This wine represents a blend of Nebbiolo from Serralunga d’Alba (Ornato, La Serra and Briccolina), Grinzane Cavour (Gustava and Garretti), La Morra (Roncaglie), Novello (Ravera) and, more recently, Monforte d'Alba (Mosconi). The Pio Cesare 2020 Barolo has an approachable style for sure, with classic Nebbiolo tones of berry fruit, orange peel and licorice. It reveals an integrated and silky personality and tannins that feel very inviting for near and medium-term drinking. This is an ample release of 70,000 bottles.

This wine celebrates its 30th anniversary (1990–2020). With fruit from 40-year-old vines, the Pio Cesare 2020 Barbaresco Il Bricco is a production of 6,930 bottles plus magnums. This vintage reveals elegant aromas and nicely concentrated fruit that is embroidered with spice, dark plum and hints of nutmeg. Fruit from both sides of the Il Bricco vineyard are used. The vineyard tops out at 410 meters above sea level, and this land was purchased in 1972.

With fruit from Montforte d'Alba, the Pio Cesare 2020 Barolo Mosconi was first produced in 2015. Although the winery team has more than five years of experience with Mosconi, Cesare Benvenuto tells me that there was a steep learning curve with this wine. Mosconi is 300 meters removed from Ornato; however, the results are quite different, especially in terms of the mouthfeel. Mosconi shows silky or velvety tannins, and Ornato is more structured. This wine is lifted in terms of aromas, with bright raspberry and blue flowers. It reveals an open but translucent quality that gives this Barolo an especially elegant and undertone personality. Production is 6,900 bottles.

Picolit, a grape native to Italy's northeastern Friuli region, is named for its inability to fully pollinate, forming only small (piccolo) bunches of concentrated white grapes. So these grapes are designated to only passito-style sweet wines. Wines made from Picolit are considered "vino da meditazione," wines not for food, but to drink and contemplate due to their complexity. And Livio Felluga knows how to coax out said complexity so well. This wine is only made in the best years, and 2017 was one of them. It has a subtle nose with hints of caramel and lemon oil. The palate is soft and viscous with just the right amount of acidity. The balance is amazing.

The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino has a deep brick red color and is ripe with aromas of black cherries, tarry earth, rosemary, lavender, and sweet tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, it saturates the palate with ripe tannins, savory notes of tea leaf, even acidity, and a very well-balanced finish. It boasts a good deal of depth and is going to offer a wide window for enjoyment over the coming 12-15 years.