Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato 2020

Pio Cesare, founded in 1881, is one of the founding houses of the Langhe, based on the Roman walls of Alba and now in its fifth generation. Barolo Ornato comes from a single vineyard in Serralunga d'Alba, in the eastern part of the Barolo zone, where calcareous marl soils produce some of the most structured and long-lived expressions of Nebbiolo. The cool continental climate, the slope's aspect and the late-ripening grape combine to build firm tannins, high acidity and the perfumed aromatics that define Barolo. After fermentation the wine spends thirty-six months in large oak foudres, where the lower ratio of wood to wine allows slow, gentle oxygen exchange that softens the tannins and adds complexity without strong oak flavour, in the traditional Barolo manner. It is pale garnet, with a nose of dried cherry, rose and tobacco over liquorice, leather and earth. The palate is powerful and firmly tannic, with bright acidity and a very long, savoury finish built for long cellaring. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees, decanted well ahead, with rich, savoury dishes.