Tried this last weekend in KC:
1. Giuseppe e Figlio Mascarello DOC: Langhe Freisa Toetto (EB; 14%) CastiglioneFalletto 2011: Dark color; rather floral/lilacs/violets/quite Nebb-like slight pungent/tarry/licorice quite perfumed/floral/spicy slight toasty quite lovely nose; quite tart dry/austere quite floral/lilacs/rose petal slight licorice/pungent/tarry flavor w/ ample hard/astringent tannins; med.long very tart/acid/austere quite floral/lilacs rather licorice/tarry very hard/austere finish w/ ample hard/astringent tannins; very much like a Nebb but the tannins are not as angular/bitey/lean as Nebb; very lovely aromatics like Nebb; needs age but not sure where it will go.
$25.00 (Gom/MT)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Toetto is the vnyd source in CastiglioneFalletto for this wine. Freisa is a natural cross in the Piemonte between Nebbiolo and an unknown/probably extinct grape variety.
Freisa is a variety they should be planting in Calif. Randall once had it in his Ca d'Solo vnyd in Soledad and actually made a few very nice wines from it. But he pulled the stuff.
Freisa is sometimes made in a slightly sweet/frizzante version in the Piemonte. I think that's probably one of the better callings of the grape and I've had many that I thought were quite pretty, if not as serious as this rendition.
Tom