Barbera, Larigi Langhe, 2012
Brighter and more focused than the richer 2011, crisp precise red fruit flavours with a distinct saltiness accompanying the redcurrant and red cherry notes. Streamlined, edgy, cool and refreshing, this opens out significantly in the glass after and reticent start but retains its vitality. A stunning 65 year old, south-facing single vineyard Barbera aged for 18 months in new oak barriques.
critic reviews
Made with new oak, the 2012 Langhe Larigi shows a deep, penetrating and velvety appearance. Larigi is a pure expression of Barbera (from old vines) that macerates on the skins for up to four days. The color is rich and well concentrated. The best thing about this wine is that you never get that biting acidity that Barbera can give in lesser expressions. Morello cherry, blackberry and light spice come into sharp focus.
The 2012 Larigi, Altare's old-vine Barbera, offers good immediacy in its bold, pungent fruit. Dark red berries, spices, mint, sweet spices and licorice open up in the glass, but overall, the 2012 is a bit compact and not fully expressive, both of which are uncharacteristic for a warm year. It will be interesting to see if the 2012 puts on more flesh in bottle. There is good persistence and fine overall balance, just not the showiness of some years.