2020 Braghe Freisa

Claudio Mariotto is a third-generation wine-maker from the southern Piedmont, who specialises in making wines with lesser-known local grapes varieties and does so in as natural a way as possible.  The winery was founded in 1921 by Claudio’s great-grandfather Bepi and has been in the family ever since, gracing the slopes of the Apennines overlooking the Po Valley. 

If you could bottle an autumnal woodland stroll when the bramble fruits are in full ripeness and moisture rising up from the undergrowth, bringing with it scents of wet leaves, mushrooms and earth, you’d be very close to emulating this Freisa.  This delicious red is packed with juicy raspberry and sour blackberry notes, alongside notes of violet.  Beneath the fruit, there are depths of savoury flavours, wet leaves, leather and Piedmontese truffles.  While we’re wandering through this nature trail of a wine, you’ll notice that it has a bit of a wild edge.  Thanks to spontaneous fermentation, and low sulphur levels, the true varietal character of the wine comes through and can evoke a certain herbal note (answers on a postcard please!)  It will pair perfectly with a blustery, autumnal night, and a hearty tomato pasta dish drizzled with an aged balsamic vinegar glaze.