PIO CESARE’S 2017 BAROLOS AND BARBARESCOS

The Loss of A Friend in Piedmont (April 18, 2021)Last night I opened a bottle of 1982 Pio Cesare Barolo with my wife Marie in Hong Kong in memory of our dear friend Pio Boffa. His family has owned the outstanding Piedmont producer of Pio Cesare since 1881, but he took the winery in the town of Alba to a whole new level of quality and transformed its reputation globally.Pio died on Saturday from COVID in Italy. He was 66 years old.--------------------------------------------On March 19, James did an interview and tasting with owner Pio Boffa of Pio Cesare to taste some great wines from the 2017 vintage. Pio Boffa is the fourth generation winemaker of Pio Cesare. The family began cultivating grapes in 1881 and has always insisted on making the best-quality wines made from the best quality grapes.Pio said 2017 was a top vintage thanks to a periodically cooler August after the hot and dry weather they experienced during the summer. He added that the vintage was nothing like the 2003s, which were slightly jammy and lacked some freshness. Instead, the 2017 wines are bright and vivid with solid tannins to frame the wines.James rated the Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato 2017 and the Pio Cesare Barolo Mosconi 2017 both 98 points. He described the full-bodied Ornato as "extremely perfumed with dark berries, cherries, strawberries and crushed stones," and the Mosconi as "tight and very tannic with a fine-grained texture and a long, intense finish."Below are the wines tasted during the call. Click the links to see the tasting notes and scores (subscribers only).Pio Cesare Barbaresco 2017Pio Cesare Barolo 2017Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato 2017Pio Cesare Barolo Mosconi 2017Pio Cesare Barbaresco Il Bricco 2017