According to the Chiarli family, the 2015 growing year in the Barolo region of the Piedmont was “a vintage to be remembered as one of the greatest of the last two decades.” Certainly, the harmony and balance of elegance and power in this young Barolo exemplifies a great vintage. Aromas of red cherry, dried rose petal, dusty mineral notes introduce the initial impression of graceful and smooth black cherry, cranberry, anise, sweet tobacco flavors that makes a smooth transition to the power and tension of bracing acidity and ripe tannins. It is delicious now and will become even more complex and intriguing with time. It pairs as easily with a delicate hand-cut pasta like tajarin in butter as with a grilled steak. Tortoniano on the label gives a nod to the area soils created in the Tortonian Era nine million years ago.
Michele Chiarlo, Barolo DOCG (Piedmont, Italy) 2015
By Rebecca Murphy