Michele Chiarlo La Court Barbera d'Asti Nizza Riserva 2017

Drink now or cellar for up to 10 years. No need to decant before serving.

The Chiarlo family have been making benchmark Piedmontese wines ever since 1956 when Michele Chiarlo first founded his namesake winery. Working in harmony with nature is one of the winery’s guiding principles, and in 2011 the property was certified under the VIVA Sustainable Wine scheme. In total they have around 60 hectares of vineyards which include some of the finest Barolo and Barbaresco crus.

This fine Barbera d’Asti comes from Tenuta La Court, a single parcel of over 20 hectares set on two hills which was acquired by the Chiarlos in 1995. It was previously part of the Aluffi estate which was founded in the 1800s and is considered one of the most important vineyards for Barbera. La Court is known for its very low yields, excellent exposures, and sandy and calcareous soils which are rich in minerals.

The fruit is always harvested by hand at Michele Chiarlo and then fermented in the traditional manner in 55 hectolitre oak vats. The young wine is usually aged partially in casks and in large barrels for a year, followed by another 18 months of ageing in the bottle. This helps soften the tannins and add enticing notes of cocoa, ground coffee, and subtle spice to the ripe black cherry and forest fruit flavours. The robust and complex profile makes this a great match for roast veal, wild rabbit, fresh pasta served with porcini, or mature hard cheeses.