“The Pio Cesare 2021 Langhe Chardonnay Piodilei is a terrific white wine, and honestly speaking, it's one of the most consistent expressions of the French grape made in Piedmont. Granted, the wine is out of context, considering the heavily red wine-focused identity of its surroundings, but it absolutely delivers on freshness of fruit, depth and carefully measured toasted oak nuances. This is your bottle when you need to break up all those delicious tastes of Barolo and Barbaresco.”

“The Pio Cesare 2019 Barolo Mosconi (with 6,685 bottles and larger formats on the market) offers the structure and length of Nebbiolo from Monforte d'Alba. You also get a salty mineral tone or rusty iron that frames a core of wild berry and blackcurrant. The Mosconi always appears very linear and direct to me, and that special sharpness is what I like best about this vintage.”

“Fruit for this wine comes from the Bricco di Treiso MGA and immediately shows more softness and textural definition. The 2019 Barbaresco Il Bricco is layered and rich with black fruit, spice, tar and a sweet hint of cinnamon. Il Bricco offers more overall power and structure for longer cellar aging. Pairing possibilities include wintery foods. Production is exactly 7,186 bottles, with larger formats as well.”

Fruit for this wine is sourced from an excellent site in Monforte d’Alba. The Pio Cesare 2021 Barbera d’Alba Superiore Vigna Mosconi Fides (with 9,924 bottles and 100 magnums on the market) is dark in color and rich and concentration. The wine offers a soft texture with plenty of dark fruit and blackberry. Those bleed nicely into sweet spice and light toast over a full-bodied finish.

“Pio Cesare does a great job with its classic 2019 Barolo (in production since 1881). The bottom of the front label reads "Barolo Pio" in memory of the legendary Pio Boffa. He was a wine entrepreneur who gained the immediate respect and love of all those who knew him. He passed away tragically during the COVID-19 pandemic just as the vaccines were being rolled out. This is a large production of about 70,000 bottles with fruit sourced from across seven vineyards in five villages. Despite those ambitious numbers, the wine remains strictly focused on bright Nebbiolo fruit with red cassis and aniseed. The finish is smooth with tannins that elegantly dissolve over the palate.”