2021 Tua Rita Giusto di Notri Organic, Tuscany

Here’s a wine that takes us to a vintage that excels in terms of general fruit clarity and precision. The 2021 Giusto di Notri is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Merlot that ages in new oak (50% of the wine) with the other half going into second- and third-passage barrel. Intensity and depth are highlighted nicely here in a vintage that ended on October 16th (much later than 2020). This benefits complexity and aromas. The vintage also delivers more freshness and balanced tannins (without the sharper edges you get in 2020). This is a beautiful wine, one that's set up for long cellar aging.

I met with Stefano Frascolla in Rome to taste these wines at the end of last year. He had just come off the 2023 harvest and described the difficulties farming in that vintage, which were mostly due to excessive humidity (which can of course lead to fungal diseases if one is not extremely precise). He describes 2023 as a “hands-on vintage.” He concluded harvest on October 8th last year.

96 points Monica Larner robertparker.com

Intense aromas of red currants, sweet tobacco, lead pencil, and terra-cotta. Medium to full body with polished tannins that are very well-integrated into the wine. It is racy and long with lovely mocha and subtle fruit at the end. 80% cabernet sauvignon, 10% cabernet franc and 10% merlot. Drink after 2028.

96 points jamessuckling.com