Azienda Agricola Tua Rita

Azienda Agricola Tua Rita is a leading Tuscan wine estate located just outside Suvereto in the Colline Metallifere hill country. It is best known for its single-variety IGT Toscana wine made from Merlot, Redigaffi, which has gained cult status. It is a regular feature in top global auction catalogues, and the 2000 vintage was the first Italian wine to be awarded a perfect 100-point rating by Robert Parker.

The estate was founded in 1984 by Rita Tua and her husband Virgilio Bisti, beginning with a 2-hectare (5-acre) plot at Notri. This has grown to cover 30 hectares (75 acres) of vineyards, which are farmed organically. The silty, clay- and mineral-rich soils seem to be reflected in the wines themselves, which show hints of saltiness and unique nuances of iron in the aromatics.

After harvest, fruit is hand-picked and transported in small baskets to the winery sorting tables before being fermented in wooden vats. It is then transferred by gravity flow to the barrel hall underneath, where all labels mature for at least 18 months. A mixture of new and old oak is used – the top wines are aged in new oak, and the rest in a combination of new and old oak, and stainless steel. (© Copyright material, Wine-Searcher.com)

Along with Redigaffi, Tua Rita makes a Bordeaux Blend wine called Giustro di Notri, which is regarded by the estate as its signature wine. The range also includes Per Sempre, a varietal Syrah, and Perlato del Bosco, a varietal Sangiovese (although before 2011 it also featured Cabernet Sauvignon). Tua Rita's entry-level wine is Rosso dei Notri, a Cabernet – Merlot – Sangiovese blend from the most recently planted vines. There are two white wines in the range: Lodano, a blend of international varieties like Riesling and Chardonnay, and Perlato del Bosco, which uses local varieties like Vermentino.