Michele Chiarlo Barolo Cerequio 2018 The first Barolo cru to be distributed by la place de Bordeaux
This coming March, our historic Piedmontese winery will become part of the exclusive French distribution network that is la place de Bordeaux
Michele Chiarlo is pleased to announce that with the official release and distribution of its Barolo Cerequio 2018 on La Place de Bordeaux in March it will become the first Barolo and the first Piedmontese wine to be distributed through this illustrious network.
Michele Chiarlo is proud to see its Barolo Cerequio alongside the most famous labels in the world.
With the aid of Timothée Moreau of Bureau des Grands Vins a pool of eight leading negociants has been chosen to deliver an optimal global distribution of the wine (which will exclude only Italy, the US, Canada and South Korea). They will team up with the historic winery from Calamandrana to ensure a wider and more fine-grained reach for one of the most iconic and prestigious Barolo crus.
“We are extremely proud to announce this new partnership with La Place de Bordeaux: our Cerequio will be distributed together with the most iconic wines in the world. Through La Place de Bordeaux, we want to bring the global distribution of Cerequio to a new level. Cerequio is already in 50 countries in the world. Now is the time to seek the still more global and more fine-grained distribution that only la Place can offer us. This achievement has been made possible thanks to our family’s constant commitment to the pursuit of quality and the desire to see our wines distributed globally in a manner fully consistent with our philosophy: cultivating, vinifying and bringing to a worldwide market the fruit of the greatest terroirs of Piemonte” says Alberto Chiarlo.
This new collaboration is a vital part of an ambitious mission to see Cerequio’s world-leading excellence globally recognized. The passion, determination and intuition devoted to this cru in La Morra have now led to the realization of a project that goes beyond producing great wines. Aside from ensuring the quality of his wines, Michele Chiarlo has also invested in Palás Cerequio, the world’s first resort dedicated to the great Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive of Barolo. Today, Palás serves as a point of reference for food and wine hospitality in the Langhe: a true «Temple of Barolo». Its cellar contains more than 6,000 bottles and its kitchen promotes the extraordinary culture of Piedmontese food and wine in collaboration with an outstanding chef, Damiano Nigro, who was recently awarded with a Michelin star.
Michele Chiarlo and Barolo Cerequio 2018
Barolo Cerequio 2018 is made from 100% Nebbiolo grapes grown on the cru of Cerequio, located between the municipalities of La Morra and Barolo. The vineyard is managed with utmost care, performing thinning of excess bunches at the end of summer and manual harvest.
Vinification is carried out in 55 hl oak vats, followed by 20 days of maceration on the skins and delicate pumping over at temperatures between 27° and 30°C. Aging for at least 3 years, of which 2 are spent in medium-sized oak barrels.
The 2018 vintage was characterized by a late winter / spring that experienced abundant snow and then rain: such conditions allowed for the ideal restoration of precious water reserves, following a 2017 vintage that saw very little rainfall. The vegetative stage began in the usual period, but the months of May and early June were severely challenging, requiring prompt intervention with anti-mildew treatments and suitable agronomic operations aimed at maintaining the grapes’ perfect health. The year continued with a hot and dry summer, but the abundant fruit required the removal of excess bunches (with thinning of around 30-35% of the potential crop); this then allowed the ideal continuation of a balanced maturation. Perfect climatic conditions in the last weeks of summer and the mild days and cool nights of September allowed for a gradual maturation and the development of a distinct and elegant aromatic profile. Harvest took place between October 6-10th, the usual harvest period for Barolo. It yielded very healthy and perfectly ripe grapes. The wine expresses a fine bouquet, revealing strong characteristics of its terroir, with notes of menthol, small red fruits and sweet spices. The palate is harmonious and fresh, with great persistence and a silky tannic texture. Overall, the vintage is marked by elegance, a refined and distinct aromatic profile, considerable length on the palate and an outstanding balance and harmony.