Pio Cesare Barbaresco Pio DOCG 2021
(Piedmont, Italy) - [JS 96] [WA 94] [WE 93] [JD 92] [WS 92]

Overview:
The Pio Cesare family’s unique winemaking method stresses minimal intervention to produce wines of particularly supple flavor expression. A ceaseless devotion to the individuality of each of the region’s wines informs Pio Cesare's choices in the cellar: shorter maceration, separate lot fermentation, judicious selection for barrel and large cask aging, and bottling schedules determined by the ideal structure of each wine. This allows Pio Cesare to craft wines of varying weight, ageability and drinkability as determined by the vineyard rather than market fashion.

This Barbaresco is produced using the classic “formula” of traditional families: a wine which embraces and combines each of the unique characteristics of the different terroirs of the appellation, sourcing grapes from the family's multiple vineyards in different communes.

Winemaking:
The grapes are sourced exclusively from the Pio Cesare family’s vineyards: the famous “Il Bricco” estate and the great hill of San Stefanetto, both located in the village of Treiso. The wine is fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. There is skin contact for 20 days. 35 percent of the wine is aged in French oak barriques (one-third new) for 30 months. The remaining 65 percent spends three years in French oak casks, 20 to 50 hectoliters each.

Harvest Notes:
2021 was a "later" harvest characterized by a long and cold winter, rich in abundant snow and rainfall which provided an excellent initial water supply to our soils, very precious to face the following months. The bud sprouting of Nebbiolo started towards the end of March, almost 15 days later than the previous year. Even though the delay characterized the entire season, until harvest time, the vegetative cycle of Nebbiolo was consistent and without any sudden excesses, thanks to the very constant temperatures. The vines could grow without any stress, reaching excellent quality and quantity levels.

With the precious expertise of the vineyard team, the Nebbiolo harvest in the Barbaresco region was completed between October 7th and 10th.

While revealing a terrific ageing potential, 2021 vintage enchants with a perfect balance between power and complexity, guaranteed by the family's unique terroirs especially in more traditional vintages, and elegance and finesse, the result of a stylistic refinement after many years of experience with the changing climate.

Ratings & Reviews: