The 1994 Giusto dei Notri Vino da Tavola exhibits a saturated opaque purple color (it looked like a barrel sample of a profound vintage of Mouton-Rothschild), as well as a knock-out nose of blackcurrants, sweet toasty oak, chocolate, smoke, and licorice. The wine is beautifully balanced, with superb purity, extraordinary concentration and length, medium to full body, and silky, sweet layers of flavor. It is both exceptionally intense and well-balanced. Already accessible, it will continue to evolve gracefully for 10-12 years, and last for two decades. Tua Rita's 7.5 acre vineyard was a source for the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot used in the blend at Sassicaia until Tua Rita began to estate bottle in 1992. Approximately 400 cases of the Giusto dei Notri are produced from a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. The wine is aged for 14 months in French oak barrels, of which 50% are new, and bottled without fining or filtration. Only 125 cases of the 100% Merlot, Redigaffi, are produced. It, too, is aged in 50% new French oak, and is bottled without fining or filtration. Both wines are stunning ... and keep in mind that the two I tasted were from a relatively difficult, rain-plagued vintage. Thus it is easy to imagine how extraordinary the 1995s might be.
A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Hohokus, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620