E. Pira (Chiara Boschis) Barolo ‘Via Nuova’ 2016

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

There are the best wines Chiara Boschis and her brother, Giorgio, have ever made. I was just blown away by what I tasted. The purity and class of the 2016 is magnificent. The 2016s were whole berry crushed and spent 7-10 days on the skins. Malolactic fermentation took place in steel, after which the wines were racked into oak between December 2016 and January 2017. The Mosconi is aged entirely in cask, the Via Nuova is done half in barrique and half in cask, while the Cannubi is done mostly in cask.

Antonio Galloni

About E. Pira (Chiara Boschis)

https://vimeo.com/87418230
Chiara Boschis shares her thoughts during harvest (starting from 5min 10s).
https://youtu.be/B5vb3o3OKqY

Chiara Boschis is widely recognized as one of the first women producers in Barolo, though her family has a long history (nine generations) of winemaking. In 1980, the Boschis family (of Giacomo Borgogno e Figli) acquired the E. Pira & Figli estate, procuring some of the most prestigious land in Barolo. After graduating, Chiara became involved full-time in the family business, following her own great passion for the world of wine. As the only woman in a group of young winemakers credited with revolutionizing the area’s winemaking in the 1980’s, Chiara affectionately became known as the “Barolo Girl.” Chiara officially took the reins in 1990, bringing her unique combination of dedication, charm, patience and determination to every aspect of production in order to raise the quality and image of the winery to that which it enjoys today. In 2010, Chiara’s younger brother Giorgio joined her, contributing 30 plus years of experience both in the vineyards and cellar.

Chiara is an artisan grower, whose philosophy is to craft wines that combine the extraordinary power of Barolo with approachability, balance, intense aromatics, and elegance. This equilibrium is achieved through strict vineyard management (all work is carried out manually), careful selection, organic farming practices and meticulous vinification techniques that favor a gentle touch, allowing the grapes to express their true character. Chiara is a farmer first. She then unites the best of traditional and modern winemaking techniques in a continuous endeavor to consistently produce high quality wines representative of their heritage.

“It was a very exciting time when I started. This group of friends and I, the “Barolo”boys,” as they are called now were always exchanging suggestions and ideas. We wanted to make Barolo the best we could. I remember in 1994, Giorgio (Rivetti) and I went around at night to green harvest, so that the neighbors wouldn’t see how many bunches we were cutting. When my father saw the result the next day, he said I was throwing away money, he was traditional and didn’t understand. But you know, I think, when you want to do something completely different, you have to do it your own way.”

Chiara Boschis

In the Vineyard

The 2016 Vintage at E. Pira

2016 has come at just the right time. We have a number of winemakers with incredible experience and wine wisdom. The vineyards in Barolo are in the best condition they’ve been in with incredible detail going into their care.

Combined we have a situation where vignerons are in the best possible position to make the most of the great fruit yielded by the 2016 harvest!

When you compare the 2015 & 2016 vintages you see the difference between a warmer vintage with a shorter ripening period and a cooler one with the longest ripening period in memory.

Nebbiolo responds beautifully to a cooler longer ripening. Once it reaches sugar level high enough to make a wine around 14-14.5% alcohol the sugar levels stop increasing, it tends to hold its acid and the tannins so important to the insane mouthfeel of Nebbiolo ripen and increase in depth.

Such vintages tend to offer wines with more perfume, energy, and, vitality.

Where in the World is E. Pira (Chiara Boschis)?