The 2002 Redigaffi is sweet and balsamic in its expression of jammy plum fruit, elegant and ample on the flow and with an expanding volume, firmness, and grip which should guarantee maximum pleasure for another decade and a half. Wine Advocate # 164 Apr 2006 Daniel Thomases 94 Drink: 2006 - 2021
Best known for its iconic Redigaffi, Tua Rita produces some of Tuscany’s most enticing wines, from rich, Bordeaux-style offerings to delightful Sangiovese-based blends. Tua Rita is located in Suvereto, a small medieval town in the Tuscan province of Livorno, on the coast south of Bolgheri. Rita Tua and her husband Virgilio Bisti bought the property in 1984 and planted it with Cabernet and Merlot. They later purchased an additional 17.5 acres of land, bringing the total estate to 55 acres, of which about 45 are planted with vines. The winery lies at just 300 feet above sea level, on a clayey, silty soil. Stefano Chioccioli, renowned in Italy for his expertise in both the vineyard and the cellar, is the winemaker at the estate. Yields are kept to a minimum to ensure concentration of flavours. The estate’s total annual production is currently just 3,400 cases.
The winery released its first vintage in 1992, and soon began receiving praise and accolades from wine enthusiasts worldwide for its rich, full-bodied wines. Indeed, in just five short years, its Redigaffi (100% Merlot) had achieved cult-like status, receiving outstanding ratings from the world’s most prestigious wine critics and publications. Wine critic Robert M. Parker Jr. called the 1999 Redigaffi “as close to perfection as a wine can get.” The next year, he gave the 2000 Redigaffi a perfect 100 score. The winery’s Bordeaux blend, Giusti di Notri, also garners near-universal praise. Little wonder that Tua Rita’s wines are considered among the most difficult to find in Italy.” www.winebow.com
