Pio Cesare

Light copper pink. Delicate aromas of rose petals, candied cherry, citrus and traces of damp earth. Multi-layered on the palate of cherry, red currant, white pepper. Everything is underpinned by a beautiful minerality and crisp acidity. The interesting finish brings out notes of orange and ginger. All in all, a serious rosato of highly engaging character. SUPERIORE.DE

"This shows notes of pink cherries, citrus peel and dried roses. Medium- to full-bodied, round and creamy with delicious fruit and a flavorful finish." James Suckling

A lively, fresh and delicate Dolcetto like this has long been one of the most popular red wines from Piedmont. Full of character with a fine play of acidity, it can be drunk young and is a charming companion for everyday life. SUPERIORE.DE

Pio Cesare's Gavi, white elite wine from Piedmont, enchants with its light and lively fruit character, presents itself fresh, juicy and with an excellent delicate taste. Excellent for light summer cuisine, with fish and rice dishes and white meat, but also as a fine dry dessert companion. SUPERIORE.DE

The Langhe Chardonnay L'Altro has a vibrancy and freshness that make it a highly attractive white. It exudes a cornucopia of citrus, peach, honeydew melon and crushed rock aromas, flanked by a well-dosed acid wire and with very appealing length. A joy-bringer with character and one of our favourites for balmy summer evenings. SUPERIORE.DE

"This shows notes of glazed lemons and white nectarines with hints of dried currant leaf, beeswax and crushed stones. Medium-bodied, creamy and sleek with a polished and textural finish. Focused and attractive." James Suckling

Delicate yellow, intensely fragrant of fruit, with nuances of grapefruit and sage. Incredibly fine mousseux and beautifully articulated aromas characterise the taste. A wine like silk and of exceptional elegance and freshness. SUPERIORE.DE

Pio Cesare's Barbera is absolutely delicious every year. Racy smelling of red cherries, a little chocolate and plums, it has a supple texture on the palate, plays skilfully with its well-proportioned acidity and is an excellent companion to rich dark meat dishes with its body, power and length. SUPERIORE.DE

"A lovely and fresh barbera with crushed raspberries, blueberries and crushed stones. Medium body. Fine tannins and a bright finish. A firmness and focus to this." James Suckling

The extremely elegant Langhe Nebbiolo from Pio Cesare is a nuanced, bright wine. Fruits, orange peel, spices and flowers on the nose. On the palate, beautifully round and full of energy with good potential. SUPERIORE.DE

Cesare's Langhe Nebbiolo trumps in its classic style like a mini-Barolo. Rose petals and raspberries on the nose, delicately tart on the palate with coffee beans, lots of ripe fruit and a hint of menthol. Good length and complexity, very tasty! SUPERIORE.DE

"Perfumed and floral with hints of citrus. Strawberry. Medium-bodied with firm and fine tannins, and a bright and fresh finish. Pretty. Baby Barbaresco." James Suckling

Barbera d'Alba Superiore Fides from the famous Mosconi vineyard offers a very nuanced bouquet characterised by blackberry, black cherry, cassis and plum on the one hand, and distinct mineral notes on the other. Fides offers a dark concentration and a soft, intense texture. Lavender, mint and sweet floral notes give it additional verve and make it one of the best site Barbera of Piedmont every year. SUPERIORE.DE

"Intense ruby red. Rich and intense aromas with notes of ripe red fruits, black spices, undergrowth, cocoa and coffee. Full-bodied, concentrated and harmonious on the palate, balanced synthesis of softness and freshness." Falstaff

"The 2020 Barbera d'Alba Superiore Vigna Mosconi Fides delivers big ripeness and fruit weight with inky dark intensity, mature blackberry and syrupy blackberry or cherry essence." Wine Advocate

