Le Orme Michele Chiarlo Barbera D’asti (2022)

I loved this $15 bottle of wine! In fact, this might be my new “house wine,” because it is so drinkable, tasty and juicy. This was perfect one lazy night when I had a peanut butter & rapsberry jelly sandwich, and it was also perfect the next night when I made Natalie’s meatloaf (recipe on this site). It was fruity in a good way with a smooth texture and nice astringency. What did the experts say?

Natalie MacLean gave this wine a 92 and said: Michele Chiarlo’s Le Orme Barbera d’Asti from Piedmont is a generous, medium-bodied red wine offering notes of ripe plum, blackberry, violet and savory herbs. This dry wine displays soft tannins and juicy fruit that make it immediately approachable. Serve it at room temperature with grilled Italian sausages with marinara as the wine’s bright acidity cuts through the rich tomato sauce, or pair it with eggplant and ricotta baked ziti where the wine’s freshness balances the melted cheese. Winemaker Stefano Chiarlo crafts this ready-to-drink Barbera from four estate vineyards in Nizza, including the historic old-vine La Court vineyard, aging the wine sixteen months with four months in large oak to add subtle depth while preserving the fruit’s vibrant character. The estate’s vineyards are part of the Langhe-Roero and Monferrato UNESCO World Heritage Site, designated in 2014 for their outstanding cultural landscape and centuries-old winemaking traditions. This fruit-forward Barbera offers exceptional depth and typical varietal character at an attractive price and will drink beautifully through 2031.

Food pairings: roasted pepper, tomato and pasta casserole, grilled Italian sausage, tomato risotto, vegetarian lasagne, Margherita pizza.