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! — 6 months ago

John Bratincevic

8.9

NOSE: melon and mild flower nectar. Tangerine and papaya. A whisp of chili powder.

TASTE: round, good acidity, nice tropical fruit taste - ends with a little mild custard and minerals. I like it. 89. — 2 years ago

Luis Arguero (@winefromAtoZ)

9.2

Pio Cesare Cortese di Gavi DOCG 2018: Sad to hear of the passing of legendary wine visionary Pio Boffa however last night I opened this bottle as a celebration of life! It was crisp & dry with bright acidity and great depth & flavor. Notes of citrus, green apple, pear & honey. Light minerality on the finish. Cheers & thank you to Pio 🍷🍷 — 4 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

What a pretty wine. Gorgeous and grapey nose, spice, white pepper, jelly donut filling, and just so clean and vivid. Cesare has the touch. Palate is lush and juicy, with gorgeous fruit and such a subtle way about it. Really fine tannins and such incredible balance and delicacy. Such a sneaky persistent finish. This is so refined. I am blown away. What a wine. — a year ago

Daniel Ciolek

9.1

50% blend each of estate reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Approachable on opening with dark cherry and some spice on the nose. The palate is earthy with dark cherry, blackberry, and a bit of huckleberry tartness tossed in for mouthwatering effect. There is an underlying earthiness with dried leaves and undergrowth that grows with a moderately long finish. Lots of layers to this. I could mistake this for an old world wine with the exception that this has the California denseness of flavors. — 2 years ago

LM Segal

9.5

I’m a sucker for Ornato but this was so awkward for an hour, warming from cellar temp and getting some air at 17 years young. After 90 min decant (+airation) powerful nose of blood red🌹and asphalt, not a single hard edge on the big but light and round gem, bloody beautiful, feminine leather and sour 🍒. Finish went on forever with just a twinge of drying tannins suggesting it’s time to drink these. Best news: I have 3 more. — 4 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured, consumed over two days and was consistent throughout though it did seem to gain power on Day 2. I believe that Cesare sources his fruit from Roberto Voerzio’s holdings in Fossati but I don’t know that for certain; perhaps @Lyle Fass can confirm that for me. The 2018 “Fossati” from Cesare Bussolo, pours a bright, luminous garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity and no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is incredibly expressive and immediately noticeable on the pour. Notes of red and black fruits: Luxardo cherry, blackberries with fresh Colorado peaches, roses (loads of roses), dried green herbs, orange zest, dusty earth, and faint baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry and with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. There’s a lovely, firm texture to this wine and it comes across juicy which is really quite compelling. Alcohol is medium+ and comes across a little hot for my liking but I don’t find it distracting. All of the notes from the nose are confirmed with a long, dry and slightly bitter tannic finish. This is my first experience with Cesare Bussolo’s eponymous Barolo and I’m intrigued, particularly considering my impression is based off a 2018. I wouldn’t hesitate to drink now if you’re going to allows some significant air otherwise this will show better after 2025 and likely drink well through 2038 and likely well beyond that.
— a year ago

Karolina M

9.0

Deliciously peachy. — 3 years ago

Marcus Weber

9.7

unconventional, earthy, very wild!! vaille, walnut, ripe apple, mild truffle or mushroom… extremely invigorating and very very long overwhelming taste… enthusiastic about the next level
2 week carbonic maceration, spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts

Dazu: Bresse-Huhn - Morchel - Walnuss / Karotte - Sternanis - Tahiti-Vanille / Purée von Blauer Anneliese - Walnussöl — 3 years ago

Kayla Gil

9.8

Smooth, full but still light, flavorful! Another great @Danielle Steger pick — 4 years ago