2006 Vigna Larigi
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Tasting notes
(barbera aged entirely in new barriques Bright, deep red. Black cherry, blackberry, bitter chocolate, violet and licorice on the nose, with a strong element of sexy nutty oak. Sweet and creamy in the mouth, with the depth and intensity of fresh fruit to support its oakiness. This rich and savory wine boasts excellent energy and finishes with terrific grip and length. Quite primary for its age. The crop was cut in half in '06 by hail and strict selection, noted Altare.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Deep crimson and great richness counterbalanced by firm acidity and real power. Not a cosy, comfy drink but pure and challenging. (JR)
His 2006 Larigi is similar to the 1995 in that herbal tones are rather prominent. The 2006 is a wine to drink relatively young. As the fruit fades, the green elements will become more pronounced, but for now a measure of plumpness remains which gives the wine its sense of poise.
The 2006 Larigi (Barbera) is a pretty, refined wine with attractive dark fruit, smoke, tar and licorice nuances. In this vintage the wine comes across as smaller-scaled than is the norm here. Still, the elegance that is Altare’s signature is quite evident. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2016. Elio Altare had a tough 2006, as many of his vineyards were damaged by hail that year, a risk he had tried to diminish by spreading out the location of his more recently acquired vineyards. While these wines are quite beautiful, they understandably aren’t up to his usual level of quality. A Marc de Grazia Selection, various American importers, including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300, Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 334-6700, and Estate Wines, Ltd., San Rafael, CA; tel. (415) 492-9411