"The 2020 Barbera d'Alba Fides Vigna Mosconi is gorgeous. Dark, fleshy and super–expressive, the 2020 is packed with plum, blackberry, mocha, lavender, spice and chocolate. Although quite racy and extroverted, the 2020 retains terrific freshness and fine overall balance. It is a joyous Barbera to drink now and over the next handful of years." Vinous

"This red is all about finesse and elegance, with a silky texture aligned to black cherry, blackberry, violet and almond aromas and flavors. Beautifully balanced and long, with pure fruit echoing on the finish." Wine Spectator

"A linear and fresh barbera with dark fruit, bark, walnuts and orange peel. It’s medium–bodied with well–integrated tannins. Focused and fine. Sophisticated. Tangy finish. Very long." James Suckling

Piodilei has been the winery's white flagship since 1985. The grapes come from the single vineyard Il Bricco, from which the grapes of the Barbaresco Crus, which wins awards every year, also originate. Pio's goal from the beginning was to create a wine with the same complexity and storage potential as the great red wines of this region. Sparkling straw yellow. Complex bouquet of herbal spice, delicate butterscotch notes, flint, pear and sweet yellow fruit. Impressive freshness in the glass with a finely integrated oak spice and notes of pineapple and chestnut. A fresh, complex and serious white that has no equal in the region. SUPERIORE.DE

"This is a beautifully soft and creamy expression with aromas of tropical fruit, toasted almond and poached pear. It offers terrific energy and vitality with a lot going on aromatically." Wine Advocate

"A dense and layered chardonnay with lots of phenolic tension that gives it structure. Full and intense, with a powerful structure and a long finish. Serious. One for the cellar." James Suckling

From the beginning, Pio Cesare produced limited quantities of Barolo Chinato and Vermouth, precisely according to a family recipe handed down by his grandfather. In the early 1950s, however, production was discontinued as tastes and preferences changed.

In recent years, it has been noted that Piedmont lovers are again increasingly craving traditional character, strong personality and great individuality in aromatic wines and in wine-based aperitifs. As a result, the decision was made to produce small quantities of Barolo Chinato and Vermouth again - again strictly according to a secret family recipe that was kept under lock and key for many years under the careful supervision of the grandmother, granddaughter of the founder.

Besides the absinthe, which is essential for making a good vermouth, it is refined with a mixture of 26 aromatic herbs such as marjoram leaves, gentian roots, orange zest and others, which are dosed together strictly according to the traditional family recipe. Various white wines from the winery are added, including Moscato d'Asti. After a 15-day maceration, the resulting vermouth is aged in oak barrels for at least 4 months. The recipe is finally rounded off with the addition of caramelised sugar, which gives this vermouth its light colour and distinctive aroma and flavour. Connoisseurs enjoy it in the old "Piedmontese style": without ice, but only with a small slice of lemon peel. SUPERIORE.DE

"Thanks to its funky retro packaging, this is one of the most exciting projects to come out of downtown Alba in a very long time. The Pio Cesare NV Vermouth di Torino sees a base of Chardonnay enhanced with Moscato. (Like the estate's other fortified wine, the Barolo Chinato, only 1,000 bottles are released per year.) The Vermouth pours forth from the bottle with an orange or copper color. It is thick and viscous, taking its time as it swirls around the bowl of my glass. The bouquet reveals mountain herb and medicinal tones, with lots of mint and spearmint. There is some blood orange, citrus, licorice, camphor ash, vanilla and spice. This Vermouth is all fun and charm." Wine Advocate

Bright and radiant, with lots of Nebbiolo character, it is a successful interpretation of the terroir and shows the great class of the winery. On the nose, sweet red cherries, tobacco, mint, anise and white pepper. Medium-bodied and graceful on the palate with a good balance of perfume, acidity and structure. With further bottle ageing, it looks forward to a great evolution. SUPERIORE.DE

"Medium-light red; fruity-smoky, also barrel, caramel, rubber, inviting; fruit, medium-bodied, powerful, lots of round tannin, length." Merum

"Sparkling, medium-dense ruby garnet. Inviting, very finely marked nose with pronounced notes of wild raspberry, rosehip and black tea. Substantial, with pithy tannin on the palate, showing lots of pressure, savoury, lingers long." Falstaff

"Straight medium ruby. Perfumed cherry fruit with subtle oak and a hint of cumin. Fresh, supple cherry fruit with a spicy note and firm but ripe and crisp tannins. Great length and juiciness." Jancis Robinson

"A rich, earthy style that evokes aromas of cherry, raspberry, iron and tobacco. Broad tannins announce the finish, but it remains balanced and long." Wine Spectator

"The 2018 Barbaresco Pio is noble, elegant and wonderfully polished. Sweet spices, cedar, tobacco, leather and dried cherries open up effortlessly. This graceful, medium-bodied Barbaresco has a lot going for it and is very drinkable from the start. The silky, ethereal qualities of the Nebbiolo are evident." Vinous

"Pio Cesare stands out for its classics, and this wine is one of them. The 2018 Barbaresco (released a year later than its competitors) offers a light ripeness of candied raspberry with lilac, tarry smoke, cedar and spice. The mouthfeel is silky smooth with gently integrated tannins." Wine Advocate

"Strawberries with notes of walnuts, asphalt and bark. Also dried flowers. Full-bodied with fine, racy tannins and a very long, beautiful finish. Fine tannins. Shows excellent length for the vintage." James Suckling

"The Barbaresco of Pio Cesare, always a certainty, from the Treiso and San Rocco sub-areas. On the nose, red currants in jam, with nuances of star anise and rhubarb. The mouthfeel is crisp, dense, with spicy tannins and a fruity finish." Luca Gardini

The grapes for the house's classic Barolo come from the sites/communes of Ornato, La Serra, Briccolina in Serralunga d'Alba, Gustava and Garretti in Grinzane Cavour, Roncaglie in La Morra, Ravera in Novello and, from the 2015 vintage, Mosconi in Monforte d'Alba. It is more of a traditional, classic Barolo with an exciting bouquet of deep, dark fruits and a pretty potpourri of rose petals, spices, smoke and tar. The palate is full-bodied and firm, opening with lots of tightly woven tannins, very powerful, with pressure and rich bite on the back end, laid out for a long life. SUPERIORE.DE

"Medium warm red; red-fruited-caramel-coffee-foliage, deep, very inviting; round, fine, then dense, warm tannin, caramel, length, pleasing." Merum

"Already the colour is amazingly transparent and light-coloured. The entry-level Barolo shows an open, attractive bouquet with freshly picked cranberries and currants, persimmon, ripe cherries, playful, shimmering, linear and multi-layered. Rather cool than lush. Very finely woven on the palate, very elegant and almost floating, a finesse piece for elegance drinkers." Weinwisser

"Clearly fleshy-animalic scent with red berry and fine vegetal aromas, a little dried herbs, a hint of juniper and dried floral traces. Clear, taut, almost cool-looking, tart-juicy fruit, a little cocoa, coffee and allspice, also juniper tones, present, youthful, yet very fine tannin, some bite, lasting, elegant style, very good, juicy and finely spicy finish. A beauty." Wein-Plus

"Bright, radiant ruby red. In the nose delicately spicy, some cherries and raspberries, in addition delicately after undergrowth, overall of medium expression, nevertheless inviting. Polished on the palate, with velvety tannin, already extremely accessible, drinks superbly, salty and radiant on the final." Falstaff

"Lustrous mid ruby. Balsamic nose, slow to emerge from the glass. Hints of garden herbs, brooding cherry and cranberry. Still a little tight on the nose, but more approachable on the palate with ripe, supple fruit with plenty of stuffing without being heavy. Bags of grainy, tasty tannins and quite a firmly structured fruit-driven finish." Jancis Robinson

