Pio Cesare Ornato Barolo 2020 750ml

Barolo is known to be called “The King of wines and the wine of kings.” Family-owned and operated, Pio Cesare has been producing world-class wines since 1881 in Northern Italy’s Piedmont region. Founded by entrepreneur Cesare Pio, who was inspired to produce a small and select quantity of wines from the hills of Barolo and Barbaresco for himself, his family, friends, and customers. Cesare Pio was dedicated to the terroir of the Piedmont region and to producing wines of the highest quality. First launched with the 1985 vintage, Barolo Ornato was Pio Cesare's original single-vineyard bottling. Great structure, power, concentration, with an exceptionally long life. Produced in small quantities. This is a single vineyard Barolo from very ripe grapes of three different plots of the famous Pio Cesare family’s Ornato estate in Serralunga d’Alba, one of the top vineyards in the Barolo region. This wine has great structure and concentration, with ripe fruit, soft tannins, and tobacco. May be enjoyed upon release but will reward time in the cellar.

The Wine Advocate 95 Points January 2025, Monica Larner

The most powerful of the bunch is the Pio Cesare 2020 Barolo Ornato. This is a structured wine with firm tannins and dense fruit that falls on the darker side of the spectrum with blackberry and damson plum. You also get that typical Serralunga d'Alba imprint of rusty mineral and dark licorice. The wine is quite ample in terms of volume and depth, and it is reflective of its territory of origin. Production is 12,325 bottles, and larger formats were also made.

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points September 2024, Jeff Porter

This Barolo from the Ornato vineyard offers enticing aromas of ripe black cherry, cinnamon-spiced cake, candied blood orange zest, and a hint of fresh bay leaf. The palate is exceptionally well-balanced, with a precise, linear structure that showcases flavors of juicy blackberry, dark chocolate, and a touch of vanilla. The wine's impressive length and depth are evident in the long, satisfying finish. Drink 2026-2044.

Wine Spectator 95 Points July 2024, Bruce Sanderson

This is firm and tightly wound, with thick, refined tannins setting the stage for cherry, eucalyptus, tobacco, and iron flavors, while dusty, mouthcoating tannins infuse the finish. Patience required for the fruit to emerge. Best from 2029 through 2050.