Two excellent wines at dinner last night, here in Oslo. The first, a Freisa from Langhe made like a Barolo; the second, a warmer wine, much richer and obvious, but still with good definition and edges.

Giuseppe Mascarello Langhe Freisa ‘Toetto’ 2004
This is Freisa made almost in the Barolo way (15 months in slavonian oak), and it’s just so delicious. Lovely expressive bright nose of bitter cherries and plums. The palate has fresh, edgy fruit and high acidity, with sweet cherries, tar and spice, as well as a savoury earthiness hiding in the background. Lovely plummy bitterness here. Brilliant. 93/100

Marina Cvetic Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2005
Rich, ripe, sweet, dense and bold with notes of spice, plum and blackberry. Very rich and sweetly fruited, but also quite dry, spicy and grippy. A really attractive wine. 91/100

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