Description

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:
Michele Chiarlo is one of Piedmont’s most prestigious wine producers, creating outstanding wines from some of the most exceptional sites in Piedmont, including Barolo’s world-famous Cannubi and Cerequio vineyards. Founded in 1956 by the great Michele Chiarlo and now run by his sons Alberto and Stefano, the Chiarlo philosophy is to capture the terroir from their sustainably cultivated vineyards, which hold the Equalitas certification. With a judicious use of oak, they hand-craft a selection of wines suitable for ageing and some which can be enjoyed earlier. Their stunning collection of Barolo and Barbera wines consistently receive 90+ points from Wine Advocate, James Suckling and Wine Enthusiast.

THE VINTAGE:
2019 saw a mild and generally dry winter with occasional snowfall. April and May experienced heavy rainfall, which delayed flowering but restored the soil’s water reserves. June was very hot and dry, fortunately two rainfall events in July brought balance back to the vintage, which was at risk of drought. The first half of July saw high maximum temperatures, but this gave way to more autumnal weather, resulting in a classic, tardy harvest. 2019 produced low quantities, distinguished by outstanding quality.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD:
DOCG Cerequio is one of the most esteemed Barolo ‘crus’ of the area. It is a single vineyard located on the prestigious hillside between the villages of La Morra and Barolo. The soil is Tortonian and Helvetian calcareous marl, of a basic pH with over 30% sand. It is poor in organic matter, but rich in microelements such as iron and magnesium, imparting complexity to the resulting wine. The vineyard covers just three hectares, and this wine is produced in limited quantities. The vineyard sits at 320 metres above sea level and has a south to south-westerly orientation. The Guyot-trained vines are planted at a density of 4,500 vines per hectare. Excess bunches are thinned out at the end of the summer, leaving an average of just five to six bunches per vine. The vines are grown sustainably according to the V.I.V.A. Sustainable Wine certification and are manually harvested.

THE WINEMAKING PROCESS:
The grapes were harvested at optimal maturity. Fermentation took place on the skins in 55-hectolitre oak vats and lasted for two weeks. A gentle ‘shower system’ of immersing the cap was used during vinification, which took place at temperatures of between 27 to 30°C. The wine was matured for a minimum of three years. It was aged for two years in average-sized oak casks before further refinement in the bottle for one year, prior to release.

OUR TASTING NOTE:
Aromas of mature fruits are complemented by hints of wild mint, eucalyptus, herbs and fine spice. Rich with a tightly woven structure of fine tannins, the 2019 shows outstanding elegance and harmony from this truly unique Barolo Cru.

GRAPE VARIETY:
Nebbiolo 100%.