AceHighWine

On Thursday, Pio Boffa from historic Piemonte estate Pio Cesare was in town showing off some of his exceptional wine at Italian eating institute, Maurizio’s. Just a little on the name: “fides” means faith and trust in Latin and was chosen by the Pio family to reflect the act of faith and trust made when they planted Barbera rather than Nebbiolo in the family’s “Colombaro” vineyard near the Ornato Estate in Serralunga d’Alba.

Supple wine, gorgeous and juicy, tastes like a chocolate truffle filled with red berries. Admittedly, there was the faintest sense of hotness on the palate, but considering the richness delivered in the mouth, this dash of heat is easily overlooked. Complex, thick, lipsmackingly long and just a great, great wine. Looking awesome now, but would love to taste again in future, regularly if at all possible. Modern, exciting, beguiling and ultimately, very wallopable. 18. www.arquilla-wine.com/wine/italy/piemonte/pio_cesare/