1998 Elio Altare - Insieme

The complex Altare 1998 Insieme is great stuff. It is a Piedmontese wine made in a modern style with the influence of barrique. Notes of tobacco, licorice, black cherries, currants, spice box, and cedar are present as well as blackberry jam and cassis. The wine possesses an unctuous texture, huge body, and gorgeous fruit, sweetness, and length. It should drink well for a decade, although who will have the discipline to wait? The wine is are aged in barrique. The blends is The wine is bottled unfiltered, and there are approximately 3,000 bottles. As the score suggests, it is a gorgeous wine, with terrific levels of perfume and intensity. At $58, it is realistically priced for such high 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