Pio Cesare Masterclass Tasting

Masterclass tasting as part of the annual Rheingau Gourmet & Wein Festival in Hattenheim-Eltville am Rhein. The wines are listed in the order they were served.

• 2022 Pio Cesare Langhe Chardonnay Piodilei 93 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Pale straw yellow colour. White and yellow fruits in the bouquet initially, lemon and peach, followed by floral notes, white blossoms. Strong but extremely well-integrated secondary aromas: This is buttery, with some nuts in it, then there is brioche, lightly toasted. Gains intensity and complexity with time in the glass to arrive at reductive notes of flint stone. On the palate, medium-bodied with medium acidity. Fresh on first taste, not heavy, but never thin either. Superb balance. Lemon, ripe peach, pineapple, with a creamy mouthfeel. Complex, deep, excellent. Read more.

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• 2020 Pio Cesare Barolo Pio 88 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Pale ruby colour. Ripe red fruit on the bouquet, although a little restrained at first. Red cherry, red plum, with earthy notes and tar. On the palate, quite tannic without being harsh. Still young, obviously. Ripe red cherry and plum again on the taste, a little rose hip. This wine needed some time to open up, but I never felt it fully revealed itself. Became softer with time in the glass. The fruit never shone through the compact structure of this wine. This will clearly need further ageing and will hopefully show more in the future. Read more.

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• 2020 Pio Cesare Barbaresco Pio 88 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  Light ruby colour. Some red fruit and roses in the bouquet. Bright, fragrant and elegant compared to the more powerful Barolo Pio. Medium intensity. Feels a bit more accessible at this stage. Young as it is, it is still astringent in the mouth. The cherry, strawberry and raspberry fruit comes through, however. Good length. Will benefit from further ageing in the bottle but will also be approachable earlier than the Barolo. Read more.

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• 2016 Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato 94 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Medium ruby colour. Typical Nebbiolo red fruit aromas: Red cherry, redcurrant, strawberry. Really quite deep and floral, too, with rose petals and violets. Not so much in terms of earth and leather just yet, this is still relatively young. A big step up from the classic "Pio" Barolo. On the palate, full-bodied and very tannic with good acidity behind. It really pushes forward with intensity now. Brilliant red fruit, but with a salty and chalky taste. Pretty mineral. Long finish. This is a wine for the ages. Still far too young to show its full potential. Read more.

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• 2017 Pio Cesare Barolo Vigna Mosconi 90 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Light ruby colour. The bouquet is less powerful than that of the Ornato but more refined and elegant. Brilliant red cherry, red berries and juicy plum. Some wet stones. Still high in tannins, but the tannins have integrated and the wine appears quite approachable today. First hints of leather. Solid length. Very good. Read more.

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• 2015 Pio Cesare Barolo 89 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Ruby red, some brick red towards the rim. Attractive cherry fruit on the nose, more earthy and leathery by now. Though not evolved. Some tar. Medium-bodied and still quite tannic on the palate. Pretty fruit, not much depth and complexity. Very good, but I wouldn't necessarily keep this wine that much longer. Read more.

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• NV Pio Cesare Alba Vermouth di Torrino 95 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba

  Deep golden yellow to amber colour. Aromas of orange peel, blood orange, herbs and some medicinal notes. Really attractive and inviting overall. The aromas are largely confirmed on the taste, with additional notes of honey and candied oranges. Slightly bitter finish. This is both fun and complex, and a wonderful aperitif! Read more.

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As you can probably tell from my notes, I was particularly impressed with their Piodilei Chardonnay, perhaps even more so than with their Nebbiolos. For their Barolos, I really liked the single-vineyard Ornato, which is in a good spot now but will certainly benefit from more ageing. While I thought the rating of the Vermouth might have been a bit generous, if I look back at the wine as objectively as possible, it really offers everything you'd expect from a wine with a 95+ rating: Balance, intensity, length, and complexity. So a deserved rating, I guess.