This historic family-owned estate is named after its founder Cesare Pio, who established the business in 1881. The winery is based in Alba, in the heart of Piemonte and is now run by Federica Boffa and Cesare Benvenuto, the fifth generation of the family. Pio Cesare developed Barolo’s reputation overseas in the 1950s by being one of the first producers to export the wine to the UK. The founder’s great grandson Pio Boffa was deeply convinced of the importance of cultivating and growing owned land to produce high quality wines and played a key role in the acquisition of vineyards in the same locations where Cesare Pio used to buy his grapes from. Today Pio Cesare owns 70 hectares in the hills of Barolo and Barbaresco and makes wines in a style that manages to balance the best of the old with the best of the new. The estate includes most of the municipalities in the Barolo and Barbaresco areas.
The grapes for this wine come are sourced from the family owned vineyards in Serralunga d’Alba (Colombaro), and in Monforte d’Alba (Mosconi), in the Barbaresco region in Treiso (Bongiovanni) and also in the Langhe region in Sinio (Val di Croce, Bricco dello Stornello) and in Diano d’Alba (Carzello).
The grapes are hand-picked and gently pressed and fermented at 25 to 26°C. Vinification takes place in stainless steel tanks, with skin contact for 20-25 days. The wine is then aged in medium-toasted French oak barriques (25%) and 20-50 hectolitre casks (75%) for 12 months.
Aromas of blackberries, plums and ripe berry fruit with a touch of spice and tobacco. On the palate this wine is supple and juicy with a great fruit and complexity.
Serve with pork chops, braised lamb dishes, mushroom risotto, pizza or pasta with sausage, meat balls.
Serve at 16-18°C.
92 points – James Suckling
A medium-bodied barbera with crushed berries, spices, roses and hints of soil. Creamy tannins. Excellent length and texture. Drink now.
89 points – Wine Advocate, Monica Larner
Opening to a darkly concentrated appearance, the 2020 Barbera d’Alba is layered with soft fruit, preserved blackberry and dark plummy jam. The wine is softly textured and rich with a point of bright acidity on the close. The wine’s related texture could pair with crunchy food like veal steaks fried in a bread-crumb batter.
89 points – Wine Spectator, Bruce Sanderson
This concentrated red is rounded out with a deft touch of oak, boasting black cherry, plum and earth flavors. Firm, remaining a bit rigid on the finish. Drink now through 2025. 5,000 cases made, 2,000 cases imported.
Langhe DOC, Piemonte
100% Barbera
Natural Cork
Yes
Yes
