Pio Cesare : Barolo "Mosconi" 2021

Tasting Characteristics and Serving Suggestions for Pio Cesare Barolo "Mosconi" 2021

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a bright, dense, luminous garnet-ruby hue, with slight brick highlights at the rim, typical of a young, concentrated nebbiolo.

Nose

The bouquet reveals great aromatic complexity, expressing intense floral notes of violet and rose, accompanied by ripe red fruits such as cherry and raspberry. Spicy nuances of sandalwood and cedar enrich the ensemble, while mineral and earthy touches add depth and character.

Palate

On the palate, the wine charms with its elegance and silky structure. The tannins, firm yet refined, envelop flavors of red fruits and plum, supported by a bright acidity that brings freshness and balance. The velvety texture gives way to a long, persistent finish, revealing savory hints of spice and a subtle saline minerality.

Food and wine pairings

This Barolo "Mosconi" 2021 is a magnificent match for braised red meats, game, and dishes featuring Alba white truffles. It also pairs well with aged cheeses such as pecorino or Parmigiano-Reggiano, as well as mushroom risotto.

Serving and cellaring

It is recommended to serve this Barolo "Mosconi" 2021 at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. Decanting for one hour helps aerate the wine and fully reveal its aromatic range. This wine can be enjoyed now for its finesse, but it also has cellaring potential through around 2050.

A Piedmont Barolo combining power and elegance from the Mosconi cru

The estate

Founded in 1881 by Cesare Pio, the Pio Cesare House today represents five generations of passionate winegrowers in Piedmont. Based in the heart of Alba in historic cellars built on ancient Roman foundations, the estate has cultivated 80 hectares of estate-owned vineyards since 2015. Currently led by Federica Boffa Pio, who embodies the fifth generation alongside her cousin Cesare Benvenuto, the House continues a philosophy of minimal intervention in the vineyard and cellar to express the authenticity of each terroir. Internationally recognized for the consistent quality of its Barolo and Barbaresco, Pio Cesare remains an essential benchmark for the wines of Piedmont.

The vineyard

The Barolo "Mosconi" 2021 comes from the prestigious Mosconi cru located in Monforte d'Alba, acquired by the family in 2014. This exceptional vineyard lies at 390 meters above sea level, benefiting from an ideal south to south-west exposure. The limestone and marl soils, rich in calcium carbonate and iron, give the wine its distinctive minerality and remarkable structure. The grapes come exclusively from the oldest vines in the parcel, planted in 1947 and 1971, whose naturally low yields concentrate aromas and ensure outstanding quality. The Mosconi terroir produces Barolo of great structure, with opulent tannins and unique aromas.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage is part of an exceptional trilogy alongside 2019 and 2020. The year begins with a long, cold winter with abundant snowfall and rain, building essential water reserves. A cool, dry spring delays the growing cycle, limiting the impact of an April frost that occurred at the start of flowering. Frequent rainfall in early summer, without hail, keeps temperatures moderate and vine growth steady. From mid-July onward, temperatures rise with peaks of 38°C in August, but only for short periods, enabling early veraison and balanced ripening. September brings a significant drop in temperatures, followed by a dry, sunny October with excellent diurnal temperature variation, leading to a perfectly controlled harvest for nebbiolo, picked later than in 2020.

Winemaking and aging

After a meticulous hand harvest, the grapes for Barolo "Mosconi" 2021 are gently crushed and destemmed in the historic cellars of Alba. Fermentation takes place in stainless-steel tanks for ten days at a maximum temperature of 30°C, with frequent punch-downs to extract color and tannins while preserving suppleness. Maceration continues for more than thirty days for complete extraction of phenolic compounds. The wine is then aged for around thirty months in large French and Eastern European oak casks, complemented by a small proportion of French barriques. Additional bottle aging before release harmonizes the whole and increases the accessibility of this Italian wine.

Grape variety

100% nebbiolo