Pio Cesare : Ornato 2014

Characteristics and tasting advice for Pio Cesare’s Ornato 2014

Tasting

Appearance
The color reveals a deep garnet hue with ruby highlights, gradually evolving toward the orange-tinged nuances typical of a Barolo that has benefited from bottle aging.

Nose
Intense and fragrant, the nose reveals aromas of ripe raspberry and redcurrant, complemented by delicate notes of rose petals. With aeration, the bouquet becomes more complex, unveiling floral scents of violet and wildflowers, enriched by mineral and tertiary nuances reminiscent of tar, leather, dried herbs, tobacco, truffle, and anise. Spicy touches of cardamom, oregano, cumin, and red pepper complete this remarkably concentrated aromatic palette.

Palate
The palate offers a medium-to-full body with intense concentration and a refined structure. The tannins, ripe and polished, display a finely grained texture that reflects the quality of the fruit and the care taken during vinification. The palate unfolds flavors of ripe cherry, plum, blackberry, and red and black fruits, harmoniously interwoven with earthy, mineral, and woody notes. The acidity brings essential freshness, lending tension and vibrancy to the whole. The finish, exceptionally long and complex, sees the floral and mineral notes gain intensity as the fruit gradually fades. The remarkable balance between power and elegance defines this wine, both approachable and endowed with considerable aging potential.

Food and wine pairings

This Barolo pairs perfectly with traditional Piedmontese dishes such as brasato al barolo (Barolo-braised meat), Alba white truffle-based dishes like tajarin with butter and truffles, or truffle fonduta. It also pairs beautifully with roasted or grilled red meats, game, wild boar, venison, and duck. Aged blue-veined cheeses such as Castelmagno or Gorgonzola also make excellent matches.

Serving and cellaring

It is recommended to serve Ornato 2014 at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. Decanting for about sixty to ninety minutes before serving allows the wine to fully open up and helps separate any sediment. This wine can be enjoyed through around 2035.

A powerful and elegant Italian Barolo from Serralunga d'Alba in Piedmont

The estate

Founded in 1881 by Cesare Pio, the Pio Cesare House ranks among Piedmont’s most prestigious producers. Based in Alba, it now owns a vineyard of around eighty hectares spread across the finest terroirs of Barolo and Barbaresco. Since 2021, Federica Boffa Pio, representing the fifth family generation, has been leading the estate alongside her cousin Cesare Benvenuto. The House stands out for its minimal-intervention winemaking philosophy and its commitment to sustainable viticulture, thus perpetuating know-how passed down for nearly 145 years. Internationally renowned, Pio Cesare exports its wines to more than fifty countries.

The vineyard

The Ornato vineyard lies in Serralunga d'Alba, a village renowned for producing the most powerful and structured Barolos of the appellation. Forming a south to south-southwest-facing amphitheater, this plot benefits from optimal sunshine from morning through late afternoon. Situated at around four hundred meters above sea level, the vineyard enjoys a dry, warm microclimate that promotes phenolic ripening. The soils, composed of limestone, clay, and quartz sand, compact and low in fertility, force Nebbiolo roots to grow deep to draw water and minerals, concentrating the aromas and giving the wine structure and outstanding aging potential.

The vintage

The 2014 vintage in Piedmont was marked by particularly favorable weather conditions. After abundant rainfall through mid-August, the region benefited from a prolonged spell of dry, warm weather with significant day-to-night temperature swings. This weather pattern proved ideal for Nebbiolo ripening, allowing optimal phenolic development while preserving the acidity and freshness essential to the wine’s balance. South-facing vineyards such as Ornato especially benefited from these conditions, producing concentrated, fruity, intensely colored wines while retaining elegance, energy, and perfect balance between acidity and structure.

Winemaking and aging

The Ornato 2014 grapes were hand-harvested at optimal physiological ripeness. After pressing, fermentation took place in stainless-steel tanks with maceration lasting around fifteen days. The wine was then aged for thirty-six months in medium-toast French oak barrels, evenly split between new barriques and French and Eastern European oak casks. This extended aging period was followed by significant bottle aging prior to release, allowing the wine to integrate its various components harmoniously.

Grape variety

100% Nebbiolo