Drinking somewhat better than the last bottle I opened but still a bit austere and one-dimensional. This at least didn't have the overwhelming VA that marred the last two bottles we opened. Will hold the final two bottles for a few more years to see if they evolve into something more compelling.
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Clearly, when I wrote, three years ago, that there was no point in holding this longer, I was mistaken.
PnP, consumes over two nights. This held up perfectly well. Acidity stood up to rich shrimp and grits on night two. Definitely more earthy and mushroom notes than fruit, but that’s just fine. No reason to think, at this point, that this couldn’t go another 5+ years.
Even a little better than the 2016 and 17 openings we did of this wine. Seems to have gotten a little more heft. Overall a fresh and delightful good friendly Freisa.
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Do not agree with last reviewer. Have had 4 bottles over past four years. All promising but tight and fairly inaccessible as a young Freisa should be. Shame on me for lack of patience. This bottle got great collective reviews from the six of us drinking it. Will go another 8 years but now showing beautifully with 2 hour decant. Mascarello makes such gorgeous wines. This bottle was fantastic with sharp cheeses and salami.
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I’ve tried a few bottles of this over the last year and they’ve been all over the place quality-wise and none have been more than mediocre. Just opened two bottles and they were both thin with an unpleasant level of VA. I know this grape can age well as I’ve had Scarpa Freisa from as far back as 1999 and it is fantastic, but I am not loving this. One of the few times that Rare Wine Company has steered me wrong.
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This has gotten heftier in the past couple of years and deeper in flavor. Not as lightweight as before. Nose is bigger and deeper than before -- with earth, dark fruit. Palate is earthy too, with some mushroom and spice, and the finish is longer than before with a tartness that borders on some lingering tannic note.
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MNB: Old wines (Home (Noe st)): (blind) Medium minus garnet in the glass. Smoked meat, some dusty oaky sandalwood notes, developed, slight whole cluster (confected fruit), black cherry, smoked meat. Faint menthol / eucalyptus. Dry, medium plus body, elevated alcohol (14% - correct!), high acid, medium tannins (still a little papery and grippy), more new oak on the finish.
So, this is a wine from a warm climate (it's ripe), a high-acid grape, with relatively clean winemaking in barrique.
Laterals: - Rioja Gran Reserva - eucalyptus and reduction seem strange. Smoked meat is unusual, and the acid is pretty high for Rioja. - Toro or Priorat - could have syrah, but would be darker in color, richer in fruit. - CA Syrah with some age - unusual style but could fit. would be darker in color. - Aussie Shiraz - would have more fruit, higher alcohol. would be darker in color. - aged napa pinot - too high in acid, and also dark-fruited. would be darker in color. - aged malbec - with new oak - color would be super dark.
Final call: - 2009 Rioja Gran Reserva - Though the eucalyptus and reduction seem strange. Smoked meat is unusual, and the acid is pretty high for Rioja.
Quality: Aromatic but a bit bitter on the finish. It's complex but the elements aren't the most integrated, but otherwise it's very good!
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Opened for a friend who's birthday is 12/24/16. A fitting wine because as difficult as it was to find...so are good friends like this. Scents of spice box, orange rind, earth, and leather. On the palate this is light-bodied, high acid, with tart red fruits and clove dominating the palate with a lingering note of kumquat. This is clearly a wine of class, structure, and balance. I'd assume it's going to be good for 5-7+ years with good cellaring. Outstanding!!
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A really fresh nose of strawberry liquor, a touch of sage, thyme, liquorice and wood chest. Has a certain earthiness but I don't get any mushrooms. The palate starts with a familiar Nebbiolo style bitter tannin but then rounds off beautifully offering up lashings of sharp, mouthwatering strawberry fruit in a full bodied but refreshingly light style. This is very well done. Tremendous value for money and I am very peeved this is now out of stock. Others obviously agree! 90
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On the lighter side, with mushrooms and truffles dominating flavors on the palate and nose. Ready to drink on PnP. I don't see much upside on holding. Good with a light meal of truffled cheeses and crackers.
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Very pleasing light-ish Piemontese grape. But it has a heft as well. Nose is green grass, minerally quality. Palate is mushroomy, a bit of spice, some good acidity and a touch of tannic quality.
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Giuseppe Mascarello Visit with Elena Mascarello (Monchiero (Piemonte), Italy): Just released. Medium center, mature edge. Mushroom and truffles. Light to moderate weight, some chocolate and herbs, short earthy finish. Where's the fruit and why hold this back for so long? There is a good reason that this indigenous grape does not show outside Piemonte.
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7/2/2021 - andreel Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice, we didn't decant but opened the bottle a couple of hours ahead of dinner. Tannins still present but not excessive.
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9/29/2019 - BillBell73 Likes this wine:
Drinking somewhat better than the last bottle I opened but still a bit austere and one-dimensional. This at least didn't have the overwhelming VA that marred the last two bottles we opened. Will hold the final two bottles for a few more years to see if they evolve into something more compelling.
