Elio Altare "Brunate" Barolo 2011

94 Points Vinous

Altare's 2011 Barolo Brunate is dark, powerful and quite inward. There is little of the vintage's openness here. Instead, the 2011 Brunate comes across as decidedly rich, ample and unevolved. Dark cherries, plums, smoke and leather form an inviting fabric of flavors and textures, but the Brunate is only revealing a fraction of its potential today. The tannins remain formidable while the fruit is incredibly primary, so readers will have to be patient. The 2011 clearly needs time, the only question is how much.