Pio Cesare Barbera d'Alba "Fides" Vigna Mosconi 2021
(Piedmont, Italy) - [WA 92] [WS 90]

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.

Year after year, the wines of Pio Cesare are recognized for their consistency and regional expression. From world-class Barolo and Barbaresco to crisp Cortese and sweet Moscato, the wines of Pio Cesare offer exceptional quality and variety.

Winemaking:
The pinnacle of Pio Cesare's Barbera range, fruit for this single-vineyard Barbera Superiore is sourced from the family-owned Mosconi vineyard in Monforte d'Alba, first produced in the 2017 vintage. “Fides”, or “faith” in Latin, continues to represent the great longtime faith of our family in the Barbera grapes planted and grown in very prestigious areas.

Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks. There is skin contact maceration for 30 days. Right after the drawing off, the wine rests 20 months in oak "botti", while a small amount rests in French oak barrels. Extremely low yields combined with a strict grape selection result in a very small production.

Varietals: 100% Barbera

Tasting Notes:
Full body, balance and concentration. Ripe fruit with a spicy edge. Can be laid down for a very long life in the cellar.

Ratings & Reviews:

92 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
Fruit for this wine is sourced from an excellent site in Monforte d'Alba. The Pio Cesare 2021 Barbera d'Alba Superiore Vigna Mosconi Fides (with 9,924 bottles and 100 magnums on the market) is dark in color and rich and concentration. The wine offers a soft texture with plenty of dark fruit and blackberry. Those bleed nicely into sweet spice and light toast over a full-bodied finish. (ML)

90 Points - Wine Spectator:
Though elegant, this red reveals density and intensity, along with focused flavors of tart cherry, blackberry, mineral and spices. Still a bit compact on the finish, yet the fruit pushes through. Drink now through 2030. 75 cases imported. (BS)