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9/27/2019 - Fugu Me Likes this wine:
Clearly, when I wrote, three years ago, that there was no point in holding this longer, I was mistaken.
PnP, consumes over two nights. This held up perfectly well. Acidity stood up to rich shrimp and grits on night two. Definitely more earthy and mushroom notes than fruit, but that’s just fine. No reason to think, at this point, that this couldn’t go another 5+ years.
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11/13/2018 - JWG wrote: 90 Points
Even a little better than the 2016 and 17 openings we did of this wine. Seems to have gotten a little more heft. Overall a fresh and delightful good friendly Freisa.
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6/17/2018 - Popo Pete wrote: 92 Points
Do not agree with last reviewer. Have had 4 bottles over past four years. All promising but tight and fairly inaccessible as a young Freisa should be. Shame on me for lack of patience. This bottle got great collective reviews from the six of us drinking it. Will go another 8 years but now showing beautifully with 2 hour decant. Mascarello makes such gorgeous wines. This bottle was fantastic with sharp cheeses and salami.
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4/22/2018 - BillBell73 wrote:
I’ve tried a few bottles of this over the last year and they’ve been all over the place quality-wise and none have been more than mediocre. Just opened two bottles and they were both thin with an unpleasant level of VA. I know this grape can age well as I’ve had Scarpa Freisa from as far back as 1999 and it is fantastic, but I am not loving this. One of the few times that Rare Wine Company has steered me wrong.
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4/10/2018 - JWG wrote: flawed
This has gotten heftier in the past couple of years and deeper in flavor. Not as lightweight as before. Nose is bigger and deeper than before -- with earth, dark fruit. Palate is earthy too, with some mushroom and spice, and the finish is longer than before with a tartness that borders on some lingering tannic note.
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6/19/2017 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 88 Points
MNB: Old wines (Home (Noe st)): (blind)
Medium minus garnet in the glass.
Smoked meat, some dusty oaky sandalwood notes, developed, slight whole cluster (confected fruit), black cherry, smoked meat. Faint menthol / eucalyptus.
Dry, medium plus body, elevated alcohol (14% - correct!), high acid, medium tannins (still a little papery and grippy), more new oak on the finish.
So, this is a wine from a warm climate (it's ripe), a high-acid grape, with relatively clean winemaking in barrique.
Laterals:
- Rioja Gran Reserva - eucalyptus and reduction seem strange. Smoked meat is unusual, and the acid is pretty high for Rioja.
- Toro or Priorat - could have syrah, but would be darker in color, richer in fruit.
- CA Syrah with some age - unusual style but could fit. would be darker in color.
- Aussie Shiraz - would have more fruit, higher alcohol. would be darker in color.
- aged napa pinot - too high in acid, and also dark-fruited. would be darker in color.
- aged malbec - with new oak - color would be super dark.
Final call: - 2009 Rioja Gran Reserva - Though the eucalyptus and reduction seem strange. Smoked meat is unusual, and the acid is pretty high for Rioja.
Quality: Aromatic but a bit bitter on the finish. It's complex but the elements aren't the most integrated, but otherwise it's very good!
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6/3/2017 - JWG wrote: 90 Points
See my notes from last year. Quite the same.
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12/25/2016 - Kirk Grant wrote:
Opened for a friend who's birthday is 12/24/16. A fitting wine because as difficult as it was to find...so are good friends like this. Scents of spice box, orange rind, earth, and leather. On the palate this is light-bodied, high acid, with tart red fruits and clove dominating the palate with a lingering note of kumquat. This is clearly a wine of class, structure, and balance. I'd assume it's going to be good for 5-7+ years with good cellaring. Outstanding!!
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6/13/2016 - Dj6544 wrote: 90 Points
A really fresh nose of strawberry liquor, a touch of sage, thyme, liquorice and wood chest. Has a certain earthiness but I don't get any mushrooms. The palate starts with a familiar Nebbiolo style bitter tannin but then rounds off beautifully offering up lashings of sharp, mouthwatering strawberry fruit in a full bodied but refreshingly light style. This is very well done. Tremendous value for money and I am very peeved this is now out of stock. Others obviously agree! 90
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4/9/2016 - Fugu Me Likes this wine:
On the lighter side, with mushrooms and truffles dominating flavors on the palate and nose. Ready to drink on PnP. I don't see much upside on holding. Good with a light meal of truffled cheeses and crackers.
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4/4/2016 - JWG wrote: 89 Points
Very pleasing light-ish Piemontese grape. But it has a heft as well. Nose is green grass, minerally quality. Palate is mushroomy, a bit of spice, some good acidity and a touch of tannic quality.
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11/3/2015 - drwine2001 wrote:
Giuseppe Mascarello Visit with Elena Mascarello (Monchiero (Piemonte), Italy): Just released. Medium center, mature edge. Mushroom and truffles. Light to moderate weight, some chocolate and herbs, short earthy finish. Where's the fruit and why hold this back for so long? There is a good reason that this indigenous grape does not show outside Piemonte.
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