2019 Socre Langhe Freisa

The Socré estate in Barbaresco has been in the Piacentino family since 1869. They farmed and sold their grapes to locals and neighboring wineries until 2010, when they built a winery and began making their own wines. Most of the production is nebbiolo, but luckily they are part of a small group of winemakers committed to keeping freisa plantings in the vineyard. Once the “it girl” of Piedmont (ok, it was centuries ago but still), freisa is a more wild and rustic relative of nebbiolo. Possibly the parent grape (but definitely in a parent-offspring relationship) to nebbiolo, freisa has suffered from being made in a variety of styles that can confuse—sweet or dry, still or sparkling, sometimes ripasso, who knows? Freisa is hardy, proving resistant to a number of diseases and commonly surviving late frosts. It’s harvested later than many Piedmont varietals and there’s a solid argument for why it should be planted more than it currently is. Socré’s Langhe freisa is vinified and aged in stainless steel—it’s dry, it doesn’t sparkle and it’s perfectly suited for everyday drinking. Fruity, floral, and a little spicy, this will be cozy with roasts or stews.