Pio Cesare Barbera d’Alba DOC
Piemonte, Italy
Vintage:2019 (Past)
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Reviews
Wine Spectator
92 Points, Smart Values
December 15, 2021, Bruce Sanderson
“This is bright and focused, exuding blackberry, black cherry and violet flavors. Balanced and firm on the long, fruit- and earth-tinged aftertaste. Drink now through 2025.”
The Wine Advocate
90 Points
June 17, 2021, Monica Larner
“The Pio Cesare 2019 Barbera d'Alba delivers nice richness and concentration, with fresh blueberry, blackberry and plum. I love that the Barbera grape can bring about all that black fruit intensity without feeling too heavy or concentrated. Indeed, this wine is remembered for its freshness above all else and its food-friendly versatility.”
Overview
The Pio Cesare family’s unique winemaking method stresses minimal intervention to produce wines of particularly supple flavor expression. A ceaseless devotion to the individuality of each of the region’s wines informs Pio Cesare's choices in the cellar: shorter maceration, separate lot fermentation, judicious selection for barrel and large cask aging, and bottling schedules determined by the ideal structure of each wine. This allows Pio Cesare to craft wines of varying weight, ageability and drinkability as determined by the vineyard rather than market fashion.
Year after year, the wines of Pio Cesare are recognized for their consistency and regional expression. From world-class Barolo and Barbaresco to crisp Cortese and sweet Moscato, the wines of Pio Cesare offer exceptional quality and variety.
Winemaking
The grapes for the Barbera d’Alba come from the family-owned vineyards in Serraluga d’Alba (Ornato and Colombaro), in Sinio, Diano d’Alba and Grinzane Cavour. There are 15 days of skin contact in stainless steel temperature-controlled fermenters. The wine is aged for 18 months in French Allier oak, 30 percent in mid-toasted barriques that are half new and half one year old. The remaining 70 percent were aged in 20 to 50 hectoliter casks of Allier oak that are about eight years old.
Tasting Notes
The Barbera grapes grown in the Barolo area give full structure, plummy and complex flavor, with spicy and ripe fruit, blackberry aroma and a hint of toasted tobacco. It ages quite well. Vinous, this classic Barbera has a very well balanced acidity and really represents the traditional character of the Barbera grape.
Technical Information
Varietals: 100% Barbera
Aging: 18 months in French oak, 30% mid-toasted barriques, 70% 20-50 hectoliter casks