PIO CESARE

PIEDMONT, ITALY 2015

Calling all “old friends” of Nebbiolo! For more than 135 years, Pio Cesare has been producing quality wines from their winery in Alba, the main town that separates Barolo and Barbaresco; the wines are consistently noted for their “incredible freshness allied to an old-school cedar, tobacco and earthy savouriness” (JB, Decanter). But fourth-generation proprietor Pio Boffa is never one to rest on his laurels: he continues to elevate the Pio Cesare name with each passing year and the 2015 releases are already dazzling the critics and receiving outstanding scores. Boffa says “2015 is for the old friends of Nebbiolo, the real lovers of the genes of what Nebbiolos are. 2016 is phenomenal, but it is […] more concentrated; it’s less Nebbiolo in style. 2015 is more for people like you and me that want something gripping and want something with acidity and tension.” Historically, the climate has dictated that the house blend wines from different vineyard holdings across the region to produce its Barolo and Barbaresco bottlings, but warming weather patterns over the years have allowed the house to focus on single-vineyard marques as well. We’re offering this thrilling lineup of Pio Cesare 2015 Barbarescos and Barolos today, including the first-ever (!) release of Mosconi, a single-vineyard Barolo that James Suckling awarded 98 points and calls “a triumph.” 

In December 2014, Boffa acquired the Mosconi vineyard, a 23-acre site in the Monforte cru. Originally the fruit from this site was intended to be part of the flagship Barolo, but head winemaker Paolo Fenocchio recognized the potential of the terroir and decided to bottle as a single vineyard. The house also produces Ornato, another single-vineyard Barolo, but the two are quite different stylistically: Mosconi is a bit more elegant and higher-toned than the powerful, dense Ornato, but both have the characteristic freshness and earthy savoriness associated with the Pio Cesare style. While Ornato has been produced since 1985 and continues to garner critic recognition, this is an exciting opportunity to collect the very first vintage of Mosconi. While we, and the wine community at large, are justifiably excited about the release of Mosconi, Ornato, and single-vineyard Il Bricco Barbaresco, winemaking excellence really is the common thread among all the 2015 wines, thanks to a winemaking team that applies the same meticulous attention to detail to each wine in the portfolio. Take advantage of this opportunity to be a part of the Pio Cesare story! We’re offering special Mix & Match pricing on these collectible, world-class wines for one week only.