1997 Redigaffi
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This is one of my favorite wines in this full retrospective spanning a quarter century. The Tua Rita 1997 Redigaffi (100% Merlot) is shaped by a classic vintage that set the stage for many of Italy's best-known blended reds, such as Solaia, Sassicaia and Ornellaia, putting them all in the spotlight, especially among international collectors. A deep freeze on April 17 reduced yields by one-third and cemented quality as a result. This wine is a gorgeous revelation with enduring freshness and vitality. You taste the fruit here, with blackberry and dried currant, over a tapered, medium-weight finish. The tannins are beautifully softened and elongated.
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Robert Parker
James Suckling
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The flagship wine of Tua Rita is their tiny (under 200 cases) production of 100% Merlot aged in French oak and bottled with no fining or filtration called Redigaffi. This wine has represented a classic example of Merlot's potential in this coastal section of Tuscany. The spectacular, black/purple-colored 1997 Redigaffi boasts huge, chocolatey, blackberry, smoky nose and flavors, a full-bodied personality oozing with extract and ripe, juicy fruit, sensational length (45+ seconds), and brilliant purity and symmetry. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2012. Aug 1999, www.robertparker.com
The Redigaffi had incredible concentration of fruit and seemed so youthful. I honestly thought it was from 2004 or 2005. It showed lots of coconut aromas and flavors as well as dark fruits such as raspberries and blueberries. It was still perfection. The wine only gets more polished with time. It will always be a perfect wine. Jun 2016, www.jamessuckling.com
Saturated bright ruby. Blackberry, clove, espresso and a hint of mint on the nose, plus a floral topnote. Layered, sappy and deep, with almost roasted flavors of raspberry and strawberry. Really satisfyingly sweet and ripe for Italian merlot. Finishes with slow-building but ultimately explosive fruit flavor that outlasts the ripe tannins. An excellent set of releases from this producer.