Pio Cesare Barolo and Barbaresco 2021 Vintage Report: A seamless blend of tradition and modernity.
We are delighted to share the 2021 vintage report and ratings from famed Barolo and Barbaresco producer Pio Cesare. The Barolos and Barbarescos 2021 will be released in the UK at the beginning of May 2025. Please get in touch with your sales manager or with Valeria Maffeis on valeria.maffeis@mmdltd.co.uk to find out about our pre-release offer.
2021 VINTAGE REPORT
The 2021 vintage was marked by a later harvest, following a long and cold winter with abundant snowfall and rainfall, which provided essential water reserves for the growing season. A cooler and drier spring delayed the vegetative cycle, reducing the impact of an April frost that occurred at the beginning of flowering.
Frequent rainfall in early summer, without hail, ensured moderate temperatures and steady vine growth, fostering optimal conditions for vineyard management. From mid-July, temperatures rose, peaking at 38°C in August but only for short periods, allowing for an early veraison and balanced ripening. Careful soil management, including compost application and green manure practices, preserved soil health and water retention, ensuring vines thrived without stress. A significant temperature drop in September, followed by a dry and sunny October with excellent diurnal shifts, allowed for a perfectly timed harvest, particularly for Barbera and Nebbiolo, which were picked later than in 2020.
Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo’s bud break occurred in late March, about 15 days later than the previous year. Despite this delay, the growing season was consistent and stress-free due to stable temperatures, leading to excellent fruit quality and balanced yields.
During August’s dry conditions, minimal and selective canopy management was employed to protect grapes from sun exposure, preventing bruising and enhancing fruit integrity. In particularly warm sites, hail nets were repurposed to create additional shade and lower temperatures within the grape clusters. Rigorous green harvesting, tailored to each vineyard plot, helped control yields and enhance concentration and structure.
Intensive ripening analysis ensured the precise timing of harvest, carried out plot-by-plot. The Nebbiolo harvest for Barbaresco was completed between October 7th and 10th, while in Barolo, picking began on October 11th with the Ornato vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba, progressing through various sites and concluding at the Mosconi vineyard, a traditionally later-ripening site.
Tasting Notes
Despite several challenges in 2021, the vintage delivered outstanding quality, with healthy grapes exhibiting great structure, vibrant tannins, and a perfect balance of acidity and sugar concentration.
Precise vineyard management, including the selection of drought-resistant rootstocks and the use of clones with enhanced leaf surface area, ensured excellent polyphenol and anthocyanin accumulation. In the cellar, slow and gentle macerations extracted softer tannins, while careful oak use preserved Nebbiolo’s purity. The result is an exceptional vintage that showcases a perfect harmony of power, complexity, elegance, and finesse—hallmarks of our terroir and stylistic refinement honed over years of experience adapting to climate change.
Ratings
BAROLO PIO 2021
This is very powerful and structured, witharomas of black truffles, graphite and hintsof dried thyme and cedar. Medium- to full-bodied and chewy yet polished. Hints of terra cotta and dark fruit. 96 points James Suckling
BARBARESCO PIO 2021
The aromas of iodine and oyster shell really come through together with black cherries and dark brambleberries. Medium body with firm and racy tannins that run the length of the wine. 96 points James Suckling
BARBARESCO IL BRICCO 2021
Intense aromas of oyster shell and dark fruit such as black cherries and blackberries, together with some black olives, dark mushrooms and just a touch of clove. It’s medium- to full-bodied with linear and long tannins and a powerful finish. Yet, it’s polished and refined at the same time. Needs time to open, but there’s so much going on here. 98 points James Suckling
BAROLO ORNATO 2021
A juicy and fruity wine with round and polished tannins and a flavorful finish. Complex aromas of oyster shells, terra cotta and tar. It’s medium- to full-bodied with tension and well-formed muscles, but always in balance and harmony. Very long aftertaste. Clearly a great wine. 98 points James Suckling
BAROLO MOSCONI 2021
This is so floral, with violets, roses, dark fruit and lovely sandalwood and cedar. At ouch of flint, too. Medium- to full-bodied with such elegance and a long and rather endless finish. It goes on and on. What a wine. 97 points James Suckling