Team C&J
When you open a bottle of Super Tuscan wine, it makes you say, “I should be drinking more Italian wine.” And, when you drink a bottle like this 2020 Tua Rita “Giusto Di Notri,” you think I should be drinking more Tua Rita wines!
Wines from Tua Rita have been called “as close to perfection as a wine can get” by critic Robert Parker. Even if you don’t always agree with Parker’s scoring or the style of wines he is drawn to, if that doesn’t make a wine lover sit up and listen, we don’t know what will.
With an annual production of the “Giusto Di Notri” hovering around 3,400 cases a year, newer vintages are some of the most difficult bottles to source. With that in mind, we could not wait to try this iconic Italian wine brand.
The ultimate dream for wine aficionados is to own a vineyard, a winery, and to make bottles of wine in the style you love. The founders of Tua Rita Winery, Rita Tua and Virgilio Bisti, achieved just that.
Today, Tua Rita is one of the most respected wineries in Italy, but the brand’s beginnings are humble. In 1984, Rita and Virgilio purchased a small five-acre plot of Sangiovese grapes in Tuscany’s Maremma region, but their plans were much grander than just Sangiovese.
In the early 80s, a style of wine that would come to be known as “Super Tuscan” was starting to gain recognition. And, while the couple respected their region’s native Sangiovese, they were uninterested in making a traditional Chianti-style wine that only utilized the highly tannic grape. Instead, they expanded the vineyard plantings to an additional 40 acres of grapes that included Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Tua Rita didn’t release their first wine until 1992, and it was a runaway success – like the kind of success winemakers hope to achieve just once in their lifetime. The wine in question, the Redigaffi, went on to score so well that it became one of Italy’s most famous cult wines.
Today, the estate continues to produce some of the best wines in Italy. The winery is now owned by Simena and Stefano Frascolla, Rita’s daughter and son-in-law.
The credit for crafting Tua Rita’s impeccable Super Tuscans goes to legendary wine consultant Luca D’Attoma and on-site winemaker Marco Lamastra.
Tua Rita’s vineyards in Val di Cornia were certified organic from 2007 to 2020, but the company ultimately found that the bureaucracy of the certification system did not allow them to attain the level of biodiversity that they thought best nurtured their vines and the surrounding land. If you’re a fan of organic red wine, know that Tua Rita still farms organically; they are just not certified.
Don’t let the fact that most Super Tuscan wines contain a good amount of Sangiovese, the region’s native grape, in addition to noble French grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. These wines can also be made with only French grapes, like this bottling which is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Merlot.
Tua Rita wines are actually one of the first such wines from the region to legitimize the quality of the Super Tuscan blends.
You would be hard-pressed to find a wine lover who doesn’t appreciate a bottle of Tua Rita. This Tuscan brand has been receiving international accolades and high ratings from critics like Robert Parker for decades. His stamp of approval on Tua Rita’s Merlot, Redigaffi, actually, stamp of approval is an understatement. Parker scored the 2000 vintage a perfect 100-point score, catapulting the wine to a cult-like status.
The Giusto di Notri, which we review in this post, is exceptional in its own right. The bottom line: if you collect fine Italian wine, bottles of Tua Rita are a must in your collection.
The 2020 Tua Rita “Giusto Di Notri” presents in the glass as a wine with a deep ruby color and high viscosity. The nose is rich and enticing. A captivating blend of earthy graphite, ripe plum, black currant, pomegranate, and subtle leather provide a guiding preview of the palate.
The first sip of this Super Tuscan is delightful. Dark fruit flavors like black cherry, black currant, and succulent blackberry are complemented by sweet plum and graphite minerality. A subtle hint of cigar box towards the finish adds complexity. One taste of this wine, and you will understand why it is so highly rated.
If you buy a few bottles of “Giusto di Notri”, know that this Bordeaux-blend has serious cellar potential. But, you should also know that it is drinking so well now, that holding onto one to this vintage could be challenging because it is so darn appealing. Bottomline: this wine is excellent, whether you decide to hold onto it for a few years or enjoy it today.
Italy
Tuscany
Red Blend
15.5
Luca d'Attoma
62–68°F / 16–20°C
Burgundy
60 to 120 Minutes
Now to 2045
Tua Rita
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