Barbera, Larigi Langhe, 2020
A really superb Larigi, one of the best we’ve tasted, the 2020 is alluring and juicy fruited with a suave, cool plum, dark cherry and hedgerow character. Gorgeously plush tannins and some sophisticated oak and toasted notes offset discreetly high levels of refreshing acidity. A stunning 70-year-old, south-facing Barbera parcel sitting at the top of the Arborina vineyard. Flavescence Doree is badly impacting the Barbera grape in Barolo, so the long-term yield is on a steady downward trajectory. Fermented and aged for 18 months in new oak barriques.
critic reviews
The Elio Altare 2020 Langhe Rosso Larigi is 100% Barbera, with just three barriques (or 900 bottles) produced. Yields were reduced because some of the vines suffer from the floral disease Flavescence doree, which is unfortunately popping up throughout the region. These results are very rich and plump with ripe fruit flavors and blackberry preserves. The wine is very generous and soft in texture. It ages in oak for softness, but the natural freshness of the grape is intact.
The 2020 Larigi is deep and fleshy, with terrific depth and tons of nuance. Super-ripe dark cherry, red plum, mocha, spice, new leather and lavender infuse the 2020 with gorgeous textural depth. Plush and energetic, the 2020 offers terrific balance, with less opulence and a bit more energy than some previous editions. It's a style I admire quite a bit. Sadly, there are just three barrels to go around.