Elio Altare Barolo Brunate 2004
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Elio Altare might not get the best fruit from the Brunate vineyard but he consistently makes what is arguably the reference-point wine from this historic site. His 2004 Barolo Brunate is a deeply-colored effort that bursts from the glass with an exciting array of violets, plums, black cherries and baking spices that complement a core of sweet, perfumed fruit. This exquisite, layered Barolo offers extraordinary elegance and a long, building finish that lasts forever. Once again Altare has produced a masterpiece. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024.
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Wine Spectator
Very fresh aromas of sliced plum, with a hint of chocolate. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins that are covered with pretty fruit. This is a wine that will age gracefully.
Grandfather Giuseppe Altare purchased the farm and winery in 1948, and our family practiced the typical Piemontese mixed agriculture up until the mid-1970s. Besides winegrapes, the family grew pears. apples, hazelnuts, wheat, and corn. 1971 was the last year in which we worked the land with oxen; after that we gradually acquired tractors and other farm machinery.
Those were not easy times, given the economic crisis that lasted for years. Elio, along with other friends, decided to learn about winemaking beyond the borders of Piemonte and try to grab some of the success that those regions were enjoying. Their first trip to Burgundy, in January 1976, was a revelation, and Elio began experimenting with methods outside of the traditional ones in Piemonte
After a brief period working with his father Giovanni, Elio, at the age of 26 years decided to change direction and to give a different interpretation to the family's wine, favouring elegance, finesse, and balance. He began a strict regimen in the vineyard and adopted new vinification techniques in the cantina in order to highlight the grape variety and the territory in which it was grown.
The winery at this point is a family operation, with the invaluable help of Elio's wife, Lucia, and daughters Silvia and Elena. Together, they continue Elio's tireless effort, experimentation, and research.
Today the family works 10 hectares, of which five are rented. They have adopted techniques aimed at respecting nature. The principle objective is that of limiting the use of chemical substances, both in the vineyard and in the cellar. The wines are not subjected to filtering or fining, so that they keep all of the material and character extracted during maceration