Elio Altare, Barolo, Cerretta Vigna Bricco

Barolo & Barbaresco Dinner with Walter Speller (Cornus) : Magnum, poured by Silvia Altare. Punchy, funky nose, that felt expansive but also deep and classic. Substantial on the palate, with juicy fruit, menthol, something animale, and a solidity on the finish. In a good place and quite open despite all that substance (as Galloni aptly calls it, "Serralunga brawn"). I should probably buy some of their wines...

2006 vintage

Textbook. From magnum, still quite vibrant and good fruit. Tannins had a nice bite. Was great.

2006 vintage

This is in a great spot, drinking super well. Very balanced, some cherry, classic barolo perfume. It does this powdery tannins texture that I don't love, but other than that very nice, classic barolo.

2006 vintage

Still drinking very nicely. Only have 3 bottles left but no reason to rush to finish them quicker than than the next 1-2 years I would say.

2006 vintage

Outstanding. Perfectly integrated and balanced. Some of the comments suggest that the wine is at the end of its window, but I think the wine is amazing at this stage. Paired with grilled veal chop and veggies. Wish I had more bottles......

2006 vintage

Beautiful. Not even phased by age. Silky and bright. Loved this bottle

2006 vintage

Very smooth. Closing in on the end of its drinking window. Still some fruit. Very enjoyable.

2006 vintage

This power wine is a brute that has laid down by the lamb. The fruit is still there and may not be as complex as other vintages, but it will stand up to lamb or a bowl of Bucatini all’ Amatriciana. The nose shows dusty dark fruit and licorice. The palate gets the initial wave of the nose with intensity, but then herbal notes and cedar finish off this brute turned beaut.

2006 vintage

No detailed note other than to say this was excellent. So much to enjoy on the nose - primary and secondary. Certainly up to the hype from my perspective. Look forward to trying it again - will give more detailed note next time. Last night we just opened and enjoyed with friends for the first time in 3 months!

2006 vintage

Light garnet with mild bricking noted Medium plus beautiful Nebbiolo aromas of ripe red fruit with rose/lilac and fresh herbs - gorgeous with maybe a touch of oak influence Medium palate again of ripe red fruit - tight and relatively lacking in the midpalate Medium plus tannins - fine grained and relatively well integrated at this point Medium plus acidity and medium finish Going against the grain here, but I felt the structure of this wine was unbalanced by the …

2006 vintage

Single blind tasting Garnet with mild bricking. Aromatics medium +. Initial earth that quickly left. Mild oak, cherry, roses and dry herbs. Palate medium +. Tannins are astringent, medium + and fine; felt on gums and upper palate. Acid medium +. Red fruit, but this is lost over other wine body elements. Length is short. Balance is off, tannin driven without the fruit to create a more balanced Barolo. The aromatics were classic, feminine and worthy. I had hoped for …

2006 vintage

SLDS September 2019 : Raspberry, redcurrant, swirling spices and liquorice on the nose. Great balance with layers of flavour and fine detail. Palate has excellent presence and finesse. Fine and stylish, superb.

2005 vintage

Kiawah Trip 2019; 8/24/2019-9/4/2019 (Kiawah Island) : Very good. Cherry central. Very modern stylistically

2006 vintage

Cherries and earth, nice acidity, medium finish

2006 vintage

Decanted for an hour. Earthy notes and red fruit on the nose. Beautiful strawberry, mint and licorice, at the front with floral tones, followed by leather, tar and tobacco which ultimately give way to a lingering spicy pepper finish. Will stand up to the richest savory dishes. Drinking well now. Will it get better? Don't know, I'll probably keep 1 back and drink the rest this year.

2005 vintage

A long Sunday lunch at Noble Rot (Wellington, NZ) : Again impenetrable dark colour. Dark fruits, tar and spices on the bouquet but this time even more prominent vanillin oak. On palate, again a large volume of dark fruit, but this time with a sweeter seeming edge. Ripe fruit, perhaps flirting with overripe? Fine grained but serious tannins. Huge structure. Very Serralunga. Creosote, spicy vanilla, black liquorice, iron and, one taster said, a hint of Aussie Shiraz eucalypt. This Barolo …

2006 vintage

Dinner with Ata Rangi and Escarpment winemakers : Silvia Altare gave us the 2005 and 2008 Cerrettas when we visited her winery in June. This dinner was a good opportunity for us to assess these wines, and their oak profile, more clinically, away from Silvia's engaging personality ... We pretty much popped and poured these wines, to give us the best opportunity to assess them before any 'Burtonian wall of tannins' descended ... and the 2005, at this time, was …

2005 vintage

The nosed showed classic notes of dark red fruits, violet floral tones, dark spices and earthy undergrowth. On the palate, it was structured and brooding with its dark red fruits, tobacco, minerals and soil tones, yet ultimately leaving a sense of refinement with each sip. Long on the finish with dried black cherry, savory herbs and lingering mineral tones, as youthful tannin tugged at the senses.

2006 vintage

Very closed until hour 2 but once opened it was beautiful. Red fruit with a touch of sweetness...I guess it's from the ceretta soil but very structured, full bodies. Still a bit tannic so it'll last a few years. But a 2 hour decant is a must

2006 vintage

An aged tasting of Elio Altare wines with Silvia Altare (E&R Wine Shop, Portland OR) : The first Cerretta here was 2005. This offers very rich, heavy aromas. Thick fruit and soft, mellow impression. Tart and earthy palate, with a nice rich hefty fruit complexion. Very rich and soft, smooth finish. Quite mild, actually. Glad to end on a positive note.

2006 vintage

Tasted at a merchant dinner with Silvia Altare. This one is from the Serralunga area. Medium garnet. Expressive nose of leather, coffee, flowers and mint, nice and complex. On the palate medium bodied, very elegant precise but with gripping tannins and mineralic, spicy finish. Not drying but nevertheless you have to be comfortable with the typical Nebbiolo tannins here. Eat with rich food and this wine will be a winner.

2005 vintage

BAROLO SERRALUNGA (AIS TORINO) : Naso complesso e cangiante, vegetale e minerale prima, poi animali, stalla e terra di campagna. Vino complesso e mascolino, tannino ancora rustico, ma molto piacevole. Bel vino

2006 vintage

Mindre mirrig än Arborina

2005 vintage

Piemonte @ Vinitaly (Verona) : When does an altare wine not taste like an altare wine? When it's a cerretta. Rather different than the open, fruity la morra wines this is more power packed, tightly wound with menthol, licorice and minerality. Needs a few years but is a beauty and this expansion by Elio is a success for us fans.

2006 vintage

quick tasting @ l'Insieme Tour 2012: Very elegant and juicy wine, fresh style, almost light mouthfeel but you can imagine the power and tannins that still lie beneath, elegant oak on the finish. Should age well and further improve. - 91+ points

2006 vintage

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Elio Altare, Barolo, Cerretta Vigna Bricco

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