Elio Altare Dolcetto d'Alba 2023

The 2023 Dolcetto d'Alba is a super-classic wine from Altare. Deep purple in color with elegant aromas of violet and red fruits. Dry and soft on the palate. Punchy cherry and plum, new leather, licorice and dark spice are front and center. This juicy, flavorful Dolcetto delivers the goods, big time.

The vines are 20 to 40 years old. Soil composition is made up of calcareous but also very sandy. Exposure is various, mostly north and north-east. Maceration on the skins for approximately 2-3 days maximum in rotary fermenters with temperature control, aged in stainless steal tank for about 10 months.

Giuseppe Altare purchased the farm and winery in 1948, and the family practiced the typical Piemontese mixed agriculture up until the mid-1970s, when his grandson Elio, along with other friends, decided to learn about winemaking beyond the borders of Piemonte. Their first trip to Burgundy in 1976 was a revelation, and Elio began experimenting with methods outside of the traditional ones in Piemonte.

After a brief period working with his father Giovanni, Elio, at the age of 26 years decided to change direction and to give a different interpretation to the family's wine, favouring elegance, finesse, and balance. He began a strict regimen in the vineyard and adopted new vinification techniques in the cantina in order to highlight the grape variety and the territory in which it was grown.

The winery at this point is a family operation, with the invaluable help of Elio's wife, Lucia, and daughters Silvia and Elena. Together, they continue Elio's tireless effort, experimentation, and research.

Today the family works 10 hectares, of which five are rented. They have adopted techniques aimed at respecting nature. The principle objective is that of limiting the use of chemical substances, both in the vineyard and in the cellar. The wines are not subjected to filtering or fining, so that they keep all of the material and character extracted during maceration.