Pio Cesare Barolo Oranto Docg 2020

Winery Background and History

Founded in 1881 in Alba, Piedmont, Bottega Pio Cesare is a prestigious, family-run estate renowned for masterfully combining Piedmontese tradition with refined French winemaking techniques. Their Barolo Ornato—introduced in 1985 as the estate’s inaugural single-vineyard bottling—embodies terroir specificity, showcasing power, structure, and remarkable longevity, solidifying their legacy among Piedmont’s elite producers  .

Producer and Wine Maker

Crafted by Pio Cesare’s expert winemaking team, led by the Boffa family and oenologist Paolo Fenocchio, this bottling benefits from generations of precise vineyard selection, minimal intervention, and balanced oak aging. The result is a wine of concentration, sophistication, and fidelity to varietal and site expression  .

Vineyards and Micro Climate

The Nebbiolo grapes are sourced from three select plots within Cascina Ornato in Serralunga d’Alba—one of Barolo’s most esteemed crus. Here, limestone-clay soils, high elevation, and diurnal temperature shifts promote ripeness, freshness, and structural finesse  .

Vinification & Aging Methods

Fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks with 30 days of skin maceration. Aging lasts approximately 30 months, primarily in large oak barrels (“botti”) and a smaller portion in French oak barriques, blending textural depth with refined structure  .

Tasting Notes

This wine boasts ripe dark fruit, tobacco, and rich red cherry aromas. The palate is concentrated and structured with firm yet polished tannins, nuanced by tobacco and savory depth. Energetic and balanced, it offers both power and elegance—a youthful but promising Barolo  .

Food & Wine Pairing

Best enjoyed with truffle risotto, roasted lamb, braised meats, and aged cheeses. Its complexity and structure also pair beautifully with Piemontese classics and savory-rich dishes  .

Service Methods and Temperatures

Serve at around 18–20 °C in a wide Bordeaux-style red glass. Decanting for 30 minutes is recommended to open the aromatic profile and soften the firm tannins  .

Storage and Aging Potential

This wine is built for long-term cellaring and has the potential to evolve gracefully over 15 to 20+ years, gradually revealing tertiary notes like earth, spice, and forest floor while retaining its structural integrity  .

Grape Varietals & percentage used

100% Nebbiolo  .

ABV (Alcohol by Volume)

14.5%  .

Scores

James Suckling: 98 points

Decanter: 96 points

Wine Enthusiast: 95 points

Wine Spectator: 95 points

Wine Advocate (Robert Parker): 95 points