Pio Cesare Barolo Mosconi DOCG
Piemonte, Italy
Vintage:2017 (Past)
2018 (Past) | 2019 (Current) | 2020 (Pending)
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Reviews
Wine Spectator 94 Points
“Bright cherry and currant flavors are matched to savory notes of eucalyptus, juniper and rosemary in this intense red, with an underlying mineral streak. Overall, this is balanced and long. Best from 2024 through 2043.”
Wine Enthusiast 96 Points
“Aromas of underbrush, camphor, purple flower and forest berry slowly take shape in this classy, full-bodied red. It combines structure and finesse, featuring crushed raspberry, juicy Marasca cherry, tobacco and baking spice framed in taut, elegant tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it nicely balanced.”
The Wine Advocate 95 Points
“Now in its third vintage, this is the newest member of the extended Pio Cesare family. With fruit from the village of Monforte d'Alba, the 2017 Barolo Mosconi hits that sweet spot somewhere on the continuum between elegance and power. Perhaps this hot vintage (and its 14.5% alcohol content) inches a little closer to the side of power, but it does so in a most understated and graceful manner. The wine shows the freshness and lifted fruit that is normally associated with this special vineyard site.”
Decanter 95 Points
“Mosconi is an MGA that is often picked late and so could possibly have benefited from the warm and dry 2017 vintage. This example from Pio Cesare is focused on elegance with lifted, concentrated aromas and flavours of orange peel, strawberry jam, rose and a touch of smoke, which all become intoxicating on the palate. This great intensity and concentration are supported by firm, muscular tannins and an assertive finish, combined with crisp acidity. Rarely in this 2017 vintage do we find this combination of fruit weight and strength of structure.”
JamesSuckling.com 98 Points
“Subtle aromas of crushed stone and cherry with dried strawberry and white truffle, following through to a full body. Yet it is tight and very tannic with a fine-grained texture and a long, intense finish. A superb combination of structure and finesse. Very typical for Mosconi and the Ginestre area. Exceptional. Try after 2026.”
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.
Mosconi is thought to be one of the true “grand crus” of the commune of Monforte d’Alba, itself one the most prestigious areas within Barolo. Its soils and microclimates allow Nebbiolo to grow exceptionally well and produce styles of Barolo with great structure, incredibly unique and distinctive aromas, and big opulent tannins that are accessible and ripen, silky and rich.
Winemaking
This is a single-vineyard Barolo from grapes sourced from the oldest Nebbiolo vines (1945 and 1971) in the family's famous Mosconi vineyard in Monforte d’Alba.
The grapes are softly crushed and destemmed at the winery's ancient cellars in the center of Alba. Fermented in two stainless steel tanks for ten days: the skin cap, frequently punched down, reached a maximum temperature of 86°F. Maceration on the skins for over 30 days.
Harvest Notes
2017 was an exceptional vintage in the Langhe area producing high quality Barolo of great elegance, concentration, power, structure and aging potential. Unlike other great Italian grape varieties, Nebbiolo is characterized by very long roots that grow deep in the powerful limestone and clay soils of our region (especially in the village of Serralunga and Monforte), reaching the moisture and the water reservoirs, resisting the heat in a magnificent way. Therefore, the Nebbiolo vines in 2017 grew without any stress despite the hot climate, reaching a more complete ripening with rounder and softer tannins, producing more approachable wines.
Technical Information
Varietals: 100% Nebbiolo