Michele Chiarlo Barbera d’Asti Superiore 2008 Le Orne DOC

Piedmont, Italy
$23-28  +872788  available at select private wine stores

We don’t drink enough red wine from Piedmont. Period. I’m talking about the Royal We. Collectively. I was reminded of this last week when a group of wine geeks got together to share trip tips and tasting tales of Northeastern Italy. Though our dearth of Piedmontese wines is shameful, it’s understandable, since many of these wines are somewhat inaccessible (especially the majestic Barolos, which benefit from years of aging), expensive, and difficult to locate here.

Barbera, however, is one of the most widely planted grape varieties in Italy, and accounts for over 50% of Piedmont’s vineyards. The best examples of Barbera come from the area of Asti, rich with grape-loving limestone and clay soils. Michele Chiarlo produces two Barberas from Asti – and Le Orne is an absolute steal at this price (compared to the more expensive and well-known La Court). Bright garnet, this wine entices with a lovely sweet strawberry and bing cherry nose. Soft tannins, a polished shine of acidity, and appealing structured redcurrants, spiced wood, and floral notes make this lovely to drink right now.

The wine producing firm of Michele Chiarlo was founded in 1956 by the present owners, Michele and Giuseppina Chiarlo. Son of over seven generations of esteemed wine growers, Mr. Chiarlo is a highly respected Piedmontese producer, and credited with being one of the first to introduce malolactic fermentation to Italy – resulting in wines of greater stability, lower acidity and easier accessibility in their youth.

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Piedmont reds inaccessible? Not here. Bright garnet, this wine entices with a lovely sweet strawberry and bing cherry nose. Soft tannins, a polished shine of acidity, and appealing redcurrants, spiced wood, and floral notes make this lovely to drink right now.