Wine Reviews

Offering a mix of cherry, plum, rose and tar flavors, this red is fresh and focused. A line of engaging tannins keeps this firm, while vibrant acidity extends the complex, fruit-, spice- and mineral-tinged aftertaste. Shows excellent equilibrium.

The Michele Chiarlo 2023 Barbaresco Asili shows the savory elegance that has long defined this celebrated cru, albeit interpreted through the richness of the warm vintage. Fermented for 17 to 18 days in 55-hectoliter oak vats with gentle cap management, the wine opens to sweet spice, black fruit and marasca cherry, followed by crème de cassis and licorice. The palate is generous and full, with impressive volume and richness framed by polished tannins. The wine is produced in 6,000 bottles from a one-hectare vineyard planted on gray-blue calcareous marls rich in magnesium and calcium.

Here’s a Nebbiolo with balanced freshness and a fun bouquet that is lifted and bright, showing aromas of redcurrant and dried violet. The Michele Chiarlo 2021 Barbaresco Asili shows the power and elegance of this classic vintage, and it does so with easy confidence.

Quite simple and fruity, showing strawberries, red cherries and fresh roses. Not too spicy. Light-bodied with chalky tannins, crisp acidity and a lean finish. Drink now.

The estate boasts three plots totaling 1ha on the renowned hill of Asili. These were harvested between 5 and 10 October in 2023 – absolutely in line with the classic timeframe. The wine captures quintessential elegance of the site, highlighting its beautiful, perfumed attributes. Violet, tarragon and cinnamon lift from the glass. That sweet herb character carries over in the mouth, infusing the red cherry core. Admirable fruit substance is harmoniously framed by fine-boned tannins, and a lightly chalky texture lends textural dimension. Juicy acidity keeps this flowing.