Wine Reviews

A rich red color, the 2021 Barbaresco Asili is lifted with mint aromas of medicinal herbs, dried cherries, anise, and spices. Medium-bodied, it has balanced intensity on the palate, with angular structure and good ripeness throughout. As it opens, it becomes more rosy and floral, and it’s zesty with notes of blood orange, saline, and dusty earth, as well as a lovely mineral texture through its rather long finish. I like this one more than I initially thought. Drink it over the next 10 years.

The beauty of the Chiarlo Barbarescos is how they coax such beautiful aromas out of their wines, and this wine is no exception with captivating aromas of Marasca cherries, macerated raspberries, wild rose and bay leaf. Pristine flavors of wild red-berry preserves, sweet tea and cedar finishing with elegant tannins and crisp acidity

Enticing minerality here that makes you think the fruity, savory oranges and plums grow up through the stone cracks. Expressive and ethereal at first, then the thud of fine, chalky tannins give it power and definition. Broad, long and elegant.

From one of the appellation’s best-known growing sites, the Michele Chiarlo 2020 Barbaresco Asili offers more savory spice and depth next to the Barbaresco Faset. There is a touch more power and muscle in this expression, and these two wines complement each other nicely, with the Faset showing more primary fruit and the Asili showing more texture.

This is very fresh and racy with red and blue berries, crushed violets, lavender and walnuts. Medium-bodied, structured and meaty with solid tannins, that are ripe and velvety, but still give a firm backbone to the wine. The fruit is vivid and pronounced with lots of floral and spicy notes.