Pio Cesare 2024 Chardonnay L'Altro Langhe DOC 750ml

Pio Cesare — Cesare by given name, Pio by surname, a successful 19th-century entrepreneur — founded the winery in 1881 with a simple ambition: to produce a small quantity of serious wine from the Barolo and Barbaresco hills for himself, his family, and his friends. Five generations later, the estate remains headquartered in the historic center of Alba, built directly on Roman city walls more than two thousand years old, and continues to be recognized year after year for the kind of consistency and regional expression that only comes from genuinely knowing a place across generations.

While Pio Cesare is best known internationally for its world-class Barolo and Barbaresco, the estate has never treated its white wines as an afterthought. L'Altro — "the other," a name chosen specifically to distinguish it from the estate's more structured Piodilei Chardonnay — is the younger, fresher expression of the variety in the Pio Cesare range, first added to the portfolio some years after Piodilei and later evolved to include a small addition of Sauvignon Blanc. The 2024 vintage is built from Chardonnay planted in 1979, drawn from the family's own vineyards across Treiso (the Il Bricco estate), Trezzo Tinella (Bossania), and the Barolo area near Serralunga (Colombaro), blended with 5% Sauvignon Blanc for lift and aromatic freshness.

The Pio Cesare family's winemaking philosophy stresses minimal intervention throughout: shorter maceration, separate lot fermentation for each variety, judicious selection between steel and barrel aging, and bottling schedules determined by the ideal structure of each individual wine rather than market timing. For L'Altro specifically, the Sauvignon Blanc ferments and rests entirely in steel to preserve its natural aromatic character, while the Chardonnay spends a short period in barriques, gaining a light touch of complexity without heavy oak influence. The result: a brilliant silver-yellow wine with a nose of fresh flowers, linen, pear, and quince, medium-bodied with a springy lift and zesty appeal — a fresh, contemporary alternative to classic, richer Piedmontese Chardonnay, built to drink well over its first three to five years.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Pio Cesare was founded in 1881 by Cesare Pio in Alba, Piedmont — one of the region's oldest and most respected wine estates, still headquartered today in the historic center of the city on a winery built atop Roman walls more than two thousand years old. Five generations of the family have continued the estate since, maintaining a consistent commitment to quality and regional expression across a range that spans world-class Barolo and Barbaresco alongside crisp Cortese and sweet Moscato.

L'Altro is built from Chardonnay vines planted in 1979 across several family-owned vineyard sites within the Langhe: Il Bricco in Treiso (within the Barbaresco zone), Bossania in Trezzo Tinella, and Colombaro in the Barolo area near Serralunga d'Alba. The 2024 blend incorporates a small addition of 5% Sauvignon Blanc, contributing aromatic freshness and liveliness alongside the Chardonnay's structural elegance. The two varieties are vinified separately in stainless steel at controlled temperature; the Sauvignon Blanc remains in steel throughout to preserve its natural aromatic profile, while the Chardonnay is transferred to barriques for a short period, acquiring gentle complexity without heavy wood influence. Production philosophy across the entire Pio Cesare range emphasizes minimal intervention: shorter maceration times, separate lot fermentation, judicious barrel selection, and bottling schedules tailored to each wine's ideal structure rather than commercial convenience.

Tasting Profile

Nose
Bright straw-yellow to silver-yellow color. Fresh flowers, linen, and pear lead the nose, joined by quince and fine citrus. Green apple, peach, and lemon add vivid orchard fruit brightness, with white pepper and herbs threading through alongside saline, spicy notes and a touch of vanilla from the Chardonnay's brief barrique aging.

Palate
Medium-bodied with a springy lift and zesty appeal — elegant and juicy, yet carrying genuine power and richness. Ripe orchard fruit meets a touch of Chardonnay butter, lively and invigorating. Fresh and crisp, with a pleasant mineral dimension and a velvety texture that keeps the wine balanced rather than heavy.

Finish
Harmonious and well balanced, with lingering citrus and a gentle mineral close. A wine built for immediate, refreshing enjoyment over its first three to five years.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Aperitif
• Fish and shellfish
• Grilled vegetables
• Light first courses
• Sole in butter sauce, mussels, chicken, salads