Barbera Larigi di Elio Altare Dinner with Sylvia Altare

8 Person dinner at Justerini & Brooks offices in St James Street London with Sylvia Altare.

• NV Paul Dargin Champagne Justerini & Brooks 250th Anniversary Spécial Cuvée 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  From magnum. Well round and dense rich , fine, elegant. Maybe could use some more complexity. A great showing for a NV house champagne and great value and one wonders why bother with the entry levels of the big houses when u can get this for 16£..
  This cuvee created in celebration of 250th anniversaryof J&B back in 1999. 100% Pinot Noir and made by Paul Dangin in the Côtes de Bar. 3 yrs on lees.

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• 2007 Laurent Tribut Chablis 1er Cru Montmains 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  Easy drinking fine chablis. Nutty, medium body, crisp, floral. Overshadowed by the Strength of the Larigi's that followed but a fine showing nonetheless

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• 2005 Elio Altare Langhe Barbera Larigi 92 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Dense, fruit forward powerfull (16% or so). Lots of tannins yet in check. Lots of finess. Long Long finish.
  
  In general Elio Altare, created a very modern expression of Barbera. This is nothign to do with what barbera usually is. Although Aged in 100% new wood it is not overpowering at all, Like Salt to pasta to Quote Sylvia Altare. These are great wines but if we could offer some critisism is that the wine could have been made anywhere in the world. We would have never guessed this was Italian. But they managed to create something great out of an unispiring grape and did we like it? OH YES!

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• 2001 Elio Altare Langhe Barbera Larigi 93 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Rounder than the 2005 yet still very vibrant. Fine elegant nose, lots of red fruit. Very belalnced and with a nice sweet undertone. One of my favorites along with the 90 and 87. This will last for 20 years (yep barbera that can age)
  
  In general Elio Altare, created a very modern expression of Barbera. This is nothign to do with what barbera usually is. Although Aged in 100% new wood it is not overpowering at all, Like Salt to pasta to quote Sylvia Altare. These are great wines but if we could offer some critisism is that the wine could have been made anywhere in the world. We would have never guessed this was Italian. But they managed to create something great out of an unispiring grape and did we like it? OH YES!

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• 1992 Elio Altare Langhe Barbera Vigna Larigi 89 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Forom the bad vintage of 1992, Sylvia said she brought it as an example to show how the Larigi ages even in a bad vintage. Very earthy and still very much alive still. Very sweet fruit nose and with the characteristic high alchohol (15%+) and massive finish. Out of balance and sync though
  
  In general Elio Altare, created a very modern expression of Barbera. This is nothign to do with what barbera usually is. Although Aged in 100% new wood it is not overpowering at all, Like Salt to pasta to quote Sylvia Altare. These are great wines but if we could offer some critisism is that the wine could have been made anywhere in the world. We would have never guessed this was Italian. But they managed to create something great out of an unispiring grape and did we like it? OH YES!

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• 1990 Elio Altare Langhe Barbera Vigna Larigi 94 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  My WOTN. Still a baby, So alive, vibrant and powerfull. This can give barolo a run for its life. Amazing that this sort of power comes from barbera. Again massive body and finish, 15%+ alchohol. Tannic and acidic and a bit closed, but the moe i had of this wine the more i realised what a gem hides under all that. Superb and after this one never thinks of barbera in the same light again.
  
  In general Elio Altare, created a very modern expression of Barbera. This is nothign to do with what barbera usually is. Although Aged in 100% new wood it is not overpowering at all, Like Salt to pasta to quote Sylvia Altare. These are great wines but if we could offer some critisism is that the wine could have been made anywhere in the world. We would have never guessed this was Italian. But they managed to create something great out of an unispiring grape and did we like it? OH YES!

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• 1987 Elio Altare Langhe Barbera Vigna Larigi 94 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  At 23 yrs old this is a alive as the 2001 we tried before. Still very dark in colour, nice earlthy/graphite tones, lots of fruit. Typical Larigi power and high alchohol (15%+). People voted it WOTN as the age helped it mellow down and become more expressive than the 1990. Superb wine.
  
  In general Elio Altare, created a very modern expression of Barbera. This is nothign to do with what barbera usually is. Although Aged in 100% new wood it is not overpowering at all, Like Salt to pasta to quote Sylvia Altare. These are great wines but if we could offer some critisism is that the wine could have been made anywhere in the world. We would have never guessed this was Italian. But they managed to create something great out of an unispiring grape and did we like it? OH YES!

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• 2002 Domaine Weinbach Riesling Schlossberg Vendanges Tardives 92 Points

  France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

  Mild wine. Petrolly riesling nose. Mild botrytis. Apricots and some caramel (mild). Fine, medium body and very enjoyable.

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• 1983 Warre Porto Vintage 91 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  The Port GAme at J&B to finish our dinner. Guessed it 1992 Quinta do Vesuvio...
  Very nice port showing. Round, drinking very well, no harshness and with lots of fruit. Medium (for port) on the palate and very digestible at the moment. Dense and lush. Long dented which helped.

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Our palate was introduced to barbera like no other. Elio Altare, created a very modern expression of Barbera. This is nothign to do with what barbera usually is. Although aged in 100% new wood it is not overpowering at all, Like Salt to pasta to quote Sylvia Altare. Very strong power full wines with 15%+ alchohol.
These are great well made wines but if we could offer some critisism is that the wine could have been made anywhere in the world. We would have never guessed this was Italian. Also the variability between vintages is limited as the power of the wine hides vintage variation especially at a young age. Dont want to take anything away here though as they managed to create something great out of an unispiring grape and did we like it? OH YES! Did we buy any on the next day? Oh yes!. 05 and 04