Barbera d’Asti Nizza DOCG “Cipressi” 2019 – Michele Chiarlo

The grapes to produce Barbera d’Asti Nizza DOCG “Cipressi” Michele Chiarlo spent 10 to 12 days macerating on the skins in stainless steel tanks, during which a gentle shower system dispersed the cap, in order to extract colour, flavour and impart structure to the wine. The Barbera d’Asti Nizza DOCG “Cipressi” Michele Chiarlo fermentation started at 30°C which was reduced to 27°C followed by malolactic fermentation, which rounded out the palate. The wine spent a minimum of 12 months in large oak casks followed by at least six months refinement in the bottle.

The grapes are grown in the six hectare vineyard of Tenuta la Court in the commune of Castelnuovo Calcea. Castelnuovo Calcea is one of the 18 designated communes within the appellation of Nizza DOCG. Originally a subzone of the Barbera d’Asti DOCG, Nizza became a separate DOCG in 2014. The Guyot trained vines are planted at a density of 5,000 vines per hectare and are grown on a southeast to southwest facing slope at an elevation of 230 to 280 metres above sea level. The soils are known as ‘Astiane Sands’ and consist of calcareous clay marl of sedimentary marine origin, with a good presence of lime and sand and are rich in microelements, in particular magnesium. The vines are very low yielding with excess bunches thinned at the end of the summer in order to concentrate the flavours in the remaining grapes. A manual harvest takes place at optimal maturity levels.