Claudio Mariotto Colli Tortonesi Freisa Braghé 2021

Winemaking

Claudio Mariotto is a small producer in Piedmont's Colli Tortonesi, where he focuses on expressing the regional character of Freisa with minimal intervention and respect for the varietal's native personality. His approach prioritizes freshness and aromatic purity, allowing the wine's delicate floral and spice notes to emerge without heavy-handed extraction or oak influence.

Tasting Notes

This Freisa opens with bright red fruit aromas—red cherry and strawberry—layered with rose petals and a whisper of white pepper that's characteristic of the variety. On the palate, it's medium-bodied and refreshingly crisp, with the acidity cutting cleanly through juicy red fruit flavors while a peppery minerality adds complexity and grip. The finish is clean and lingering, with fine-grained tannins and a delicate floral note that carries through to the glass's edge.

Producer

Mariotto operates as a small family estate in the Colli Tortonesi, a compact and lesser-known zone in southeastern Piedmont that has long specialized in Freisa and Barbera. The producer works with traditional methods suited to the region's continental climate and commitment to showcasing how well this distinctive local varietal can perform when handled with care.

Terroir

Colli Tortonesi sits in the hills south of Alessandria, where continental influences and altitude create the precise conditions for Freisa's natural acidity and aromatic expression. The soils here are calcareous and clay-rich, lending the wines their characteristic mineral spine and the structure to age gracefully despite their apparent lightness.

Food Pairings

Serve this alongside a simple preparation of roasted chicken with herbs and lemon—the wine's acidity and red fruit will brighten the savory bird. It's equally at home with a charcuterie board of cured meats and aged cheeses, where the peppery minerality echoes the salt and umami of prosciutto or speck. For a slightly richer option, try pan-seared duck breast with a cherry gastrique; the wine's floral notes and fine tannins won't overpower the game, while its crispness cuts through the richness.