| 2008-03-04 20:35 |
WA: 2003 Langhe Arborina—Medium ruby. The 2003 Langhe Arborina displays a heady, alcoholic nose followed by notes of strawberry jam and sweet oak with notable concentration, although the hard tannins so typical of this vintage clip the finish and seem to throw the wine off balance. The potent style here is not especially characteristic of this producer. 89/drink now-2015, 03/06 The approach to winemaking here remains very pure and unadulterated. Altare tends to his vines like a garden, which is in fact another of his passions. There are no artificial fertilizers of any kind used. “I personally work all of my vineyards so in the interest of my own health, why would I use anything that is unnatural on my plants,” asks Altare rhetorically. Altare was one of the first proponents of low yields in these parts and he remains a fervent believer in that approach. In a simple, functional cellar, Altare’s approach is similarly stripped down to the bare essentials. Fermentations here are measured in hours rather than days. Altare opts for a 3-4 day fermentation in rotary fermenters after which the wines do their malos and finish their aging in barriques of various ages. Altare believes in manipulating the wines as little as possible. Racking is kept to a minimum as he believes that each time wines are moved they lose aroma and flavors, and bottling is done without the aid of fining and/or filtration. Elio Altare’s Barolos remain among the most profound expressions of Nebbiolo and La Morra terroir. |