Michele Chiarlo : Cerequio 2019

A complex and structured Barolo wine

The estate

The Michele Chiarlo estate’s reputation has been sealed since 1956, when the eponymous oenologist decided to set up his own business producing great Piedmont wines.

His ambition, through his constant striving towards excellence and tailor-made winemaking, was to enhance the terroirs and grape varieties of Piedmont.

Located in the village of Calamandrana, in the heart of the Barolo appellation, Michele Chiarlo's estate produces wines known for their inimitable style, harmoniously combining aromatic complexity with supple, silky tannins.

The vineyard

The Michele Chiarlo estate oversees a mosaic of vineyards spread across 110 hectares that make up a veritable treasure trove in Langhe, the historic terroir of Piedmont in northern Italy.

The wine

Produced since 1988, this Cerequio from Michele Chiarlo, a recognised Premier Cru in the Barolo classification, comes from a three-hectare vineyard located near the village of La Morra in the heart of a magnificent amphitheatre. This south-southwest-facing terroir is planted on a soil made up of calcareous marl and sand, rich in iron and magnesium.

The vintage

Cold and dry, the winter came under snowfall which helped restore water reserves. Although the weather in February and March was mild and dry, April and May had heavy rain which brought an uneven growth development among the plots. The heat recorded in May and June made way for a particularly wet July. The alternation between hot days and cool nights in September and the beginning of October were ideal to refine the ripening before the harvest which took place between October 6 and 1à. Despite these unstable conditions and low yields, the harvest was of a great quality.

Winemaking and ageing

The grapes were harvested by hand, then were fermented in 55hl oak vats as well as a 20-day fermentation. Malolactic fermentation took place in vats. This wine benefited from a minimum 3 years of ageing, of which 2 years took place in medium-sized oak casks, then extra ageing in bottles before being released on the market.

Blend

Nebbiolo (100%).

Characteristics and tasting tips for Cerequio 2019 from Michele Chiarlo

Tasting

Colour
The wine is a delightful shining ruby and garnet red.

Nose
Intense and complex, the nose releases scents of ripe fruit, mint, eucalyptus, gentiana and fine spices.

Palate
Elegant and with a lovely structure, the palate unveils particularly fine tannins throughout the tasting.

Food and wine pairing

Roasts, truffle tagliolini, game or mature cheeses are refined pairings for this Cerequio 2019 from Michele Chiarlo.

To serve

For the best tasting, serve at 18°C.