The 2012 Larigi, Altare's old-vine Barbera, offers good immediacy in its bold, pungent fruit. Dark red berries, spices, mint, sweet spices and licorice open up in the glass, but overall, the 2012 is a bit compact and not fully expressive, both of which are uncharacteristic for a warm year. It will be interesting to see if the 2012 puts on more flesh in bottle. There is good persistence and fine overall balance, just not the showiness of some years.