I went for a tasting with Giuseppe Vajra at the winery in Barolo. We were sitting along side some young Norwegians whom I might add are great lovers of wines. Whilst tasting this wine I asked the man from Oslo to my left what he felt about this particular 2009 Freisa. He started by telling a story; In Norway military service is obligatory; he had been assigned to the Tank regiment for his military service. His description of what lay before him was fixating, revealing the intricacies of firing a shell from a tank for the first time, detailing the sheer concentration involved. Glancing at the Kye Freisa, we had tasted that morning he equated the stimulation and concentration levels to those whilst firing off rounds in a tank. I laughed, but you know what? He was right. I am sure he was extrapolating his sensations, however, there are a myriad of components which go into such a wine and they demand and command your thought process. This wine is elegant, complex, and delicate. These wines have a habit of commanding your attention. The fruit is harvested from the San Ponzio plot in the commune of Barolo situated some thirteen hundred feet above sea level on rich clay soils. Picking season is usually in the second half of October. Freisa is a delicate varietal and in order to make great wines de-stemming and elimination of the most acidic elements along with the greenest tannins of the fruit is essential. A long fermentation ensues which guarantees the transmigration of tannins into the wine. Malolactic fermentation is also of paramount importance converting the harsher acids into softer lactic acids. Barrel aging takes place between twelve to eighteen months in Slavonian oak vats and barriques, smoothing out the rough edges. This wine has a deep ruby red color, with a nose of red berries, tobacco and rose petals with hints of herbs and white pepper. This wine is rich and has a long finish of black fruits and spices. I would suggest a drinking window between 2012-2020.