No. 21 on The Enthusiast 100: The Best Wines of 2022.
‘Aromas of spicy red cherries on a loamy underlay, together with savory twists of forest floor and walnut shell. Some orange rind, too. Full-bodied with very fine, firm and silky tannins and lots of long, focused fruit and spice flavor. Good structure for 2018. Needs a year or two to fully knit together. Best from 2024.’ – James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, 94/100
‘30 months oak ageing with 90% in big botti and 10 in small oak. Some sappy hints here, and notes of iodine, blood, raspberries and cherries. Juicy but rounded with a seductive quality as well as a nice freshness. There’s a spicy, green hint to the red cherry fruit. Very fine.’ – Jamie Goode, Wineanorak, 94/100
‘The Barolo Pio is once again impressive in 2018. Deep, layered and so expressive, the 2018 offers uncommon elegance right out of the gate. Dark mentholated aromas and flavors are intriguing. In 2018, the Barolo Pio offers quite a bit of depth too, something that is rare, especially among wines at this level. All the elements are impeccably balanced throughout. This is a very fine vintage for the Pio.’ – Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 93/100
‘The 2018 Barolo opens to ripe aromas of dried plum and tobacco. This vintage lacks some of the complexity of a cooler growing season, but these results are far from monochromatic. Those tobacco aromas cede to cedar, earth, forest floor and hints of shaved truffle. 2024-2038’ – Monica Larner, Wine Advocate, 93/100
‘Described by Federica Boffa as a historic blend of grapes from Ornato, Briccolina, Lirano (Serralunga d'Alba), La Serra, Roncaglie (La Morra), Mosconi (Monforte d'Alba), Ravera (Novello), Gustava, Garetti (Grinzane Cavour), once purchased on the annual grape-market piazza in Alba until the estate bought plots in these vineyards in order to become autonomous in its grape supply. Lustrous mid ruby. Balsamic nose, slow to emerge from the glass. Hints of garden herbs, brooding cherry and cranberry. Still a little tight on the nose, but more approachable on the palate with ripe, supple fruit with plenty of stuffing without being heavy. Bags of grainy, tasty tannins and quite a firmly structured fruit-driven finish.’ – Jancis Robinson, 17/20
'Underbrush, hazelnut and new leather aromas come to the forefront along with a whiff of eucalyptus. Linear and already accessible, the palate offers toasted nut, dried cherry and licorice before a coffee close. Polished, refined tannins provide support. Drink through 2028.’ – Kerin O'Keefe, Wine Enthusiast
‘Aromas of spicy red cherries on a loamy underlay, together with savory twists of forest floor and walnut shell. Some orange rind, too. Full-bodied with very fine, firm and silky tannins and lots of long, focused fruit and spice flavor. Good structure for 2018. Needs a year or two to fully knit together. Best from 2024.’ – James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, 94/100
‘30 months oak ageing with 90% in big botti and 10 in small oak. Some sappy hints here, and notes of iodine, blood, raspberries and cherries. Juicy but rounded with a seductive quality as well as a nice freshness. There’s a spicy, green hint to the red cherry fruit. Very fine.’ – Jamie Goode, Wineanorak, 94/100
‘The Barolo Pio is once again impressive in 2018. Deep, layered and so expressive, the 2018 offers uncommon elegance right out of the gate. Dark mentholated aromas and flavors are intriguing. In 2018, the Barolo Pio offers quite a bit of depth too, something that is rare, especially among wines at this level. All the elements are impeccably balanced throughout. This is a very fine vintage for the Pio.’ – Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 93/100
‘The 2018 Barolo opens to ripe aromas of dried plum and tobacco. This vintage lacks some of the complexity of a cooler growing season, but these results are far from monochromatic. Those tobacco aromas cede to cedar, earth, forest floor and hints of shaved truffle. 2024-2038’ – Monica Larner, Wine Advocate, 93/100
‘Described by Federica Boffa as a historic blend of grapes from Ornato, Briccolina, Lirano (Serralunga d'Alba), La Serra, Roncaglie (La Morra), Mosconi (Monforte d'Alba), Ravera (Novello), Gustava, Garetti (Grinzane Cavour), once purchased on the annual grape-market piazza in Alba until the estate bought plots in these vineyards in order to become autonomous in its grape supply. Lustrous mid ruby. Balsamic nose, slow to emerge from the glass. Hints of garden herbs, brooding cherry and cranberry. Still a little tight on the nose, but more approachable on the palate with ripe, supple fruit with plenty of stuffing without being heavy. Bags of grainy, tasty tannins and quite a firmly structured fruit-driven finish.’ – Jancis Robinson, 17/20
'Underbrush, hazelnut and new leather aromas come to the forefront along with a whiff of eucalyptus. Linear and already accessible, the palate offers toasted nut, dried cherry and licorice before a coffee close. Polished, refined tannins provide support. Drink through 2028.’ – Kerin O'Keefe, Wine Enthusiast
| Condition | New |
|---|---|
| Winemaker | Paolo Fenocchio |
| Alcohol | 14.5% |
| Body | Full-bodied |
| Blend information | 100% Nebbiolo |
| Drink to | Drink or cellar |
| Variety | Nebbiolo |
| Rating | JS 94 |
| Producer information | The historic family-owned Pio Cesare estate has been producing wine for 135 years, through 5 generations, in their ancient cellars in Alba. The cellars are built on the city’s 2,000-year-old ancient Roman walls. The family owns 70 hectares of vineyards, featuring high-quality hillside exposures, with parcels dotted around multiple communes of Barolo and Barbaresco. A visionary for quality, the late Pio Boffa transformed the company during his four decades as the head of the family business. Known to travel 200 days of the year, Pio was a global standard-bearer for Piedmont's wines. ‘I will carry on his legacy now with even more strength and energy and commitment,’ his daughter Federica Boffa promises. |
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INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING:
We use a third party courier for international shipping. Please contact info@winecellar.co.za for the rates and delivery options.
FREE SHIPPING:
Available on all orders over R1,500, excluding event tickets. The expected delivery times are the same as 'Standard door-to-door' below.
STANDARD DOOR-TO-DOOR:
Shipping fees are calculated on the delivery ‘street code’ provided during checkout.
- Cape Town & surrounds: 1 – 2 working days
- Joburg, Pretoria, PE & Bloemfontein: 3 – 4 working days
- Durban & regional areas: 4 – 5 working days
COLLECTION (Cape Town only):
Orders are available for free collection at our Cape Town office only. You will be notified as soon as your order is ready for collection.
CELLARING:
Wine Cellar offers professional wine storage at our premises in Cape Town. If you are not an existing cellaring client, please view our rates and set up an account by visiting our cellaring page.
JOHANNESBURG ONR:
For this special overnight road service, orders must be placed before 13h00 SAST. The order will be delivered by the close of business the following working day.
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING:
We use a third party courier for international shipping. Please contact info@winecellar.co.za for the rates and delivery options.
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