One of the historic houses in Piedmonte, Pio Cesare was founded back in 1881 by Cesare Pio. He was a successful entrepreneur who decided to craft a small and select quantity of wines in Alba. Today the winery still stands in the center of the city. Fast forward some 140 years later the winery is now in its fifth generation as this family-run operation was formerly led by fifth generation Federica Rosy Boffa who runs her family's winery along with her cousin Cesare Benvenuto. Born in 1997—an iconic vintage in Piemonte— she is the only child of the late Pio Boffa, the 4th generation owner.
Over the years I have been blessed to taste many of these older wines. The house has a very old-world style of Barolo — not overblown or fruit-driven but relying more on subtle, non-fruit flavors. I can fondly recall tasting the 2004 and 2010 Barolo bottlings over the past several years.
2019 was a vintage that appears to have immense cellaring potential, as the previous vintage was seen with more mixed results. I adored the new Pio Cesare wines. The 2019 Pio Cesare Barolo (OB, 95) is very light on its feet and highly nuanced, with beautiful damp soil notes. This beauty really needs another year of bottle age. Learn more about this great historic house at https://www.piocesare.it/en/ and here are my reviews of the gorgeous new Pio Cesare wines.
2019 Pio Cesare Barbaresco- The 2019 Barbaresco by Pio Cesare offers tart cranberry notes alongside salty soils, dusty minerals and shades of orange blossom on the nose. The palate is very soft and refined with silky tannins that frame a core of pure red fruits, with bergamot and red rose water. This is really good right now but consider giving it an hour in the decanter before consuming. Drink 2023-2038- 94
2019 Pio Cesare Barolo- Really singing already at four years of age, the 2019 Pio Cesare Barolo is a gorgeous effort from this vintage. Intense Asian spices and potpourri notes flood the nose, with shades of kumquat zest and freshly tilled damp earth. The palate is plush and seamless with a very soft texture and glorious length. Firm tannins frame a core of wild strawberry, guava fruit and shades of tangerine peel. Really good now, try to give this at least another year to mature in the bottle. Drink 2024-2045- 95