The 2006 Larigi (Barbera) is a pretty, refined wine with attractive dark fruit, smoke, tar and licorice nuances. In this vintage the wine comes across as smaller-scaled than is the norm here. Still, the elegance that is Altare’s signature is quite evident. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2016.
Elio Altare had a tough 2006, as many of his vineyards were damaged by hail that year, a risk he had tried to diminish by spreading out the location of his more recently acquired vineyards. While these wines are quite beautiful, they understandably aren’t up to his usual level of quality.
A Marc de Grazia Selection, various American importers, including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300, Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 334-6700, and Estate Wines, Ltd., San Rafael, CA; tel. (415) 492-9411