"Classic bright garnet in the glass, the wine is focused on cherry kernels with tar, violet, a bit of camphor and sweet spices. The attack is firm and crisp, introducing a brilliant crunchiness on the palate along with grainy tannins which stretch to a slightly austere finish. It lacks a bit of pulp - a signature of the 2018 vintage - but this is one of the best village-level Barolo this year." Decanter

"Pio Cesare is on a roll producing vintage after vintage of excellent Barolo. This shows enormous intensity and beauty with perfumed layers of pressed flower, wild berry, vanilla and spice. It boasts a dark, bold appearance and tight tannins that are supported by an excellent quality of fruit." Wine Enthusiast

"The Barolo Pio is once again impressive in 2018. Deep, layered and so expressive, the. 2018 offers uncommon elegance right out of the gate. Dark mentholated aromas and flavors are intriguing. In 2018, the Barolo Pio offers quite a bit of depth too, something that is rare, especially among wines at this level. All the elements are impeccably balanced throughout. This is a very fine vintage for the Pio." Vinous

"The 2018 Barolo opens to ripe aromas of dried plum and tobacco. This vintage lacks some of the complexity of a cooler growing season, but these results are far from monochromatic. Those tobacco aromas cede to cedar, earth, forest floor and hints of shaved truffle." Wine Advocate

"Aromas of spicy red cherries on a loamy underlay, together with savory twists of forest floor and walnut shell. Some orange rind, too. Full-bodied with very fine, firm and silky tannins and lots of long, focused fruit and spice flavor. Good structure for 2018. Best from 2024." James Suckling

Pios Barbaresco 2015 is a beautiful wine. Bright and radiant, with a lot of Nebbiolo character, it is a successful interpretation of the balanced vintage. In the bouquet sweet red cherries, tobacco, mint, aniseed and white pepper. On the palate medium heavy and graceful with a good balance of perfume, acidity and structure. With further bottle ripeness he is looking forward to a great development. SUPERIORE.DE

"Brilliant, brilliant ruby red with a delicate brightening rim. Floreal fragrant nose of young pink roses, strawberries and fresh mint. Smooth and fine on the palate, extremely elegant, with a beautiful dress, finest tannin with delicate pressure, balanced, slightly salty final." Falstaff

"The Pio Cesare 2015 Barbaresco offers a mid-weight approach and a solid core of fruit. That dark fruit center is surrounded by supple but delicate tones of exotic spice, smoke, tar, licorice and crushed stone. This is a fragrant and elegant expression that drinks beautifully straight out of the gate. This is a classic Barbaresco with an easy and approachable personality." Wine Advocate

"A dense and layered red with plums, dried orange and lemon peel and a long and flavorful finish. Beautiful. Such impressive layers and a fantastic finish. Very exciting. Love the length. Drink in 2020, but already beautiful." James Suckling

Bright and radiant, with lots of Nebbiolo character, it is a successful interpretation of the terroir and shows the great class of the winery. On the nose, sweet red cherries, tobacco, mint, anise and white pepper. Medium-bodied and graceful on the palate with a good balance of perfume, acidity and structure. With further bottle ageing, it looks forward to a great evolution. SUPERIORE.DE

"A graceful, well-matched red with a solid construction supporting aromas and flavours of cherry, strawberry, rose and graphite. Hints of tar and white pepper show on the finish." Wine Spectator

"The Pio Cesare 2019 Barbaresco shows a beautiful ruby-tinged appearance that is well suited to the bright aromas of cassis, pomegranate, licorice and grilled herb that lift from the bouquet. This Barbaresco is slender and silky in texture, and it's already drinking nicely right now." Wine Advocate

"This is a very typical Barbaresco, with a solid core of fruit. Lots of strawberries, cedar and chewy tannins. Full and structured. Excellent length, with the tannins coming through at the end. This wine needs at least four or five years of bottle ageing. Try it after 2027." James Suckling

