Pio Cesare

Barolo Nebbiolo

9.1170 ratings
9.124 pro ratings
Barolo, Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy
Nebbiolo
Lamb, Goose, Potato, Baking Spices, Beans & Peas, Hard Cheese, Turkey, Beef, Pasta, Salami & Prosciutto, Tomato-Based, Soft Cheese, Chicken, Veal, White Rice, Herbs, Mushrooms, Pungent Cheese, Pork, Game, Exotic Spices, Chili & Hot Spicy, Duck, Onion, Shallot, Garlic
Top Notes For
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

2010 a strong vintage & still accending. Costco Ribcap vs Allen Brothers.

Sofia & I stayed in downtown Alba in 2015. Arrived early evening & sadly after their big wine festival. Pio Cesare was around the corner and down two blocks from our hotel. Historic as hell.

I bought this at Costco for around $49.

Nebbiolo young is a huge tarry grape. The Italian’s ferment this with a lot of new wood. They actually hold Nebbiolo/Barolo in bottle and extra year or more before release. Also, longer than most other world regions based largely on the grape & even more their wood use.

This is drinking nicely after a four hour decant, but it is still ascending and another 10-15 years of good drinking ahead…properly stored.

Even with this age, its tarriness is the first descriptor. Followed by heated dark spices, slightly, dry b lackberries, dry, slight tart, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, some strawberries, tea leaves, black licorice to anise, sandstone, limestone, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil & brush, dry herbs, dry tobacco, light; clove, nutmeg & hints of vanillin, forest floor w/ dry leaves, some mint, dry, withering, dark, red flowers framed in violets, excellent acidity with a nicely evolved, well; structured, tensioned, balanced, smartly polished finished that goes on & on!

2010 a strong vintage & still accending. Costco Ribcap vs Allen Brothers.

Sofia & I stayed in downtown Alba in 2015. Arrived early evening & sadly after their big wine festival. Pio Cesare was around the corner and down two blocks from our hotel. Historic as hell.

I bought this at Costco for around $49.

Nebbiolo young is a huge tarry grape. The Italian’s ferment this with a lot of new wood. They actually hold Nebbiolo/Barolo in bottle and extra year or more before release. Also, longer than most other world regions based largely on the grape & even more their wood use.

This is drinking nicely after a four hour decant, but it is still ascending and another 10-15 years of good drinking ahead…properly stored.

Even with this age, its tarriness is the first descriptor. Followed by heated dark spices, slightly, dry b lackberries, dry, slight tart, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, some strawberries, tea leaves, black licorice to anise, sandstone, limestone, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil & brush, dry herbs, dry tobacco, light; clove, nutmeg & hints of vanillin, forest floor w/ dry leaves, some mint, dry, withering, dark, red flowers framed in violets, excellent acidity with a nicely evolved, well; structured, tensioned, balanced, smartly polished finished that goes on & on!

Jun 15th, 2024
Sipping Fine Wine

‘10 is just a classic Barolo! 100% Nebbiolo, rich Ruby red color with aromas of black fruit, herb, floral, cedar and spice notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry, cherry and ripe raspberry, with notes of leather, spice, cracked pepper and fennel, with licorice notes. Fine firm chewy tannins, packs a pop, long finish ending with fruit, oak, mineral and spice. It was great now but this Barolo still has a decade+ to age. Just delightful.

‘10 is just a classic Barolo! 100% Nebbiolo, rich Ruby red color with aromas of black fruit, herb, floral, cedar and spice notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry, cherry and ripe raspberry, with notes of leather, spice, cracked pepper and fennel, with licorice notes. Fine firm chewy tannins, packs a pop, long finish ending with fruit, oak, mineral and spice. It was great now but this Barolo still has a decade+ to age. Just delightful.

Aug 22nd, 2021
Dr. Owen Bargreen

I was simply mesmerized by this 2010 Pio Cesare Barolo (WWB, 94) which showed considerably better on the second day. While only an infant now, this displays wonderful red rose, red raspberry cordial, blood orange zest, and sweet tobacco with leather flavors. The weight and verve of this Barolo really entices, particularly once the tannins begin to settle. This great Pio Cesare will age gracefully for many decades. Drink 2019-2035- 94

I was simply mesmerized by this 2010 Pio Cesare Barolo (WWB, 94) which showed considerably better on the second day. While only an infant now, this displays wonderful red rose, red raspberry cordial, blood orange zest, and sweet tobacco with leather flavors. The weight and verve of this Barolo really entices, particularly once the tannins begin to settle. This great Pio Cesare will age gracefully for many decades. Drink 2019-2035- 94

May 19th, 2019
Rob Brobst III

Licorice and Tobacco all over the place! This is a good one people.

Licorice and Tobacco all over the place! This is a good one people.

Dec 1st, 2017
Weijie Shi (Jay)

Tighter than a nun’s ass... great potential though!

Tighter than a nun’s ass... great potential though!

Oct 22nd, 2017
Patrick Sullivan

Western Mountain Regional manager estates division of Jackson Family Wines

9.9

Beautiful silty dusty nose and palate. Just gorgeous

Beautiful silty dusty nose and palate. Just gorgeous

1 person found it helpfulJan 13th, 2015
Palmer Emmitt

Owner/Winemaker Judge Palmer

8.9

Too young but it was by far the most interesting half bottle on the list so I gave it a shot. Definitely on the beefier end of the Barolo scale with woody tannins and dark stone fruit. Certainly opened up with some air but I should know better than to order young Barolo...

Too young but it was by far the most interesting half bottle on the list so I gave it a shot. Definitely on the beefier end of the Barolo scale with woody tannins and dark stone fruit. Certainly opened up with some air but I should know better than to order young Barolo...

Jun 29th, 2016
Nick Davis

Soft!

Soft!

Jan 4th, 2016
jerod peitsmeyer

i would pay so much for just one more sip

i would pay so much for just one more sip

Oct 18th, 2015
Bob McDonald

This is the Barbaresco from the 2010 vintage. Even though an excellent vintage in Barolo not as good in Barbar as the 2011. Beautiful balance with softening tannins with less tartness. Very Good.

This is the Barbaresco from the 2010 vintage. Even though an excellent vintage in Barolo not as good in Barbar as the 2011. Beautiful balance with softening tannins with less tartness. Very Good.

Sep 30th, 2015