Tua Rita Tua Rita Redigaffi 2016 750ml

The aromas of violets, roses and lavender are captivating. Turns to spices and hazelnuts. So complex. This full-bodied wine grows and grows on the palate, yet it remains agile and fresh. Plenty of energy in the palate. More powerful than the perfect 2015. We will see which is better in the end. Great wine. Try in 2022.

Wow. This is a beautiful year for Tua Rita’s legendary Merlot. The grapes were harvested early, between September 4th and the 6th, and spent 21 months in barrique. This wine is a perennial overachiever, and the 2016 Redigaffi is no exception. It has a remarkable persistence to the bouquet, along with tonic crispness and a velvety mouthfeel. It’s a complete and beautifully structured expression, most notable for its freshness and softness. This Redigaffi is still a bit closed, which leads me to think it is going to be a stunner when you finally retrieve it from your cellar in 5–10 years from now.

Precise and subtle aromas of black olives, brambleberries, sandalwood, iodine and oyster shells with a hint of meat. Medium- to full-bodied with tannins that run the length of the wine and show a compact and structured sensibility and wonderful length and finesse. Focused, with a classy texture. So long, continuous, graceful and refined. 100% merlot. Sustainable. Give it two or three years to come completely together.

The 2016 Redigaffi is another absolutely compelling wine in this range. Explosive and opulent, the 2016 manages to be both spectacularly rich and yet also retain tremendous freshness. Blueberry jam, lavender, crushed rocks and sweet oak all build as this sumptuous yet structured Merlot shows off its considerable personality. In 2016, Redigaffi is energetic, persistent and also very classy. Drink it over the next decade or so. (Antonio Galloni)

One of Italy’s benchmark Merlots, the Tua Rita 2023 Redigaffi is the result of important fruit selection and a strong focus on purity, balance and freshness. Merlot performed well in 2023 with healthy vines, no hydric stress and extensive pre-harvest sorting to remove softer berries in favor of crunchy ones. The wine shows a creamy, almost lactic side with dark fruit, blackberry, cherry compote and notes of milk chocolate across a plush mid-palate. Aged in 80% new oak, Redigaffi delivers structure and power without jamminess, offering a beautifully controlled and tactile expression from a vineyard planted in four stages in 1988, 1996, 1997 and 2001, with production limited to around 10,000 bottles plus magnums.

Supple, featuring pure black cherry, plum, wild herb, spice and licorice flavors that mesh with the well-integrated structure. Harmonious, remaining defined and juicy on the lingering finish. Though concentrated, this stays fresh and energetic, showing finesse and poise. Merlot. Drink now through 2033. 1,150 cases made, 90 cases imported. (Bruce Sanderson)