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.

This wine is a single-vineyard Barbaresco using very ripe grapes from several plots in the famous Il Bricco estate owned by the Pio Cesare family. While soils in surrounding villages are sandy, the Il Bricco vineyard is primarily composed of limestone and clay. In the Piemontese dialect, Il Bricco translates to "peak of the hill." Reaching 400 meters above sea level, this estate is characterized by cool weather and important diurnal swings—both favorable conditions for the ripening of the Nebbiolo grape. 

Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, with 15 days of skin contact. This wine ages in French oak for 30 months: 70 percent in new barriques and 30 percent in 20-hectoliter casks. It is produced in small quantities and only in excellent vintages.

A traditional vintage delivering fresh fruits and beautiful aromas, with great structure and complexity, intense color and a balanced acidity, already approachable with its gentle tannins—all the classic components of the great vintages of Barbaresco.

2021 was a "later" harvest characterized by a long and cold winter, rich in abundant snow and rainfall which provided an excellent initial water supply to our soils, very precious to face the following months. The bud sprouting of Nebbiolo started towards the end of March, almost 15 days later than the previous year. Even though the delay characterized the entire season, until harvest time, the vegetative cycle of Nebbiolo was consistent and without any sudden excesses, thanks to the very constant temperatures. The vines could grow without any stress, reaching excellent quality and quantity levels.

With the precious expertise of the vineyard team, the Nebbiolo harvest in the Barbaresco region was completed between October 7th and 10th.

While revealing a terrific ageing potential, 2021 vintage enchants with a perfect balance between power and complexity, guaranteed by the family's unique terroirs especially in more traditional vintages, and elegance and finesse, the result of a stylistic refinement after many years of experience with the changing climate.