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Stylized image of Michele Chiarlo bottles

Little Grapes from Michele Chiarlo

Ask a Piemontese winemaker what they drink with lunch, and odds are, it’s not Barolo. It’s Barbera. Or maybe Nebbiolo—but not the kind that needs a decade in the cellar. These are what we call the Little Grapes of Piedmont, though there's nothing small about their charm, versatility, or place on the local table. They remind us that Piedmont is far more than just a hunting ground for trophy collectors. 

That’s the spirit Michele Chiarlo captures so well. His Le Orme Barbera d’Asti and Il Principe Langhe Nebbiolo aren’t just introductions to Piedmont – or things to drink because Barolo is too expensive. These are wines made from grapes growing in top terroirs, and they’re made with the same care as Chiarlo’s crus. It just so happens that they give immediate pleasure, and for not too much money. 

Barbera can be charming in just about any form, but Le Orme is unusually complete. It’s from the Asti zone, where Barbera tends to show more freshness and lift than in Alba. Chiarlo doesn’t push extraction or oak here; instead, he lets the grape’s vivid fruit and signature acidity carry the wine. It’s from the fantastic  2021 vintage, with its perfect balance of ripeness and structure. It’s a versatile wine that is precise and polished, and endlessly drinkable.

Il Principe, on the other hand, delivers the clarity and drive of young Nebbiolo without feeling like a compromise. It’s sourced from vineyards in the southern Langhe, including sites just outside Barolo and Barbaresco proper. That matters. These are real hillsides with serious pedigree—even if the DOC doesn’t say so. Chiarlo handles the fruit gently: short maceration, neutral aging, no makeup. What you get is all rose petal and red cherry – the stuff that we love most about Nebbiolo – without tannins that get in the way of drinkability. This is such a satisfying wine.

Again, enjoy the price points, but don’t think of these as entry-level Piedmont reds. Think of these as wines that communicate a sense of place, and the way it intersects with Chiarlo’s refined house style.

Michele Chiarlo Barbera d'Asti Le Orme 2021 - $18.99

Michele Chiarlo Langhe Nebbiolo Il Principe 2022 - $24.99

 

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