“Piodilei” Chardonnay Langhe DOC 2023 · MAGNUM in gift box

Pio Cesare | Piedmont
Pio Cesare | Via Cesare Balbo 6 | IT 12051 Alba

05360723 · 1,5 l · 65,33 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping6 units available

"Pio di lei", for the ladies. A name that pays homage to the strong women of the Pio Cesare family. When Pio Boffa planted the first Chardonnay vines in 1981, it was a revolutionary act in the Langhe. Growing a French white wine here, in the realm of Nebbiolo, where Barolo and Barbaresco have reigned supreme for centuries – that bordered on heresy. But Pio had a vision: to create a white wine with the body, complexity and ageing potential of the great reds. The first vintage came onto the market in 1985. Today, almost four decades later, his daughter Federica continues the legacy and proves that the women of this family are not just namesakes, but creators.

The grapes come from two vineyards that could not be more different: Il Bricco in Treiso, Barbaresco area, where it all began in 1981 – the oldest Chardonnay vines in the Langhe are rooted here. Supplemented since 2019 by Mosconi in Monforte d'Alba, a prestigious Barolo location. Both vineyards are located in the coolest and highest exposures, are harvested late at full physiological ripeness and have the lowest yields. Fermentation begins in stainless steel tanks, then moves to French barriques, a third of them new, where it is completed. Eight months of ageing on the fine lees in the barrels, a further nine months of bottle ageing before release. Minimal intervention, maximum respect for the terroir.

Bright straw yellow with green reflections. Intense aromas of baked apples, honey, honeysuckle and lemon zest, with notes of vanilla and flint. Medium-bodied on the palate with a solid fruit centre, creamy and spicy at the same time, phenolic tension lends structure and focus. Elegantly integrated wood, never dominant. Mineral freshness carries through to the long finish. Federica says: "Piodilei tastes like Burgundy." And she's right – this Chardonnay does not call to France, but it breathes the same seriousness. SUPERIORE.DE

"An intense chardonnay with baked apples, honey, honeysuckle, lemon rind and hints of vanilla and flint on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with a solid core of fruit and a lively finish. Flavorful and vivid." James Suckling