The grapes for the house's classic Barolo come from the sites/communes of Ornato, La Serra, Briccolina in Serralunga d'Alba, Gustava and Garretti in Grinzane Cavour, Roncaglie in La Morra, Ravera in Novello and, from the 2015 vintage, Mosconi in Monforte d'Alba. It is more of a traditional, classic Barolo with an exciting bouquet of deep, dark fruits and a pretty potpourri of rose petals, spices, smoke and tar. The palate is full-bodied and firm, opening with lots of tightly woven tannins, very powerful, with pressure and rich bite on the back end, laid out for a long life. SUPERIORE.DE

"Fruity-floral on the nose; harmonious, still youthful texture, the tannins robust, the evolution precise, the finish polished and fruity. Convinces with its noble construction." Vinum

"Lovely perfumes of flowers, fresh strawberries and raspberries follow through to a medium- to full-bodied palate with fine tannins that run the length of the wine. Citrus and spice undertones. Finishes long and intense. Tannic finish." James Suckling

From the beginning, Pio Cesare produced limited quantities of Barolo Chinato and Vermouth, precisely according to a family recipe handed down by his grandfather. In the early 1950s, however, production was discontinued as tastes and preferences changed.

In recent years, it has been noted that Piedmont lovers are again increasingly craving traditional character, strong personality and great individuality in aromatic wines and in wine-based aperitifs. As a result, the decision was made to produce small quantities of Barolo Chinato and Vermouth again - again strictly according to a secret family recipe that was kept under lock and key for many years under the careful supervision of the grandmother, granddaughter of the founder.

An infusion of Chinchona (China Calissaja and Succirubra bark) is macerated for 21 days in a small amount of classic Barolo. A mixture of aromatic herbs such as gentian root, rhubarb, cardamom seeds, sweet and bitter orange, cinnamon and other spices is then added, which together make up the special family recipe. After a few weeks of ageing, a certain amount of classic Barolo is then added. SUPERIORE.DE

"Only 1,000 bottles per year are released of the Pio Cesare NV Barolo Chinato, a fortified digestif that pours from the bottle with a dark garnet color and faint hints of copper and amber. This bottle takes you on a terrific journey into a favorite local tradition. Made with a base of Barolo wine, the nose offers layers of dried cherry and fruit, but perhaps the biggest aromatic influence here are those dusty mineral notes that subtract from the natural sweetness of the wine. That 16% alcohol content also serves to align your palate away from the fruit. Instead, you get medical herb, dried ginger and camphor ash." Wine Advocate

Piodilei has been the winery's white flagship since 1985. The grapes come from the single vineyard Il Bricco, from which the grapes of the Barbaresco Crus, which wins awards every year, also originate. Pio's goal from the beginning was to create a wine with the same complexity and storage potential as the great red wines of this region. Sparkling straw yellow. Complex bouquet of herbal spice, delicate butterscotch notes, flint, pear and sweet yellow fruit. Impressive freshness in the glass with a finely integrated oak spice and notes of pineapple and chestnut. A fresh, complex and serious white that has no equal in the region. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2018 Langhe Chardonnay Piodilei supports an elaborate structure and broad shoulders. This wine underlines the creaminess in Chardonnay, it is broad and rich, with a layered bouquet that opens to peach, exotic fruit and lemon mousse. That abundant fruit is framed and brought into focus by the wine's pretty mineral contouring." Wine Advocate

"A chardonnay with sliced apples, cedar and spice. Some smoked wood, too, adding to the complexity. Subtle, tight and structured. Think serious Chablis, but from Langhe!" James Suckling

Barbaresco Il Bricco presents itself with more depth than the "normal" Barbaresco. In the bouquet dark red stone fruit, menthol, spices, leather and some cedar wood. On the palate, already at a young age, it is powerful and with a lot of muscle power, which, together with the harmoniously balanced tannin and acid structure, gives a glimpse of a great, long life with a hopeful development. SUPERIORE.DE

