Pio Cesare Piodilei Langhe Chardonnay D.O.C. 2021
Pio Cesare have been making wines in their ancient cellars in central Alba for 141 years, from their vineyards based primarily in Barolo and Barbaresco. Today, fifth generation Federica Boffa with her cousin Cesare Benvenuto lead this prestigious estate, after the untimely passing of Pio Boffa in 2021 after 40 years as the face of Pio Cesare.
The Pio Cesare family’s unique winemaking method stresses minimal intervention to produce wines of particularly supple flavour 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.
The fruit for the Pio Cesare Piodilei Langhe Chardonnay D.O.C. is sourced from family-owned vineyards in the Mosconi vineyard in Monforte d’Alba. Since the 1985 vintage, it represents our desire to produce a white wine with the same body, complexity and ageing potential of the great reds historically produced in the area. The grapes are picked in small baskets, then softly pressed at low temperature. The fermentation starts in stainless steel tanks and then finished in French oak barriques, 30% new oak, for 8 months with extensive lees contact.
Spicy, creamy and intense with a soft but long aftertaste. Sweet fruit, hot and ripe, still very fresh with an elegant touch of oak. Long life. Produced in very small quantity.
Love the aromas of cooked apples with nougat, honeysuckle and hints of wood. Full-bodied and very flavourful with a phenolic tension and focus that runs through the wine. Hints of pie crust and vanilla bean with crushed stone. Drink now or hold. - James Suckling, 95 Points.
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. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com, 93+ Points.
The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Chardonnay
Country - Italy
Region - Barolo, Piedmont
Vintage - 2021
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 14%