Michele Chiarlo, 'La Court' Riserva, Barbera D'Asti Superiore-Nizza, DOCG, Italy, 2021

Overview of the Wine
The wine producing firm of Michele Chiarlo was founded in 1956 by the sole and present owners, Michele and Giuseppina Chiarlo. Son of over seven generations of esteemed wine growers, Mr. Chiarlo is today one of the most respected producers of the fine wines of Piedmont and a leading figure in its viticultural industry.

At the production and vineyard level, where quality begins, Michele Chiarlo has for thirty years pursued an endless search for control over the finest vineyard sites in each of the zones from which he produces his wines. Perhaps the crown jewel among these is the vineyard of Fornace di Tassarolo in the Rovereto area of Gavi, a small parcel planted in 1910 which yields a brilliant and intense Gavi of exquisite refinement. He also has long-term agreements with the owners of two spectacular vineyards in the Castiglione Falleto and Serralunga crus of Barolo, from which he produces Barolo Riserva Rocche di Castiglione and Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda di Serralunga. In addition to these contracts, he has also purchased the Antico Podere Averame in the Cerequio cru of Barolo, considered one of the zone's finest Nebbiolo vineyards; and an estate, also in Barolo in the cru of Cannubi, which due to its extremely sharp gradient had never been cultivated. With considerable capital investment, this vineyard has been terraced and brought into production, the first time such a project has ever been undertaken in Piedmont.

In 1995, Michele Chiarlo acquired the estate of Azienda Agricola Aluffi in Castelnuovo Calcea, considered to the most beautiful and prestigious property in the heart of the classic Barbera d'Asti zone. The estate is comprised of two separate vineyard holdings, La Court and Il Castello, with a total area of 62 acres of which 50 are planted in Barbera vines, quite extensive for this area. The principally southwest and easterly-exposed slopes support superb, calcium and mineral rich soils which are of ideal composition for the production of great Barbera d'Asti.

Michele Chiarlo directly manages or personally oversees every aspect in the production of his wines. Eminently qualified through the expertise acquired through his involvement with the company under his father, he also holds a degree from the prestigious School of Enology at Alba. His ceaseless innovation, both in production and in marketing, has gained him the respesct of his industry.

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Winemaker
Stefano Chiarlo

Grape / Blend
100% Barbera  

Origin
Piedmont, Italy

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Purple with brilliant ruby hues. Aromas are ample, intense, elegant with notes of black cherry, cocoa, coffee. Very good structure, fresh, velvety with a long, silky finish. Serve at 18° C. Accompanies agnolotti with a wild rabbit sauce, tagliolini with porcini, roasted veal and well-matured cheeses

95 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Very pretty nose that glides out of the glass like a classic Hollywood actress across the screen. It knows its marks and gets the best close up every time. Plum, black cherry, rose... it is Barbera. Bright, fresh and loaded with fruits with well placed spice, herbs and flowers. This is why people like Barbera. It is purely delicious but has that intellectual edge that keeps you coming back to the glass to explore more.

95 Points - Falstaff
Deep dark, rich ruby red. Aromas of mint, milk chocolate and rich Amarena cherries on the nose, with some earthy tones, elegant and inviting. Great juiciness and acidity on the palate, pronounced fresh fruit and a tense finish with young tannins. 

93 Points - James Suckling
A restrained and multilayered wine with aromas of dark chocolate, black cherries, plums, leaves, pepper and flowers. Medium- to full-bodied, it shows vibrancy on the palate, with zesty integrated acidity, leafy flavors, a toasted finish and silky, super-refined tannins. Drink or hold.

92 Points - Wine Advocate
The Michele Chiarlo 2021 Nizza Riserva La Court opens to an inky-dark appearance and very black fruit aromas that give the wine a distinctly powerful impact. It offers a very smooth and texturally enriched mouthfeel with thick padding that covers the entire palate. This is a full-throttle vintage that has produced a big Barbera. Production is 14,400 bottles.

92 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Nizza Riserva Le Court (Barbera) is an inky purple color and leads with blackberry liqueur, blueberries, saturating purple flowers, cocoa, and dark stony earth. Full-bodied, it has even acidity and salty accents to keep this otherwise fruity and supple wine interesting. A generous style, it’s going to drink well and likely improve as it sheds its more primary fruit.

Product size: 750ml