Barolo Queen: Chiara Boschis
Chiara Boschis – under her E. Pira & Figli label – has been a favourite here at Five Way Cellars for some years now, so a family visit to her cellar in Barolo in January 2019 was a highlight. It now seems like such a long time ago – yet it gives me goosebumps to recall our visit as every time we unload our allocations out the back.
If you ever want to witness the human soul that makes Piedmont such a special place, Chiara Boschis is it. She is such a breath of fresh air and her wines speak very highly of her commitment to her craft. Chiara is very much working in an organic/biodynamic way and her wines are bursting with aromatic freshness and a huge amount of vitality. Ian & Ches Cook, Five Way Cellars.
Pira Chiara Boschis Barbera Superiore 2022
WAS $105
NOW $94.50 OR $85.05 IN ANY MIXED DOZEN
Vineyard: Mosconi (Conterni) and Ravera in Monforte and Gabutti in Serralunga. Mostly clay lime marls at an average altitude of 350 metres. Aged 16 months in second and third passage French oak barriques
Production: 5800 bottles, 251 magnums
Magenta with a purple tinge, the 2022 Barbera D'Alba is fresh with notes of wet stones, plummy fruit, and fresh lavender. The 2021 is more snappy, but the 2022 is a fruitier vintage, with medium body, a velvety texture, good richness, ripe tannins, and a rounded feel. It has a lot of immediate appeal and casts a large net. 91 Points, Jeb Dunnock
Pira Chiara Boschis Langhe Nebbiolo 2022
WAS $120
NOW $108 OR $97.20 IN ANY MIXED DOZEN
Vineyard: Le Coste di Monforte d?Alba. Soil is calcareous clay at 400 metres. Aged 12 months in second and third passage French oak barriques
Production: 8500 bottles, 336 magnums
The 2022 Langhe Nebbiolo was tasted from barrel and boasts a similarly improved youthful magenta color, with fresh blackberries and effusive fruit aromas. On the palate, it shows riper structure, more grip at this stage, and a broader profile. (89-91) Points, Jeb Dunnock
Pira Chiara Boschis Barolo Via Nuova 2020
WAS $270
NOW $243 OR $218.70 IN ANY MIXED DOZEN
Via Nuova was originally made solely from the Terlo vineyard on the hill behind the winery that overlooks the village of Barolo. Since the 2009 vintage, Chiara decided to keep the name but blend this juice with the new parcels from Liste (also in Barolo), Mosconi and Ravera (Monforte) and Gabutti and Baudana (Serralunga).
The 2020 Via Nuova is a very seductive vintage with a lot of elegance, revealing lovely, lifted aromas of licorice, fresh raspberries, sweet tea leaf, and lilac. Medium-bodied, the wine is approachable and elegant all the way through, with refined tannins, refreshing acidity, and a long, even finish. It has a hint of warmth but is well-balanced. This beautiful red feels seamless and harmonious out of the gate and is going to drink well for the next 10 -15 years. 97 Points, Jeb Dunnock
The 2020 Barolo Via Nuova is stellar. It clearly benefits from a blend of several sites. Dark cherry, gravel, spice, menthol, Iicorice and dried herbs all build in this potent, structured Barolo. As always, the blend includes Paiagallo, Liste, Terlo, Gabutti, Baudana, Ravera di Monforte and Mosconi - an approach that works so well. This is a stellar showing from Chiara Boschis. 96 Points, Antonio Galloni ? Vinous
Pira Chiara Boschis Barolo Cannubi 2020
WAS $380
NOW $342 OR $307.80 IN ANY MIXED DOZEN
Cannubi is one of the regions most prestigious vineyards and, historically, its most important. The oldest bottle of Barolo in existence says simply ?1752 Cannubi?. Chiara?s holding is 2.5 hectares.
The E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2020 Barolo Cannubi is a fine and delicate wine, although there is a little more grit and richness in this warm vintage. The quality of the fruit is exceptional, especially its crisp ripeness. Dark cherry, blackcurrant, rose blossom, pink pepper and white limestone add considerable high-toned notes. The freshness is great and the fruit stays juicy, fueling a long, elegant finish. Only 4,000 bottles were made. 97 Points, Monica Larner ? Wine Advocate
Notes of crushed rocks leap from the 2020 Barolo Cannubi, which is vinified exactly the same way, but the terroir really shows its face in this wine. Offering exuberant aromas of ripe, fresh black raspberries and pure cherry candies, the palate is rich in its structure, with ripe tannins and broad shoulders, but it remains light on its feet, with loads of purity and a generous, elegant nature. Hold it another year and drink over the coming 15 or more years. It has loads to offer. 96 Points, Jeb Dunnock
Pira Chiara Boschis Barolo Mosconi 2020
WAS $295
NOW $265.50 OR $238.95 IN ANY MIXED DOZEN
Red/ruby in color, the 2020 Barolo Mosconi is more red-fruited on the nose, with lifted freshness in its delicate spice of red raspberry, anise, dried roses, and dusty earth. It has a more linear feel, with ripe tannins, a chalky texture, and wonderful, pure notes of apricot on the finish. An absolutely gorgeous red, the 2020 vintage for Mosconi really shines and Chiara has knocked it out of the park. 98 Points, Jeb Dunnock
The E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2020 Barolo Mosconi has some of the extra ripeness of the vintage with cherry cream syrup, grenadine, watermelon candy and a drop of Pastis. The wine ends on a powerful note with a balanced combination of fruit and fine oak tannins. The palate is very alive, and the fruit feels very vibrant at this young stage. 96 Points, Monica Larner ? Wine Advocate
