Pio Cesare : Ornato 2018

Tasting Notes and Recommendations for the Ornato 2018 from Pio Cesare

Tasting

Color
The color reveals a garnet-red hue.

Nose
Complex, the nose unveils aromas of red fruits alongside spicy and balsamic notes.

Palate
On the palate, this wine captivates with its assertive structure and powerful yet elegant tannins. The finish stands out for its remarkable length.

Food and Wine Pairings

This Barolo is a perfect match for red meats, game, as well as aged cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

It is recommended to serve the Barolo "Ornato" 2018 at a temperature between 16 and 18°C.

A powerful, structured Barolo from Serralunga d'Alba

The estate

Founded in 1881 by Cesare Pio, the Pio Cesare House is among the most prestigious estates in Piedmont. Located in the heart of Alba, this family-owned property now spans around 80 hectares of vineyards spread across the Barolo and Barbaresco appellations. Since April 2021, Federica Boffa Pio has represented the fifth generation at the helm of the estate, resolutely carrying on the family legacy while bringing a contemporary vision. The House is internationally renowned for its outstanding wines that combine tradition and elegance, notably thanks to its single-vineyard cuvées sourced from the finest terroirs in the region.

The vineyard

The Barolo "Ornato" comes from the namesake vineyard located in Serralunga d'Alba, in the eastern part of the appellation. This parcel of around 16 hectares, of which Pio Cesare owns the majority, enjoys a due south to south-west exposure in an amphitheater-like formation. Rising to nearly 400 meters in altitude, the vineyard benefits from a particularly dry, warm microclimate. The limestone and clay soils give the wine its hallmark power and aromatic intensity.

The vintage

The 2018 year in Piedmont began with a rainy winter that helped replenish the soils’ water reserves after the 2017 drought. Spring was wet, with significant rainfall between late May and early June, creating notable fungal pressure in the vineyards. Summer then followed a classic pattern, with excellent conditions from July onward, fostering optimal phenolic ripeness. Nebbiolo harvest took place over the first three weeks of October in favorable conditions, yielding grapes at ideal ripeness with sufficient acidity to ensure excellent aging potential.

Winemaking and aging

Vinification of the Barolo "Ornato" 2018 is carried out in stainless-steel tanks with an extended maceration of around 30 days. The wine then undergoes aging for approximately 30 months, primarily in large oak casks, complemented by a period in barriques for part of the cuvée. This approach preserves the expression of the terroir while bringing structure and complexity to the wine.

Grape variety

100% Nebbiolo