100% Freisa, drawn from two plots of 25-30 year-old vines on white clay soils from north of Roero, tended by a neighboring organic farmer with whom Luca and Carolina of Valfaccenda are close. The fruit underwent a two week-long maceration, with fermentation and élevage mainly in concrete and a small part in old oak. While deeper-fruited than one might expect (the association with ‘strawberry,’ the direct Italian translation of the grape’s name, still gets us!), this is Freisa as we love to drink it: a floral touch of violets, sweet nuances of ripe cherries, wild berries, and plums, supported by complex undertones of tobacco, leather, clove, and forest floor. Energetic, it shows the no frills, down-to-earth approach Valfaccenda is known for, with juicy ripeness perfectly contrasted by fresh acidity and tight, bright tannins.