Pio Cesare Barbaresco Il Bricco DOCG 2020 (Piedmont, Italy) - [JS 97] [JD 94] [WA 94] [WE 94] [DM 94] [VM 90]

Pio Cesare Barbaresco Il Bricco DOCG 2020
(Piedmont, Italy) - [JS 97] [JD 94] [WA 94] [WE 94] [DM 94] [VM 90]


$190.00 $169.99 Save $20.01
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JS97 JD94 WA94 WE94 DM94 VM90
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About the Winery: 
The Pio Cesare winery was founded in 1881 by Cesare Pio, one of the very first wine producers to believe in the great potential and quality of Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera and other great wines of Piemonte. For five generations, the Pio Cesare family has been producing traditional Piemontese wines in its ancient cellars, and consistently receiving high scores from all reviewers. Today it is run by the genial Pio Boffa, great-grandson of Pio Cesare, his nephew Cesare Benvenuto, and, since 2016, Boffa’s daughter Federica, who represents the fifth generation.

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 wine is a single-vineyard Barbaresco using very ripe grapes from several plots in the famous Il Bricco estate owned by the Pio Cesare family. While soils in surrounding villages are sandy, the Il Bricco vineyard is primarily composed of limestone and clay. In the Piemontese dialect, Il Bricco translates to "peak of the hill." Reaching 400 meters above sea level, this estate is characterized by cool weather and important diurnal swings—both favorable conditions for the ripening of the Nebbiolo grape. 

Winemaking:
Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, with 15 days of skin contact. This wine ages in French oak for 30 months: 70 percent in new barriques and 30 percent in 20-hectoliter casks. It is produced in small quantities and only in excellent vintages.

Tasting Notes:
A traditional vintage delivering fresh fruits and beautiful aromas, with great structure and complexity, intense color and a balanced acidity, already approachable with its gentle tannins—all the classic components of the great vintages of Barbaresco.

Harvest Notes:
2020 has been a remarkably high-quality vintage and our vineyards turned out to be, in such a difficult and challenging year with the explosion of COVID-19, ideal examples of resilience and of the impressive force of Mother Nature, so cruel with human beings yet so full of mercy with the vines. Green harvesting—which kept us busy for almost one whole month, from the end of July to the end of August—was fundamental in 2020: the results of this practice are grapes with more concentration, depth, lower acidity, better phenological ripening and less green tannins. We are very much in love with the intense red fruit of the 2020 vintage—still very young but already very drinkable—rich and complex on the nose with a great depth especially in the Barolos.

The delicate use of the oak is very well integrated with the gentle tannins, the aromas and the acidity creating a harmonious balance, especially in the Barbarescos. A superb high-quality and accessible vintage which will as well reveal the great ageing potential of Nebbiolo.

Ratings & Reviews:

97 Points - James Suckling
" Exquisite aromas of strawberries, cherries, hibiscus and cranberries. Hints of cedar and sandalwood. Medium body, with very fine tannins that run the length of the wine and have melted into the wine beautiful. Give this four or six years to completely open." - JS (Jan 2024)

94 Points - Wine Advocate:
"This wine celebrates its 30th anniversary (1990–2020). With fruit from 40-year-old vines, the Pio Cesare 2020 Barbaresco Il Bricco is a production of 6,930 bottles plus magnums. This vintage reveals elegant aromas and nicely concentrated fruit that is embroidered with spice, dark plum and hints of nutmeg. Fruit from both sides of the Il Bricco vineyard are used. The vineyard tops out at 410 meters above sea level, and this land was purchased in 1972." - Monica Larner (Jan 2025)

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"As classic as they come, the wines from il Bricco always shows the passion that Pio Cesare bring to making wine. Aromas of dark cherry jam, plum compote with crushed bay leave and ground spices define the nose. Elegant with a fine line of tannins that runs from the beginning to end that provides a balance bar for the flavors wild berries, black tea and savory spices to perform on, a true high-wire act that is pulled off with near perfections. A gem of a wine. Drink from 2026." - Jeff Porter (Sep 2024)

94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
"The 2020 Barbaresco Il Bricco pours a youthful ruby hue and is fragrant with fresh violets, black raspberries, crushed stones, and blood orange. Savory and lightly sanguine, the palate offers medium body, fine tannins, a refreshing lift of acidity, and a snappy, mouthwatering finish. It is ripe and inviting without ever feeling heavy and has a light, earthy finish. Drink 2024-2036." - Audrey Frick (May 2024)

94 Points - Decanter Magazine:

"With woody scents of black and blue berries, and just a hint of cocoa, Il Bricco in 2020 is supremely fresh and focused, with a core of fleshy dark fruits, a waft of balsamic herbs and a streak of bright cherry. Fine, grippy structure leads to a long and fresh finish with some subtle ferrous and blood orange notes. Poised and effortless. (Drink between 2024-2034)" - James Button (Sept 2024)

90 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2020 Barbaresco Il Bricco is laced with the essence of crushed red berry fruit, cinnamon, rose petal and mint. A pretty wine, the Il Bricco offers good depth to match its approachable style. Soft, silky tannins wrap it all together nicely. Best of all, the 2020 will drink well right out of the gate. (Drink between 2024-2032)" - Antonoio Galloni (Jan 2025)