"Intense ruby with a light garnet edge. The nose initially shows subtle smoky notes, then full-bodied plums, blackberries and forest raspberries. On the palate it is firm and full-bodied, unfolds with present, dense tannin, finely coated with sweet enamel, firm, very juicy, firm pressure in the finish". Falstaff

"A beefy version, with rich, dense tannins, evoking flavors of cherry, wild herbs, menthol and tobacco. A hefty dose of oak adds sweet spice details and tannins. Needs time to absorb the oak. Best from 2022 through 2038." Wine Spectator

"Extremely perfumed aromas with dried flowers, light stems, fresh herbs and dried strawberries. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a linear and bright finish. So delicious now." James Suckling

Barbaresco Bricco 2015 shines with a strong sparkling ruby red and a fine garnet sheen. Concentrated nose with notes of rose petals, raspberries and mulberries. It unfolds powerfully on the palate, plays out its fine-meshed tannin superiorly and flows elegantly into a never-ending finish with aromas of ripe, red berries and sweet melt. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright ruby garnet. Intense nose, opens with notes of truffle and liquorice, then ripe plum, some forest raspberry, very clear. Dense and supple in the base and course, full-bodied on the palate, hearty tannin gives the backbone, plus a fine sweet enamel, full pressure in the final". Falstaff

"The Bricco vineyard in Treiso is known for producing solid, ageworthy wines. Combined with Pio Cesare's use of stainless steel for vinification and then botti and barrique for maturation, the result is an elegant, fresh yet structured wine with hidden power. The broad palate has a chocolate edge to it, with oak astringency and plummy hedgerow fruit in tow. The fine, delicate tannins give grip but there's a lovely juicy character just waiting to break out. If you need to drink this right away it deserves decanting." Decanter

"Rich and spicy, featuring cherry, plum and tar flavors, accented by vanilla and toasty oak notes. Firm and compact, yet balanced, this will need time for all the components to harmonize and find equilibrium." Wine Spectator

"From the Bricco di Treiso MGA, the 2015 Barbaresco Il Bricco is a rich and nicely layered red wine that shows the warm characteristics of the vintage with dark berry fruit, cherry and light touches of exotic spice. I paired this wine with lightly aged salami that worked beautifully, thanks to the oily nature of the food and the fresh nature of the wine." Wine Advocate

"This shows phenomenal structure to it with fantastic linear tannins that take this wine deep and long on the palate. It’s buttressed by a beautiful balance of ripe fruit characterized by strawberry and orange-peel undertones. Chewy and focused. Needs four or five years to soften and show its true greatness." James Suckling

Barbaresco Bricco di Treiso presents itself with more power and depth than the normal Barbaresco. On the nose, dark red stone fruit, menthol, spices, leather and some cedar. On the palate, punchy even when young and with a great deal of muscularity, which, together with the harmoniously balanced tannin and acid structure, foreshadows a great, long life with a hopeful development. SUPERIORE.DE

"Combines the elegance promised by the provenance with sweet aromatics and abundant fruit, always underpinned by a certain sweetness with a hint of nougat, offering depth, salinity and fine acidity on the quite long finish. Shows what is in the 2018 vintage." Weinwisser

"Sparkling, intense ruby garnet, light rim. Shows notes of rose petals, raspberries, some tobacco and truffle on the nose. Pithy tannin, spreads out richly, lots of tobacco and leather, then slightly sandy tannin in the back." Falstaff

"Lustrous mid ruby. Like an amplified version of their straight Barbaresco. Firm nose which is perfumed at the same time. Cherry with hints of tobacco leaf, iron, orange skin and cumin. Increasingly minerally with aeration. Iron and orange and a hint again of cumin. Fine-grained, long tannins carrying the supple fruit. Can be approached now, but ideally should get more time in the bottle." Jancis Robinson

"A rich, well-defined style, this red evokes cherry, raspberry, iron, menthol and tobacco flavors. Broad tannins announce the finish, yet this remains balanced, intense and energetic, with a lingering aftertaste." Wine Spectator

"The 2018 Barbaresco Il Bricco is a worthy follow-up to the stellar 2017. Menthol, licorice, gravel, incense and a range of deeply-pitched spice notes open first, but it is the wine's overall depth that I find especially alluring. Racy and complex, yet so refined, the 2018 has a ton to offer. Best of all, it can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring. It's a gorgeous Barbaresco that captures the essence of Treiso." Vinous

"The 2018 Barbaresco Il Bricco shows ample depth and intensity with dark fruit, smoke, toasted spice and cured tobacco. This is a production of 6,393 numbered bottles. This vintage shows a mid-weight approach with rich fruit weight and polished tannins." Wine Advocate

"This is a very solid red for the vintage, with a medium to full body and extremely refined and focused tannins that run the length of the wine. Bitter-lemon, strawberry and spice flavors. Compact and long. Try after 2025." James Suckling

"The Barbaresco ‘selection’ of Pio Cesare, coming from 3 microzones located in the highest part of the vineyards of Cascina Il Bricco in Treiso. Great freshness on the nose, with notes of raspberry, blood orange, gardenia, then cloves. Palate of density and tension, savory tannins, finish of pleasant persistence." Luca Gardini

Barolo Ornato is a great wine every year. It captures the true character of Serralunga with its wild herbs, minerals and ferruginous notes. Its bouquet shows small berry fruits and cassis, framed by gravel, forest floor, blue flowers and candied orange peel. The wine also has a dusty, mineral note and is intense on both the nose and palate. Ornato sets in with finely integrated tannins and an acidity that sustains all these fruit flavours. A wine that is consistently vertical, straightforward and frontal. SUPERIORE.DE

"Wonderfully fragrant, subtle bouquet with notes of freshly pressed pomegranate, redcurrant and heart cherries, again some blood orange. More elegant, clearly more compact and multi-layered palate than the two predecessors, simply has more density and power, but remains elegant and enormously juicy, immensely polished tannin, absolutely coherent, shows ripe fruit, fine melting." Weinwisser

"Medium ruby red with orange reflections. Beautiful, open and ripe cherry aroma with minerals and a hint of liquorice and lots of depth. Generous, supple fruit with gripping tannins that form a real unit. Great length with lots of powdery tannins, juice and grip. Simply irresistible, but might be too austere for most palates at the moment." Jancis Robinson

"The 2018 Barolo Ornato reveals some very distant hot season aromas, vaguely reminiscent of dried raspberries or stewed plums. The Nebbiolo is very sensitive to the warmer temperatures and even a hint of extra ripeness is easy to detect. However, the wine is fluid and constantly evolving. The fruit-driven aromas soon turn into a brooding complexity with smoke, tar and liquorice. The Ornato paints a broad picture of the intensity typical of Serralunga d'Alba." Wine Advocate

"The 2018 Barolo Ornato is sombre, brooding and quite self-contained. There is a lot of aromatic and flavour complexity, but the fruit is very much in the background. It will be interesting to see if the 2018 emerges or if it remains rather compact as it is today. There is a good amount of density and power behind all the tannin. Hints of blood orange, crushed raspberry, rose petal and cinnamon linger on the super classy finish." Vinous

"Spicy, with notes of white pepper, cumin, fennel seed and minerals framing a core of preserved plums and cherries. Dense, viscous and lively, balanced and expressive. It finishes with excellent length and power." Wine Spectator

"Pio Cesare owns most of Ornato, which lies between Briccolina and Falletto. The Serralunga character is particularly typical here, with fruits of wild strawberries and cherries combined with rhubarb and minerality. The attack is silky, with great concentration and savouriness, woven acidity and refined tannins through to the lingering finish." Decanter

