Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato DOCG

Description

Pio Cesare Ornato Barolo is a single-vineyard Barolo made from grapes sourced from three different plots of the famous family-owned Ornato Estate in Serralunga d’Alba, one of the top vineyards in the whole Barolo area. The first Barolo Ornato was produced in 1985. Since then, it has only been produced in outstanding years.

Pio Cesare, a Piedmont Legend Since 1881

Pio Cesare is a historic family-owned estate named after its founder, Cesare Pio, who established the business in 1881. It is based in Alba in the heart of the Piemonte region, nestled between the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea. The surrounding hills offer a handful of ideal exposures for grape growing, with unique microclimates. The confluence of cold Alpine air with warm maritime moisture regularly creates a misty glow, or “nebbia”, over these foothills, hence Nebbiolo, the great red variety of the region.

Pioneering Barolo Exporters

Pio Cesare was one of the first Italian wine producers to export Barolo to the UK in the 1950s, playing a significant role in popularising Barolo as a high-quality wine. Today, the company is run by Cesare’s great-grandson, Pio Boffa, who continues to combine tradition and innovation to highly acclaimed, high-quality Piedmontese wines. It was Pio Boffa who introduced the limited range of single vineyard wines that includes Barolo Ornato, Barbaresco Il Bricco, Barbera Fides and Piodilei Chardonnay.

Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato Vineyard

Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato is a more modern style than their traditional Barolo, but still true to its roots. The grapes for this wine come from a small selection of “nebbioli” from Cesare’s family-owned vineyards in Cascina Ornato. The characteristics of the soil, the microclimate and favourable exposure allow the grapes to become extremely rich. Fermentation at a slightly higher temperature, together with skin maceration for 15 days, produces a wine with great soft tannins.

Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato Winemaking

• Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato is made from 100% Nebbiolo grapes.
• Grapes are hand-picked.
• After pressing, grapes are fermented in stainless steel tanks with skin contact for 15 days.
• The wine is aged for approximately 30 months:
  • Primarily in large oak “botti.”
  • A small portion is aged in French oak barriques for the first 12 months.