Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Freisa 2021 $25
re-tasted Sept 24 2022 – rating re-evaluated to 4 star
Bright, garnet-hued, Freisa is Latin for ‘strawberry’ and it’s a very rare little Italian grape that grows mainly in the Monferrato and Langhe areas in the Piemonte region. It dates back to the middle ages. Despite the name indicating it might be sweet, this red is dry, spicy and softy chewy, highly aromatic and savoury. It’s a vigourous variety and ultra-rare in this part of the world, in fact this is the first time I’ve tasted a local example. The tannins are hefty and gripping, while the youthful acidity means it’s very perky on the palate. Six months on from the first tasting, the wine has plumped out a bit, developed depth and vibrancy and it’s hungry for protein!
