Intense aromas of oyster shell and dark fruit, such as black cherries and blackberries, together with some black olives, dark mushrooms and just a touch of clove. It’s medium- to full-bodied with linear and long tannins and a powerful finish. Yet, it’s polished and refined at the same time. Needs time to open, but there’s so much going on here. March 2025 release. Drink after 2028.

With fruit from Serralunga d'Alba, The Pio Cesare 2021 Barolo Ornato is deeper, darker and more powerful than the Mosconi. This wine shows aromas of blackberry and plum with smoky cigar, campfire ash and toasted spice. The texture is rich and all-encompassing. The wine shows good structure and freshness to close.

With fruit from the village of Treiso, the Pio Cesare 2021 Barbaresco Il Bricco has a defined mineral character of dusty chalk that lifts up above blackberry and dried blueberry. There are background hints of lilac, dried iris root, mint and garden herb. What sets this wine apart, however, are those elegantly chalky mineral nuances that sit nicely against powdery tannins.

The Pio Cesare 2021 Barbaresco presents a solid core of dark fruit, cherry and redcurrant, with spice and dried rose petal elegantly layered in at the back. This wine paints an accurate picture of a classic vintage with nicely ripened fruit and firm tannins. It sees 30 months in oak, mostly in large oak casks and some neutral barrique.

The Pio Cesare 2021 Barolo draws fruit from various sites, and like the Barbaresco, you get an excellent portrait of the vintage with balanced acidity, firm tannins and bright primary fruit. There is energy and vitality in this pretty Barolo with dried cherry, iris and subtle dustings of iron ore or rust.