Pio Cesare Piodilei Chardonnay 2020

Pio Cesare Piodilei Chardonnay 2020 is a majestic, complex, and beautifully structured Italian white wine that demonstrates the profound heights international grape varieties can achieve in Piedmont's legendary terroirs. First produced in 1985 to prove the region's white wine potential, this iconic cuvée is sourced from family-owned plots—primarily the Il Bricco estate in Treiso within the Barbaresco zone and the Bossania vineyard in Serralunga d'Alba. It pours a brilliant, pale golden color in the glass, unfurling a wide, sophisticated array of aromas including ripe pineapple, creamy brioche, and caramelized citrus, seamlessly woven with sweet vanilla bean, toasted hazelnuts, and a touch of smoky oak spice. On the palate, this full-bodied masterpiece delivers a rich, remarkably creamy style balanced flawlessly by an energetic coastal acidity and a precise, stony mineral lining. Matured for up to 10 months in French oak barrels (with a portion on the lees), its opulent weight drives through to a long, powerful, and deeply persistent finish.

Food Pairing: This rich and elegant white pairs magnificently with butter-poached lobster tails, creamy truffle-infused mushroom pasta, roasted veal chops, pan-seared scallops, or rich, creamy cheeses like Triple-Crème Brie.

97 Points - James Suckling

A dense and layered chardonnay with lots of phenolic tension that gives it structure. Full and intense, with a powerful structure and a long finish. Serious. One for the cellar. Drink or hold.

93 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate