Tasting Notes For Pio Cesare Barbaresco 2020
Pio Cesare Barbaresco 2020 is an exceptional red wine that presents itself with a deep and alluring garnet color. The aromatic bouquet is a harmonious blend of red fruit notes, prominently featuring cherries and raspberries, complemented by subtle floral undertones that add a layer of complexity to the nose.On the palate, this Barbaresco reveals its true character, offering a well-structured and full-bodied experience. The flavor profile showcases the vibrancy of red fruits, with cherries taking the lead, while intricate layers of spices and hints of earthiness contribute to the wine’s depth.
Critic Ratings
James Suckling Review – Rated 96:
Very fine and polished with plum, strawberry and cedar aromas as well as an iodine, sea shell and chocolate undertone. Medium body, ultra-fine tannins and a beautiful finish. It’s poised and gorgeous. Such brightness and finesse with structure. So attractive now but will reward patience. Try after 2028.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate Review – Rated 93:
Cesare Benvenuto of Pio Cesare tells me that what he loves most about the 2020 vintage is that it is, in his word: contemporary. “You can drink the wines immediately, the tannins are silky and hydrated and Nebbiolo shows a lovely quality of fruit,” he says. The 2020 Barbaresco is a blend from four family-owned parcels in Treiso (Il Bricco, San Stefanetto and Bongiovanni) and Alba (Rocche di Massalupo), but 70% of the fruit is from Il Bricco, specifically from the higher part of the vineyard that extends over 400 meters in elevation. Fermentation is in stainless steel with gentle cap management and one month on the skins. The wine ages in oak for 30 months, with 90% of it going into botti, and 10% going into neutral barrique. Starting with the 2022 vintage, Austrian oak was introduced. This is a pretty wine with bright fruit, animating acidity and a silky finish.
Wine Spectator Review – Rated 90:
There’s some heft to this red, with a meaty quality to its cherry, mint, mineral and tar flavors. The dense tannins quickly emerge to put a clamp on the finish, which offers bright fruit notes, too. Best from 2027 through 2042. 800 cases imported.
Jeb Dunnuck Review – Rated 92:
Ripe ruby-colored, the 2020 Barbaresco Pio offers a lovely floral nose with notes of fresh cherries, roses, raspberries, and wet stones. Supple and midweight, it has a refined and stony texture, with fine tannins, a weightless feel, and a gorgeous fresh apricot perfume on the back palate. There’s a lot to love with this wine, and it’s going to have a wide drinking window over the next 10 years.
Wine Enthusiast Review – Rated 93:
Earthy and herbaceous, with hints of fruit leaves and a luscious aroma reminiscent of strawberry and red currant jam. Freshly ground spices add depth, including sweet cinnamon and savory thyme. On the palate, encounter a vintage charm with dried cherries, wild herbs, and elegant tannins, evoking the timeless allure of an old-school classic that is delicious now but will refine with age.
Winery
Pio Cesare
Country
Italy
Region
Piedmont
Year
2020
Grape Varietal
Nebbiolo
Size
750 ML
ABV
14.5%
Wine Style
Red Wine
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