E Pira & Figli - Chiara Boschis
E Pira & Figli - Chiara Boschis
Barolo, Piemonte, Italy
Chiara Boschis has an incredible story. In a region where women winemakers are exceptionally rare, she has built a collection of wines that is the envy of many, becoming a full-fledged member of the highly respected Barolo Boys.
E Pira e Figli estate was passed from father to son for centuries, until the late 1980’s when Luigi Pira passed away. At that time his sisters felt that they could no longer maintain the estate. Hoping to keep the tradition alive they sold the estate to Chiara Boschis, whose family had long been friends of the Piras.
Chiara now has eleven hectares of vines under cultivation in the communes of Barolo, Serralunga and Monforte d’Alba. She retains the honor of the first female winemaker in the Langhe, an honour she worked hard to achieve back in the 1990s. She is, by necessity, of unquestionable confidence, determination, patience and charm. She ran the estate essentially by herself for twenty years, consistently producing stunning, highly lauded, and ageworthy wines. In 2010, her brother Giorgio, his wife Daniella, and their three daughters joined Chiara at E. Pira, which provided not only a welcome division of labor, but also a next generation of female successors., Beatrice, Elena, and Vittoria Boschis, Giorgio and Daniella’s daughters, are all working in the winery with Chiara.
Hers was the first estate in Cannubi to convert to organic farming, and she has since worked tirelessly over the last few years to convince the rest of the growers in the district to become organic as well.
E. Pira & Figli - Chiara Boschis was awarded the Green Emblem from Robert Parker Wine Advocate. Read here about Chiara’s sustainability efforts.
AVAILABLE WINES
E Pira & Figli - Chiara Boschis
E Pira & Figli - Chiara Boschis
Barbera d'Alba Superiore
From organic Mosconi, Ravera, and Gabutti vineyards in Monforte d’Alba and Serralunga, and a mix of clay lime marls around 350m, this was fermented in stainless, and aged 12 months in French barriques.
Crushed cassis, wild blackberry runs over a stony base, with tart, bright blackcurrant acidity to lift through a lingering perfumed violet finish. Tannins are long and fine, hugging this charming wine through the finish. Surprising freshness for its 14.5%.
Read about Chiara Boschis here.
Vintage: 2023
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $65
Style: Still
Region: Piedmont
Appellation: Barbera d'Alba Superiore DOC
Country: Italy
Grape: Barbera
Colour: Red
Vegan: Yes
Organic: Yes
Biodynamic: No
Natural: Yes
Low Intervention: Yes
E Pira & Figli - Chiara Boschis
E Pira & Figli - Chiara Boschis
Dolcetto d’Alba
This organic Dolcetto comes off Ravera di Monforte d’Alba, Mosconi, and Le Coste di Monforte d’Alba, and clay lime marls, around 400m. It was fermented and aged in stainless for a few months.
Cushy crushed plum, jammy strawberry, pink florals flood a pretty, 12% palate, with finely strident tannins to frame, and bright, tart acidity to lift. Drinking now.
Read about Chiara Boschis here.
Vintage: 2024
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $44
Style: Still
Region: Piedmont
Appellation: Dolcetto d’Alba DOC
Country: Italy
Grape: Dolcetto
Colour: Red
Vegan: Yes
Organic: Yes
Biodynamic: No
Natural: Yes
Low Intervention: Yes
E Pira & Figli - Chiara Boschis
E Pira & Figli - Chiara Boschis
Barolo Cannubi
One of 3 Barolo released by Chiara this year, with vinification and aging, is kept the same across the three to highlight the differences of the terroir. From the famed Cannubi vineyard, this 0.7-hectare plot sits at 300m and faces S/SW. After a native ferment in stainless, with frequent pumping over and punch downs, all of the Baroli were aged in lightly toasted 30% new French oak for 24 months and one year further in the bottle before release.
“This is a phenomenal wine that highlights the hard work and expertise of Chiara Boschis and her brother Giorgio. The E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2021 Barolo Cannubi is made with organic Nebbiolo clones of Michet and Lampia planted in a tiny 0.7-hectare plot at 300 meters above sea level on the powdery white limestone soils from the Miocene epoch that characterize this celebrated cru. The wine is refined and delicate with rose hip, violet and pure cherry essence. The aromas are stacked with soaring vertical intensity, and they give this wine an especially bright and lifted bouquet. The mouthfeel outperforms most of its peers thanks to its tight and silky essence and the clean powdery feel of its tannins. The Cannubi is showing very nicely now, but the Mosconi could benefit from more time in bottle. This is a limited release of 4,000 bottles. Drink 2026-2055.” - 98 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Read about Chiara Boschis here.
