1998 Elio Altare Barolo Brunate

Community Tasting Notes (13) Avg Score: 93.1 points

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  4/28/2024 - jetrexpro wrote: 94 Points

  Open and not decanted based on how open for business it was. In the beginning Brown sugary notes Which evolved into autumnal leaves and forest floor,
  1 hour later evolved into an oily texture with notes of tar and licorice, which then involved into the more typical notes of tar and licorice.
  Throughout this, the fruit was receding, and advanced past the point that you would recognize it as fruit. It had integrated into the earth notes I’ve been describing.

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  1/21/2023 - winot Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Wow, this was gorgeous! Needed at least the two hour decant I gave it. Medium tawny/scarlet, with an absolutely beautiful nose - blossoms, pot pourri, sweet fruit. Super smooth but really impactful on the palate. Flavours as above, but more earthy, almost a mushroom nuance. "Sweet" fruit, super fine grained tannins, long finish. This was killer with the braised beef ribs and gremolata.

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  2/19/2022 - HowardNZ Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Four pairs of wines at Mark's place (Wellington, NZ): Served double blind by Nick as a pair with the 1998 Giacosa. After a 4+ hour decant, sweet scented, perfumed bouquet of red cherries, raspberries, gentle spices and red rose florals. No tar. On palate, elegant and pure with crystalline, bright red cherry and berry fruit, dried herbs, spice, red liquorice and chalky minerals. Only touches of savoury, earthy, secondary development. Fine grained, very cultured tannins. I actually thought this might be a Giacosa or another traditionalist and did not think of a modernist like Altare. A little spicy oak evident, but very subdued and in the background. More acidity evident than with the Giacosa, providing precision and focus, but not over-assertive. Overall, seamless and very attractive. Seemingly now in its optimal drinking window, out to 2028 – 2030+. Brilliant! 94+.

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  1/2/2022 - boillatm Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Beautiful Barolo in a great spot right now.
  
  Make sure you give it enough air before drinking it. I opened my bottle 4 hours before consumption and it seemed quite closed at first. It got better after a short decant and it greatly improved in the glass as we drank it.

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  11/10/2021 - whits Likes this wine: 94 Points

  mature and drinking well now, the nose is a smorgasbord of potpourri, dried cherries and leather, deep and concentrated flavors of cherry liquor, tar, roses and stones, highly complex, soulful, long, brings an earthy richness to an overall complete wine, feels specific, no signs of tiring but clearly in a brilliantly mature phase to enjoy now, decanted off sediment and consumed over 3 hours thereafter

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