Tortoniano Barolo DOCG 2022 - Michele Chiarlo

The Elegance of Nebbiolo in Tortonian Soils: The Philosophy of Michele Chiarlo Barolo

The Michele Chiarlo Barolo DOCG Tortoniano 2022 stands within the Langhe winemaking landscape as one of the most graceful, harmonious, and highly representative expressions of the classic style. This historic organic selection originates from the careful blending of hillside vineyards located in the municipalities of La Morra and Barolo, premium territories perfectly suited to highlight the finest and most fruit-forward profile of the Nebbiolo grape. Under the careful technical guidance of the Chiarlo family, the project emphasizes the natural predisposition of the vine to translate soil nuances into an aristocratic pour. Tortoniano offers itself in the glass as a still red wine of extraordinary class and complexity, built to combine impeccable youthful appeal with great aging potential.

Agronomic Notes: Calcareous Marls and Cellar Aging Protocol

The vine rows delve their roots into soils characterized by historic fossil Sant'Agata marls, a marly-limestone matrix rich in fine sands dating back to the Tortonian era. This unique geological conformation transfers a silky matrix of tannins, an unmatched olfactory elegance, and a solid mineral footprint to the black grape. The climate trend of the 2022 vintage favored optimal phenolic ripening, allowing the winery to gather healthy clusters rich in clean dry extracts. Following the manual harvest, vinification takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats with gentle extractions. The subsequent structured aging path requires a minimum horizontal rest of 24 months in large oak casks prior to final bottle aging, safeguarding an alcohol content of 14.00% Vol.

Sensory Profile and Organoleptic Assessment

Measured horizontal rest in the darkness of the cellar combined with the nobility of the calcareous marls outlines an organoleptic framework of imposing olfactory breadth for this authoritative Piemonte red wine.

• Blend and Classification: 100% Nebbiolo / Barolo DOCG / Tortoniano Selection.
• Analytical Data (2022 Vintage): Alcohol Content: 14.00% Vol. / Minimum 38 months of total aging / Volume: 750 ml.
• Visual Assessment: Deep ruby garnet color, limpid and of excellent luminosity in the glass, characterized by a dense chromatic weave and high viscosity upon swirling.
• Olfactory Framework: Broad, clean, and markedly deep bouquet. Consistent scents of ripe red fruit, wild blackberry, and cherry in alcohol stand out on the nose, perfectly integrated with refined tertiary tones of well-integrated sweet vanilla, balsamic puffs, nuances of licorice, wild aromatic herbs, and a soft background spicy profile.
• Palate Characteristics: The tasting reveals a solid, dry profile endowed with an enveloping mouthfeel. The progression displays a full, harmonious, and beautifully balanced body supported by a vibrant acidic backbone that balances the alcohol warmth and adds dynamism to the pour. The tannic texture is fine, silky, and perfectly polished, guiding development toward a long, savory finish of extraordinary persistence.

Service Guidelines and Gastronomic Pairings

The thickness of the structural architecture, balanced tannins, and aromatic richness of this Barolo Tortoniano qualify it as an ideal companion for fine dining and structured land-based cuisine.

• Stable Pairings: It pairs magnificently alongside second courses based on prominent baked red meats, traditional braised dishes, complex roasts, and flavor-rich recipes featuring furred or feathered game. It excels paired alongside savory first courses like ricce mafalde pasta over shelled broad bean purée, rich vegetable first courses enriched with mutton, savoy cabbage stew with pork trotter, grilled or spicy meat chops, up to premium cuts like Florentine Steak served with grilled red radicchio from Treviso and selections of aged cheeses.
• Serving Method: To promote the development of the rich tertiary profile and ensure proper tannin integration, opening the bottle and decanting it at least one hour in advance is recommended, using a wide tasting glass of Ballon type at a serving temperature of 18 - 20°C.