Pier Rio Sordo 2011
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It shows a transparent garnet red color. On the nose hints of china and black tea wrapped in infinite territorial extraction in the flowers of rose, violet ans wisteria, combined with mint and nutmeg. On the finis it has many notes deriving from its long aging, in particular anise, cocoa and roasted coffee. The palate is full, round, and presents a great tannin, fresh and a good sapidity and balance.
Excellent with braised beef, ossobuco and stews. It can adapt nicely to any blue cheese.
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Ripe cherry and mocha nose. Silky and plump, ripe and full-bodied, with good fruit concentration and integrated tannins; long and punchy finish.
Azienda Vitivinicola Pier can be found on the hill of Treiso, just a few miles from Alba and Barbaresco. It is a winery distinguished by its wines, which recount stories of passion for the earth and cultivation, stories of tradition, dedication; it is a company that lives in harmony with nature, which patiently waits for the best time to harvest grapes and process must, in order to produce an outstanding and robust final product.
Given the limited use of sulphites, absence of additives of animal origin, and concern for the environment, evident in both the vineyards and the use of lightweight glass packaging, Azienda Vitivinicola Pier strives to ensure a wine and an environment that is healthier for all.
Responsible for some of the most elegant and age-worthy wines in the world, Nebbiolo, named for the ubiquitous autumnal fog (called nebbia in Italian), is the star variety of northern Italy’s Piedmont region. Grown throughout the area, as well as in the neighboring Valle d’Aosta and Valtellina, it reaches its highest potential in the Piedmontese villages of Barolo, Barbaresco and Roero. Outside of Italy, growers are still very much in the experimentation stage but some success has been achieved in parts of California. Somm Secret—If you’re new to Nebbiolo, start with a charming, wallet-friendly, early-drinking Langhe Nebbiolo or Nebbiolo d'Alba.
A wine that most perfectly conveys the spirit and essence of its place, Barbaresco is true reflection of terroir. Its star grape, like that in the neighboring Barolo region, is Nebbiolo. Four townships within the Barbaresco zone can produce Barbaresco: the actual village of Barbaresco, as well as Neive, Treiso and San Rocco Seno d'Elvio.
Broadly speaking there are more similarities in the soils of Barbaresco and Barolo than there are differences. Barbaresco’s soils are approximately of the same two major soil types as Barolo: blue-grey marl of the Tortonion epoch, producing more fragile and aromatic characteristics, and Helvetian white yellow marl, which produces wines with more structure and tannins.
Nebbiolo ripens earlier in Barbaresco than in Barolo, primarily due to the vineyards’ proximity to the Tanaro River and lower elevations. While the wines here are still powerful, Barbaresco expresses a more feminine side of Nebbiolo, often with softer tannins, delicate fruit and an elegant perfume. Typical in a well-made Barbaresco are expressions of rose petal, cherry, strawberry, violets, smoke and spice. These wines need a few years before they reach their peak, the best of which need over a decade or longer. Bottle aging adds more savory characteristics, such as earth, iron and dried fruit.