Vintage: 2021
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $254
Style: Still
Region: Piedmont
Appellation: Barolo DOCG
Country: Italy
Grape: Nebbiolo
Colour: Red
Vegan: Yes
Organic: Yes
Biodynamic: No
Natural: Yes
Low Intervention: Yes
E Pira & Figli - Chiara Boschis
E Pira & Figli - Chiara Boschis
Barolo Mosconi
One of 3 Barolo released by Chiara this year, with vinification and aging, is kept the same across the three to highlight the differences of the terroir. Barolo Mosconi comes from a single vineyard of a newly acquired property in Monforte d’Abla. This 0.8-hectare site’s 70 year old vines rest at 400m in clay soils, facing south. After a native ferment in stainless, with frequent pumping over and punch downs, all of the Baroli were aged in lightly toasted 30% new French oak for 24 months and one year further in the bottle before release.
"This Barolo opens up with aromas of bright cherries, cedar and a touch of sliced mushrooms. Medium-bodied with incisive freshness. The tannins are restrained, almost timid. The wine is overall compact and solid. Very well constructed and cohesive. Needs three years to soften, but it’s really enjoyable to taste.” - 98 points, Jacobo García Andrade, JamesSuckling.com
Read more about Chiara Boschis here.
Vintage: 2021
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $179
Style: Still
Region: Piedmont
Appellation: Barolo DOCG
Country: Italy
Grape: Nebbiolo
Colour: Red
Vegan: Yes
Organic: Yes
Biodynamic: No
Natural: Yes
Low Intervention: Yes
E Pira & Figli - Chiara Boschis
E Pira & Figli - Chiara Boschis
Barolo Via Nuova
One of 3 Barolo released by Chiara this year, with vinification and aging are kept the same across the three to highlight the differences of the terroir. Barolo Via Nuova comes from 6 different organic cru located in three different villages: Barolo (Terlo – Liste); Monforte d’Alba (Ravera di Monforte – Mosconi); and Serralunga d’Alba (Gabutti e Baudana). All told, these 2.5 hectares sit at 340m, and face southeast. After a native ferment in stainless, with frequent pumping over and punch downs, all of the Baroli were aged in lightly toasted 30% new French oak for 24 months, and one year further in the bottle prior to release.
"The 2021 Barolo Via Nuova is a gorgeous, poised wine . Bright and energetic, with tons of drive, the 2021 has so much to offer. Brisk acids and veins of tannin shape this dynamic mid-weight Barolo. Blood orange, plum, chalk and rose petal are some of the many notes that come alive with aeration. The Via Nuova is a gorgeous wine in the making, but it needs a few years to be at its most expressive. Drink 2028-2041.” - 96 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Read more about Chiara Boschis here.
Vintage: 2021
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $150
Style: Still
Region: Piedmont
Appellation: Barolo DOCG
Country: Italy
Grape: Nebbiolo
Colour: Red
Vegan: Yes
Organic: Yes
Biodynamic: No
Natural: Yes
Low Intervention: Yes
Address: Az.Ag. E. Pira & Figli Via Vittorio Veneto, 1, 12060 Barolo CN, Italy
Phone : +39 0173 56247
Website : https://www.pira-chiaraboschis.com
FEATURED PRODUCERS
Cantina del Pino is perched atop the hill in Barbaresco, overlooking the Ovello vineyard, and has been part of the Vacca family for over a century.
Marie-Laure Copinet and her winemaker husband Alexandre Kowal have taken over her family's estate, founded by her father Jacques in 1975. Before then, the Copinets were selling their fruit to Moët, but Jacques' work at Taittinger led him to decide to create their own grower champagne estate.
Podere Gagliassi is a family-owned organic winery in Monforte d’Alba, in the heart of the Langhe.
Viñas Serranas was created in 2016 by 4 friends, united by their love of Salamanca and the historic Rufete and Rufete Blanca vines.
Fratta is the name of this small hamlet in the district of Monticelli Brusati on historic maps dating back to Napoleonic times. The name comes from the ruggedness of the mountains of glacial and alluvial origin which stand out against Franciacorta’s Morainic hills.
E Pira & Figli - Chiara Boschis
E Pira & Figli - Chiara Boschis
Langhe Nebbiolo
From the MGA Le Coste, in Monforte d’Alba, and grapes from the 'Bell of Respect' off the vineyards near their non-organic neighbours, this Nebbiolo is rooted in calcareous clays at 400m. After a stainless ferment, this aged 1 year in French barriques.
Pretty wild strawberry, cherry, and raspberry stream through the fine, firm palate, with long and lithe tannins, and easy lofted acidity to carry this through a lingering saline finish.
Read about Chiara Boschis here.
Vintage: 2023
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $74
Style: Still
Region: Piedmont
Appellation: Langhe Nebbiolo DOC
Country: Italy
Grape: Nebbiolo
Colour: Red
Vegan: Yes
Organic: Yes
Biodynamic: No
Natural: Yes
Low Intervention: Yes