I would always hear stories of the famed Tua Rita Redigaffi, with its cult like following after the 100 point score from Wine Spectator in 1997. So recently when given the opportunity to have their flagship wine, the 2007 Giusto di Notri, I knew I was in for a treat.
In 1984, Rita Tua and her husband Virgilio Bisti purchased the estate and began planting Bordeaux varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. The original plantings of about seven acres were sold off and used in another famed winery of Maremma, Sassicaia. That is until 1992, when they started bottling under their own label Tua Rita, an inversion of the proprietor’s name. Currently Tua Rita produces seven different wines, two whites and five reds, up from the original three that were produced in the first vintage. After only five years of producing wine, they received their first 100 point score for the Redigaffi, and vintage after vintage, their wines continued to get critical acclaim. In fact, in 2000 they received their second 100 point score from Robert Parker which only solidified their cult following.
Tua Rita’s flagship wine, Giusto di Notri, introduced in 1992, was named after the patron saint of their town, San Giusto, and their vineyard site, Notri. It is a Bordeaux blend consisting of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. When I first opened the 2007 Giusto di Notri, right out of the gate came this dark fruit and cassis-like nose with some spice and oak in the background making me think it was going to be a massive wine. However on the palate, the wine is so perfectly balanced and multi layered it made me think of a Bordeaux with riper fruit. It has this beautiful structure integrated into the wine that makes it still seem very young with just a touch of age and will only get better from here on out. In fact, after having it open for four hours, the wine just kept changing and evolving. This is an absolutely gorgeous wine and with only around 2,000 cases produced, you will want to pick up as much as you can before it is all gone. It received a fantastic 95-point score from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.
“The 2007 Giusto dei Notri is a gorgeous, dark beauty endowed with layers of sensual black and blue fruits. Soft, seamless and utterly enveloping, the 2007 Giusto dei Notri impresses for its depth and richness, both of which have been achieved without any excess heaviness…this is a terrific and highly enjoyable wine. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027.” - Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate