On the Road with the Grape Guy
Pio Cesare Winemaker's Dinner
10 Apr 2025- Details
- Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(May 2024) ... Barolo lovers came out to a dinner to taste seven wines from this historic, iconic producer whose history dates back to 1881 and the great great grandfather of the current owner Federica Boffa - our host this evening. The talk she gave was mostly about the wines ... Let's get right to it.
2021 "Piadelei" Chardonnay 
Name translates to Pio for the ladies ... The wine spends one year in oak, where roughly 33% is new. The vines were planted in 1981. Creamy mouthfeel with notes of vanilla, apple and great acidity for balance. (****)
2021 "Fides" Vigna Mosconi, Barbera d'Alba
From the Mosconi vineyard, these Barbera plants were put in the ground in the '40s and in the '60s. 9,000 bottles are made of these dark fruited and smoky wines with a lovely, playful acidity. It spends one year in big barrels to gain complexity. (****)
2020 "Pio" Barolo (classic)
This is a nine-vineyard blend. It's an easy drinking Barolo, ready now with age ability potential under the cork. Red fruit dominates ... It's gentle and easy on the palate. (*** ½+)
2020 "Ornato" Barolo
This single vineyard is located in the Serralunga region of Barolo. Dark berry fruit with smoky notes, good acidity and a long finish. Best wine of the night. (****+)
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The older Barolos: 2015
"Pio" Barolo - The acidity on this wine proved to be very jumpy and in your face. I love acidity in my wine, but this seemed almost over the top and came across disjointed. I question the notion to decant this wine before serving, as I believe it did not benefit the wine.
"Ornato" Barolo - once again questioning the decanting of these older wines.... Quite possibly, the decanting opened them up too much. Then again, this was the better of the two wines - here the Ornato proved powerful with good fruit and even some elegance. But a pour from the bottle might have allowed this wine to open more gracefully.
Last beverage of the night was a Chinato, a digestive drink with quinine and herbal character. 1,000 bottles are produced. No other comments about this. 
