2004 is one of the rare vintages when Pio Cesare’s traditional cuvée Barolo overshadowed the cru Ornato. This wine explodes from the glass with a hedonistic nose; blue and red fruit, roasted game, umami, warm saddle leather, violets and spice all make appearances. Succulent and velvety, this ’04 Barolo wraps the palate with a caressing mouth-feel, and the wine builds to a crescendo of fine-grained tannins. Deriving from portions of Cesare’s Ornato vineyard as well as grapes sourced from plots in La Morra, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga, Novello and Grinzane Cavour, this wine ages in both cask and barrel for a total of three years before release.
- Country: Italy
- Region: Piemonte
- Sub Region/Classification: Barolo
- Commune/Village: Serralunga d'Alba
The name Pio Cesare has been synonymous with top quality Barolo made in a staunchly traditional style. Throughout the years, each generation has maintained exacting standards, and the estate’s current owner, Pio Boffa, retains the family’s traditionalist bent. He applies a philosophy that mandates the least intervention in his winemaking practice, exposing the fruit to long macerations and aging in Slovenian oak. Moreover, Boffa believes in the value of blending. Because each site imparts a distinct character to its wines, he feels that the most complete, balanced wines are composites of these distinct personalities; however, Cesare’s single-vineyard bottlings, both Barolo and Barbaresco, are nonetheless special, embodying their terroir with precision and focus.
|
