Altare Elio Barolo Cerretta Vigna Bricco Riserva 2019

Elio Altare Barolo Cerretta Vigna Bricco Riserva 2019 is a single-vineyard expression of Nebbiolo from one of Serralunga d'Alba’s most revered crus. This is Barolo with real gravitas: powerful, structured and deeply evocative of its hillside origins. Produced from organically farmed, low-yield vines and aged as a Riserva, it represents a rare and focused look at Cerretta’s top “Bricco” parcel in an excellent vintage.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2019 Cerretta Vigna Bricco Riserva shows a luminous garnet core with brick-red highlights at the rim, already hinting at its classic Barolo evolution. The nose is intense and finely etched: rose petals, violet, and dried cherry mingle with blood orange, red currant, and notes of sweet tobacco, cedar, licorice, and iron-rich earth. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied yet supremely precise, with that signature Serralunga structure: firm, finely grained tannins wrapped around a core of sour cherry, raspberry, and wild strawberry. Layers of tar, dark spice, underbrush, and graphite emerge with air, carried by vibrant acidity and a long, saline-mineral finish. This 2019 Riserva is built for the long haul; while already compelling with sufficient aeration, it will continue to develop greater complexity and tertiary nuances over 15–25 years in a proper cellar.

Production
The Cerretta Vigna Bricco Riserva comes from Nebbiolo vines averaging around 15 years of age in the Cerretta cru of Serralunga d’Alba, a hill noted for its calcareous marl and sandstone soils that naturally yield wines of depth and structure. Farmed with minimal intervention and great respect for biodiversity, the vineyard work focuses on low yields and careful canopy management to ensure optimal ripeness. Harvest is done entirely by hand, with meticulous sorting in the vineyard and at the winery. In keeping with the Altare philosophy, fermentation typically involves relatively short macerations to prioritize finesse and purity of fruit over extraction, followed by extended aging in oak and bottle to meet Riserva requirements and allow the wine’s powerful tannin backbone to integrate before release.

Food & Serving
This Barolo is a natural partner for rich, savory dishes: think braised beef or veal shank, slow-cooked lamb, game birds, or long-simmered ragù over fresh egg tajarin. It also shines alongside Piedmontese classics such as truffle-infused dishes, porcini risotto, and aged hard cheeses like Parmigiano Reggiano or mature Castelmagno. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F); for current enjoyment, decant for 2–3 hours to allow the aromatics to fully open and the tannins to soften. In its maturity, a gentler one-hour decant will be enough to awaken its more delicate, evolved notes.

Producer
Elio Altare is one of the pivotal figures of modern Barolo, credited with helping to redefine the region’s style from rustic and oxidative to precise, elegant, and terroir-focused. Based in La Morra and now guided by the next generation, the estate farms prized parcels across top Barolo communes, including Serralunga d’Alba. Altare’s shift toward meticulous vineyard work, lower yields, and cleaner cellar practices in the 1980s had a profound influence on Langhe winemaking. Today, the winery is recognized for crafting refined, ageworthy Nebbiolo that still speaks clearly of its origin, with bottlings like Cerretta Vigna Bricco underscoring its status as a benchmark producer in Piedmont.

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