"Complex on the nose, with a mix of ripe red berries, nutty minerals, orange peel and spices. Also some spicy, almost meaty notes. Full, compact and intense, but very graceful on the palate thanks to the fine tannins. Very polished and promising. Stylish. Still needs some time. Try it from 2025." James Suckling

"From Cascina Ornato, Pio Cesare's first cru, first produced in 1985, a Barolo of power and structure. On the nose blackcurrant, notes of liquorice and peony. The mouthfeel has spicy, salty tannins and a finish with notes of liquorice and small black fruits. Long lasting." Luca Gardini

Four years ago, Pio Boffa bought himself a "small" present for his 60th birthday. Not a new set of golf clubs, a picture hanging in the hall, a holiday for him and the family. No. Just a vineyard called Mosconi in Monforte d'Alba, a region of Piedmont where four generations of the Pio Cesare dynasty never gained a foothold. Originally, the grapes from the 10-hectare vineyard were to enhance the quality of his classic Barolo, but after the first barrel samples, it was unmistakably clear to Pio Boffa that this would be at least an equal - if stylistically different - counterpart to the hitherto undisputed flagship Ornato.

Mosconi is more light-footed than Ornato, with red rather than black fruits dominating the nose, along with irresistible liquorice and a juiciness that will immediately earn it a top place in the entire appellation. On the palate, it has a precision that is unparalleled, being less punchy than Ornato, but more elegant and subtle. SUPERIORE.DE

"Light red; fruity-spicy, leafy, inviting, deep; fine, delicate attack, fruit deep, balanced, elegant, length, very nice." (JLF) Merum

"Shiny, rich garnet red. Very fragrant nose with notes of pomegranate and rhubarb, some resinous notes to it, rich cherry, some blood orange. Compact and at the same time polished tannin, opens continuously and finely, shows fine ripened fruit notes, firm pressure and good melting." Falstaff

"Bright cherry and currant flavors are matched to savory notes of eucalyptus, juniper and rosemary in this intense red, with an underlying mineral streak. Overall, this is balanced and long." Wine Spectator

"Mosconi is an MGA that is often picked late and so could possibly have benefitted from the warm and dry 2017 vintage. This example from Pio Cesare is focused on elegance with lifted, concentrated aromas and flavours of orange peel, strawberry jam, rose and a touch of smoke, which all become intoxicating on the palate. This great intensity and concentration are supported by firm, muscular tannins and an assertive finish, combined with crisp acidity. Rarely in this 2017 vintage do we find this combination of fruit weight and strength of structure." Decanter

"The 2017 Barolo Mosconi is a beautiful, translucent wine that expresses too much of the best this site has to offer. Iron, dried herbs, chalk and white pepper give the Mosconi its signature aromatic profile. Pio Cesare's Mosconi is the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove. It's mid-weight structure and light (even for Nebbiolo) color can be deceiving. There is certainly plenty of punch here." Vinous

"Now in its third vintage, this is the newest member of the extended Pio Cesare family. With fruit from the village of Monforte d'Alba, the 2017 Barolo Mosconi hits that sweet spot somewhere on the continuum between elegance and power. Perhaps this hot vintage (and its 14.5% alcohol content) inches a little closer to the side of power, but it does so in a most understated and graceful manner. The wine shows the freshness and lifted fruit that is normally associated with this special vineyard site." Wine Advocate

"Aromas of underbrush, camphor, purple flower and forest berry slowly take shape in this classy, full-bodied red. It combines structure and finesse, featuring crushed raspberry, juicy Marasca cherry, tobacco and baking spice framed in taut, elegant tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it nicely balanced." Wine Enthusiast

"Subtle aromas of crushed stone and cherry with dried strawberry and white truffle, following through to a full body. Yet it is tight and very tannic with a fine-grained texture and a long, intense finish. A superb combination of structure and finesse. Very typical for Mosconi and the Ginestre area. Exceptional." James Suckling