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 80 ha in several premium hill-side positions, selected for the exposure, soil composition and microclimate, in different villages primarily in the Barolo and the Barbaresco Region. In the hills of Barolo and Barbaresco Pio Cesare 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 Pio Cesare family owns a total 30 ha in the Barolo region covering 5 different communes: Serralunga d’Alba (Ornato, Serra, Briccolina, Lirano and Colombaro), Monforte d’Alba (Mosconi), Grinzane Cavour (Gustava and Garretti), La Morra (Roncaglie), Novello (Ravera). Ornato, located in the village of Serralunga d’Alba, it was the very first vineyard acquired by 4th generation Pio Boffa, in 1979. The 6.6 ha of vineyard are located at approx. 380 mt above see level with south east, south and south west exposure. Ornato is a large amphitheater, exposed to the sun from early morning to late afternoon. Soil composition: mainly limestone and clay with a small proportion of sand. Average age of the vines: 30 years. Number of plants per hectar: 4800 Yields: 60 tons per ha. Ornato produces wines of great structure, austerity and longevity. Due to the vineyard aspect Ornato is usually the very first vineyard to be harvested. First vintage produced: 1985
This is a single-vineyard Barolo from very ripe grapes of three different plots of the famous Pio Cesare family’s Ornato Estate in Serralunga d’Alba, one of the top vineyards in the whole Barolo area. It is fermented in stainless steel with skin contact for 15 days and aged in mid-toasted French oak botti for 36 months, with a small quantity aged in barriques for the first 12 months.
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.
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
Serve with red meat dishes, game or seasonal truffle, mature cheeses.
Serve at 16-18°C.
98 points James Suckling
95 points Wine Advocate
97 points Wine Enthusiast
94 points Decanter
95 points Wine Advocate
Barolo DOCG, Piemonte
100% Nebbiolo
Natural Cork
Yes
Yes
