Barolo cerequio riserva 2013 (Michele Chiarlo)

Drink now or cellar for up to 30 years. Decant 2 hours before serving. Michele Chiarlo founded his namesake winery in 1956, and his family have been producing exceptional Barolo and other classic Piedmontese wines ever since. The estate is located in Monferrato and owns vineyards in many of the region’s most prized crus including Cannubi and Cerequio in Barolo. The Chiarlos are firm believers that quality begins in the vineyard, which is why the estate pursues sustainable agricultural practices wherever possible and was certified żeby VIVA Sustainable Wine in 2011. Cerequio is a top Barolo cru between La More and Barolo which was described as having "absolute prestige" by the celebrated Mappa del Barolo in 1956. It’s also known as the "Riviera of the Langhe" thanks to its protected location set in a natural amphitheatre which helps to shield the vines from strong winds. Michele Chiarlo has 9 hectares here which date back to 1972. Their Cerequio Riserva is only made in tiny quantities during the finest vintages from Chiarlo’s oldest vineyard in this cru. Once ripe the grapes are harvested by hand and vinified in oak vats in the traditional manner. The young wine is then moved to 700 litre tonneaux for 12 months, followed by another 2 years of ageing in large barrels. The final stage is another 24 months of ageing in the bottle before release, creating a powerful and complex Barolo with firm tannins, a well-developed structure, and enticing notes of leather, spice, and wild rose petals along with a solid core of dark fruit.