veal stew.