A Note from Sergio
I'm Italian, and I love strong women. Although the world thinks Italy is a male-dominated society, they couldn't be more wrong. Italian home and family life revolves around strong, confident, determined women. There's no question that Italian family life is lead by women, which means that women stand at the center of Italian culture.
I say this to give some context to today's offering from the Tuscan estate Tua Rita. Rita Tua is the name of the woman behind the estate, but to me, Rita is more than just a woman's name. I hear "Rita" and I get a picture, an association, a key to an important part of Italian culture. I see "Rita" as a kind of shorthand to a type of person, the way that Americans might use the name "Joe" to mean an average guy, "Betty" to mean a girl next door, or "Bertha" to mean a husky woman. I hear the name "Rita," and I see the type of woman who holds Italian families together in her strong hands.
In Toscana, the actual Rita Tua is a thick, heavy, dominant, strong woman. She's both of the earth and from it, and like the earth, she is nurturing and she is comforting. She would be the person you'd want to help you lift a car to change a tire when you're missing a jack, bail hay before the rain sets in, stir a pot of pasta to feed an army, or simply give a hug that will put you back on your feet. Her strength and power are her dominant features. But her natural spirit that can soothe, comfort and heal is never far away.
Just as "Rita" does to her family, the wines from Tua Rita wrap you in a warm, strong embrace. It is, actually, their dominant feature. But as big and powerful as they may be, they also have a natural beauty that comforts you from the inside and gives you this feeling of invincibility and heat. This week, I'm happy to offer you not only a wide selection of Tua Rita's wines, but I'm even more delighted to be the first wine seller to offer their 2008 vintage. I hope you take some to drink with family, with food, with love and to add to warmth to your home.
My Best,
P.S. You can now follow me on Twitter: @iwmse.
Tua Rita
Maremma was still sparse when Rita Tua and Virgilio Bisti purchased their estate in 1984 and chose to plant Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, varietals that do well in Maremma soils rich in clay and silt. Those initial plantings (totaling 7.5 acres) became the source for the now revered Tua Rita Super Tuscans. Tua Rita found critical success early with their 1990's vintages of their flagship Bordeaux-style blend Giusto di Notri and their acclaimed Merlot Redigaffi, which in 1997 received a 100-point rating and made Tua Rita an international sensation. Tua Rita has remained true to its artisanal ideals and to its modest demeanor, most notably visible in the warm, grandmotherly persona of owner Rita Tua. Bearing the signature of Tua Rita's famed consulting enologist, Stefano Chioccioli, the estate's current comprehensive portfolio continues to electrify wine cognoscenti.
Tua Rita
Redigaffi 2008, 750ml, $232.13*
Redigaffi 2008, 1500ml, $489.31*
Redigaffi 2008, 3000ml, $1,167.33*
Redigaffi 2008, 5000ml, $1,950.56*
While still plump and feminine, the mark of the '08 Redigaffi is its finesse. Juicy, full-figured and robust, this Merlot isn't overwhelmed by impact and fat, something that can easily happen with Merlot. This is a cheerful wine, vibrant, lively and not dependent on low, dark notes-red and black fruits twirl with a nose of cedar and spicebox. It's a wine that hits you like a bolt of sunshine. Drinking 2012 to 2021.
Tua Rita
Redigaffi 2007, 750ml, $245.00
Redigaffi 2007, 3000ml, $1,167.33
There's a lot of power packed into the elegant structure of the '07 Redigaffi. Lush, opulent and rich, it holds major curves in its body. Merlot's telltale red and black plums and tea leaves make a strong showing, so too do mocha and minerals. Silky tannins and jaunty acidity finish the profile-and what a silhouette it is. Drinking now to 2025.
Tua Rita
Syrah di Toscana 2008, 750ml, $169.00*
Syrah di Toscana 2008, 1500ml, $337.34*
Syrah di Toscana 2008, 3000ml, $910.15*
Syrah di Toscana 2008, 5000ml, $1,518.03*
In 2007, the Syrah was Tua Rita's standout wine, and the '08 continues the streak. A savory, delicious concoction, this Syrah exhibits all the juicy, meaty, muscular personality you like in a Syrah, offset by succulent blackberry. This is one stylish wine with all the power of Syrah and all the finesse of Toscana. Drinking 2013-25.
Tua Rita
Giusto di Notri 2008, 750ml, $74.32*
Giusto di Notri 2008, 3000ml, $419.17*
The '08 Giusto di Notri is a good wine to wrestle. Brawny, fleshy, showing a strong and muscular body, the '08 has terrific balance between its midnight fruit, sensual depth, and enchanting tannins. A Bordeaux-style blend with the heart and the soul of Toscana's structure, the Giusto di Notri drinks now to 2024.
Tua Rita
Giusto di Notri 2007, 750ml, $73.59
If you've ever watched a noir film and wished you could literally drink it up, the '07 Giusto di Notri answers that dark desire. A supple, sensual blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this wine hands you unctuous bunches of deep black fruit, a zing of spices, and spiky tannins, all in a taut, lithe package. Drink it at night, 2017-2024.
Tua Rita
Perlato del Bosco 2008, 750ml, $42.05*
Fresh and pure, Perlato del Bosco's flavors of cassis weave in and out of Sangiovese's red fruit spectrum, creating a symphony of black currant and raspberry and amplifying the wine's body. Its penetrating minerality drives straight through the middle. It's a wine to be enjoyed with or without food, but always in good company. Drinking 2010-18.
Tua Rita
Perlato del Bosco 2007, 750ml, $55.00
A scintillating blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, the '07 Perlato del Bosco has it all: clean lines, complexity, age-worthiness and flavor for days. Red fruit lays the foundation, smoke and lilacs waft across the top, and fruit-friendly jaunty acidity seals the deal. Deceptively simple, it's a wine whose stunning layers will enchant you. Drinking 2012-2027.
Tua Rita
Rosso dei Notri 2008, 750ml, $25.60
Bright with red fruit, cheery with warm spices, zesty with acidity, this 100% Sangiovese brings the fun. Plump and juicy, the '08 Rosso dei Notri is the go-to Tua Rita, a wine for dinner with the family on a Thursday night. Drinking now through 2014. |
