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.
Since 2017 vintage this wine is exclusively made from a small selection of Barbera grapes coming from the oldest vines of the family-owned Mosconi vineyard in Monforte d’Alba. “Fides”, or “faith” in Latin, continues to represent the great faith of Pio Cesare family in the Barbera grapes planted and grown in very prestigious areas, normally dedicated for growing the finest Nebbiolo grapes.
The wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks with skin contact maceration lasting for 30 days. After racking, the wine was aged in oak casks (botti) and a small amount was aged in French oak barriques for 12 months
A very well balanced vintage with long sun-hours and the desired amount of rainfall especially after two years of water shortage that put the vines under considerable stress. Summer was marked by two heatwaves at the end of June and at the end of July. September began with hail causing some damage fortunately localized. This resulted in a slight drop in production volumes but the fruit was of really good quality.
Full body, balance and concentration. Ripe fruit with a spicy edge. Can be laid down for a very long life in the cellar.
Serve with grilled pork, lamb shanks, mushroom risotto, steak.
Serve at 16-18°C.
92 points – Wine Spectator, Bruce Sanderon – n. 38 in the Top 100 wines of 2021
This is bright and focused, exuding blackberry, black cherry and violet flavors. Balanced and firm on the long, fruit- and earth-tinged aftertaste. Drink now through 2025.
Langhe DOC, Piemonte
100% Barbera
Natural cork
Yes
Yes
