Michele Chiarlo - Barbaresco Faset 2021
Founded in 1956 in Calamandrana, Michele Chiarlo has established itself over generations as one of the Piedmontese houses dedicated to a precise interpretation of the great terroirs of the Langhe. Their work places a central focus on crus, with the ambition to preserve their personality rather than mask it behind demonstrative winemaking. In Barbaresco, the estate is particularly interested in Faset, one of the most renowned zones of the commune, located on the hills overlooking the Tanaro. This vineyard, part of a UNESCO World Heritage viticultural landscape, benefits from a particularly interesting location at the heart of the appellation. Its grayish-white marl-limestone soils, crossed by sandy veins and rich notably in calcium, magnesium, and other mineral elements, contribute to the fine texture that characterizes the wines of the area. The Faset cru is sought after for its ability to combine depth, structure, and very elegant tannins, giving Nebbiolo an expression that is both firm and refined. At Michele Chiarlo, this cuvée is part of the crus produced only in vintages deemed sufficiently qualitative, in limited quantities.
Made exclusively from Nebbiolo, the Barbaresco Faset 2021 comes from a selection of vines planted in the Faset cru, on a high and steep part of the vineyard facing southwest. The historic plantings in the area date back notably to the 1960s, while Michele Chiarlo's selection aims for homogeneous ripeness and tannic finesse. The grapes are hand-harvested and then fermented for 17 to 18 days with their skins in 55-hectoliter oak vats, using a gentle extraction intended to preserve the precision of the fruit and the quality of the material. Malolactic fermentation then takes place in vats before extended aging, including 18 months in large oak casks, followed by bottle aging. The 2021 vintage, marked by a cool and wet spring followed by a warm and dry summer without excess, favored progressive ripening and a beautiful natural concentration of the grapes. In the glass, this combination of a favorable vintage and a limestone-dominant terroir produces a Barbaresco built more on definition, freshness, and structure than on sheer power. Faset thus retains the tension typical of great Barbaresco Nebbiolo, with material dense enough to accompany several years of cellar evolution.
The bright garnet color announces a still young but already expressive wine, whose bouquet mixes ripe small red fruits with dried rose petals, with a mineral nuance and fine spices that gradually gain prominence upon aeration. Deeper notes of plum, licorice, and balsamic touches may appear behind this first floral and fruity expression. On the palate, the Faset 2021 has a true foundation, but its breadth is held by a remarkably silky texture and freshness that lengthens the wine's unfolding. The fine and tight tannins structure the mid-palate without excessive harshness, while the minerality brings a sensation of relief and persistence. The finish, long and slightly balsamic, brings back red fruits, spices, and floral nuances in a still very coherent ensemble. This Barbaresco will gain complexity over time and can advantageously accompany cellar aging, provided it is offered a suitable environment. At the table, it will notably find its place alongside roasted pheasant, juniper-flavored hare, agnolotti with meat jus, or a braised veal dish, while aged cheeses will naturally extend its alliance between structure and finesse.
Grape variety: 100% Nebbiolo
