Nebbiolo 100%
Pio Cesare is a wine producer in Piedmont, Italy, particularly known for its elegant Barolo and Barbaresco wines.The estate was founded in 1881 by Cesare Pio, and is one of the oldest in the region and one of the first to export. It is still owned and run by his descendants. The cellar is located in the centre of Alba and its main walls date back to the Roman period.
The company owns 70 hectares (172 acres) of vineyards in the Barolo and Barbaresco regions, including substantial holdings in the famous Ornato vineyard in Barolo and Il Bricco in Barbaresco. Fruit for Pio Cesare’s wines is also sourced from managed vineyards under long term contracts.Pio Cesare produces five single-vineyard wines, which are only produced in the best vintages.
The 2018 Barolo Ornato reveals some very distant hot-vintage aromas that are vaguely reminiscent of dried raspberry or stewed plum. Nebbiolo is extremely sensitive to the warmer temperatures and even a hint of extra ripeness is easily detected. However, the wine is fluid and ever-evolving. Those fruit-driven aromas soon transition over to brooding complexity with smoke, tar and licorice. The Ornato paints a wide picture of that characteristic Serralunga d’Alba intensity.
ROBERT PARKER – 94POINTS