Tua Rita Syrah 2012

Score:97

Layers of inky, black fruit, grilled herbs, smoke, menthol and melted road tar are all layered together in the 2012 Syrah. Deep, fleshy and explosive in the glass, the Syrah is endowed with marvelous complexity and depth while remaining remarkably light on its feet for such a big wine. Hints of lavender, violets, leather and blueberry jam inform the finish. In 2012, the Syrah benefits greatly from longer macerations at lower temperatures and an overall gentler approach to extraction. The 2012 Syrah has been nothing short of remarkable on the multiple occasions I have tasted it so far.

Antonio Galloni

Gentle slopes with medium-textured, clay soil; more stony areas, all kissed by the sun and caressed by the cooling wind that blows up at the hottest part of the day keeping the grapes nice and cool. The family’s tireless and meticulous approach in all aspects of the winery has led to some outstanding and highly deserved accolades from wine enthusiasts and critics worldwide. Perhaps most notably, with the 2000 vintage of Redigaffi, Tua Rita became one of only a handful of Italian wines to have been awarded the coveted 100 points from Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate and continues to produce outstanding wines with an impressive consistency and quality year in year out.

Antonio Galloni: “I would be remiss if I did not say something about how delicious the entry and mid-tier wines are here. Sure, most of the focus continues to fall on the dual flagships Redigaffi and Syrah, but savvy readers will pay just as much attention to the more modestly priced offerings as well.”

The Tuscan wine region is situated on the Tyrrhenian coast, in the centre of Italy. Like much of the country it has a rich wine making history. Tuscany also has a number of appellations within the region including over thirty Denominazioni di origine controllata (DOC) and at least 7 Denominazioni di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG). Red grape varieties thrive here taking 70% of the region’s production. The Italian Sangiovese grape is king here and the quality of the wine it yields depends heavily on the exposure and particularly on the altitude at which it is planted. From Tuscany, we recommend either the smooth yet full bodied Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto 2012 or for something a little more decadent, the 2006 Fattoria Petrolo Galatrona made from 100% Merlot from the Petrolo Estate.