The Auswine Forum

I took a bottle of 2015 Bartolo Mascarello Freisa that came with some Bartolo Mascarello barolo that was offered to me. I have no experience of the grape variety freisa. Can anyone offer any experience of this style (the web info is very confusing), the Mascarello version in particular and what sort of food it is best consumed with? Thanks in advance to any forumites with more experience than me with less mainstream varieties that can help.

In my limited experience, Langhe Freisa is a bit like Gamay with some added fruit weight and body.

I have not had the opportunity to taste the Mascarello version however.

Maria Teresa has suggested this a great wine over lunch or lighter summer foods.

I don't know the Mascarello, but I've tried a few different Freisas in Piemonte - I'd say the above description of 'Gamay with a little more weight' is good. Tends to be on the lighter end of the spectrum overall, but has enough backbone to stand up to slightly more powerful food (I've seen matches with game before, but I don't know if I'd go that far).

Fruit profile tends to be red cherry, redcurrant, a hint of sour plum, and it's usually quite aromatic - not too dissimilar from nebbiolo either.

You could probably pair it very nicely with chicken, pork chops / fillet, and white pasta dishes,

I've been told by producers that it is definitely also an age-worthy wine, though I've never tried anything more than a year or two off the current vintage, so wouldn't know what to expect. That said, if you have more than a couple of bottles, might be an interesting experiment - I'm sure if any Freisas can be aged, Mascarello will be one of them!

Sipping in Wintery Queensland a
2016 GB Burlotto langhe freisa
Lovely fruit tannins
Pretty complex savoury earthy nose
With rich mouth filling structure
This can bat against anything

michel wrote:Sipping in Wintery Queensland a
2016 GB Burlotto langhe freisa
Lovely fruit tannins
Pretty complex savoury earthy nose
With rich mouth filling structure
This can bat against anything

Well, two nights ago, I was enjoying a 2016 GB Burlotto langhe Barbera ... it too can hold its own, lovely wine.

Now must try that Freisa ... gee I love the Burlotto Wines!

.

It was always a easygoing expression of Freisa. Often refreshing with gentle spritz on the palate . As I mentioned earlier it was passed off as a lunchtime affair by MT.

It may have changed in style. I’m in Piedmont next week or so and will ask if I have any wines to pick up at Mascarello

Gavin Trott wrote:

michel wrote:Sipping in Wintery Queensland a
2016 GB Burlotto langhe freisa
Lovely fruit tannins
Pretty complex savoury earthy nose
With rich mouth filling structure
This can bat against anything

Well, two nights ago, I was enjoying a 2016 GB Burlotto langhe Barbera ... it too can hold its own, lovely wine.

Now must try that Freisa ... gee I love the Burlotto Wines!

.

I echo that sentiment

I like the Burlotto wines too. Dare i ask Gavin, do u stock them at all?

Cactus wrote:I like the Burlotto wines too. Dare i ask Gavin, do u stock them at all?

Offer them to me too!

Cactus wrote:I like the Burlotto wines too. Dare i ask Gavin, do u stock them at all?

I can, but only the entry levels. The Barolos etc are only available here to longer term customers than me, and very very allocated! Love em, can't get em!

Can get the Barbera, the Dolcetto, the Freisa and the Langhe Nebbiolo though!

Let me know if anyone is interested!?

.

michel wrote: This can bat against anything

Might be needed in Nottingham today then

p.s. Gavin, worth considering the Burlotto Pelaverga as well. It's priced alongside the others you stock, and like the Freisa Michel mentioned, very handy partner for plenty of food. Burlotto seem widely considered to be the best so far with this very specialist Verduno grape.

Ian S wrote:

michel wrote: This can bat against anything

Might be needed in Nottingham today then

p.s. Gavin, worth considering the Burlotto Pelaverga as well. It's priced alongside the others you stock, and like the Freisa Michel mentioned, very handy partner for plenty of food. Burlotto seem widely considered to be the best so far with this very specialist Verduno grape.

Ian
Dont mention the cricket
I tried the Freisa side by side with the Pelaverga
Both very good but the Freisa had a bit more stuffing and structure to engage with.

Thanks to those who made food suggestions. I took it to lunch with a small group of five to Mezzalira, a good Canberra Italian restaurant that allows byo. Jamie's comment about refreshing with a gentle spritz was spot on. First wine we tried and all found it interesting and it went well with a salumi plate with mixed olives and foccaccia. I suspect that it is better value in Piedmont as a lunch wine than the $A63 price here.

This lunch group operates on four members each bringing a bottle on rotation and for interest the other 3 wines were 1998 St Hugo cabernet, 2006 Casanova di Neri brunello Tenuta Nuova and 2016 Standish "The Standish" Barossa shiraz. The cabernet was in tip top condition and best current drinking and the Standish showed all the attributes of a great young wine for the cellar.

Yes that $63 dollar price puts it in a place that puts unreasonable expectations on it.

When we go to Torino, I will undoubtedly stock up on Freisa, Vespolina, Grignolino, Timorasso & Fumin, as these wines rarely get a look in at wine merchants back home, and they can all produce very appetising wines. I'll still have more Barolo and Barbraresco, but those are easy to find over here.

This wasn't always the way. Limited by tight baggage allowances, in past visits to Torino and the Langhe I would lean towards the fancier wines, on the basis that with limited space, I ought to bring back the 'best' I could. True I might save a fraction more by doing so, but I've now recognised I can buy most wines here, but I'd been missing out on wines that would have a very useful role in the cellar.

2016 giuseppe rinaldi freisa
Italian food @ Maialino
Wonderful perfume gentle fruit structure with an endearing finish
In our house we call it poor mans barolo
Matched everything Italian ......