Michele Chiarlo is a family winery in Calamandrana, in Piedmont, founded in 1956. Michele's sons, Stefano and Alberto, run it today. The first Barolo cru bottled under the Chiarlo name dates to 1958.
The estate has 110 hectares of vineyards spread across the Langhe, Monferrato and Gavi. The focus is on indigenous grapes, and Barbera d'Asti and Nizza are the key wines. Michele Chiarlo was among the pioneers of the Nizza designation, which received DOCG status in 2014.
Two properties show how the estate has grown. Tenuta La Court, about twenty hectares in Castelnuovo Calcea, was acquired in 1995, and a land art park among its vines followed in 2003. Palás Cerequio, a relais dedicated to the Cerequio cru in La Morra, opened in 2011.
Not tasted yet
I haven't reviewed a wine from Michele Chiarlo yet. They're on my Top 100 list, which is built from awards.