This week Stefano Frascolla, owner and winemaker at Tua Rita, joined us for an exclusive tasting of the 2016 vintage releases from the estate, including two brand new additions to their steller line-up; 2016 Tua Rita Keir Syrah and the 2016 Sese Passito di Pantelleria.
Tua Rita’s Bordeaux-blends have come to define the region and are sought after year in, year out. With the release of two new wines alongside a fantastic vintage Tua Rita continues its inexorable rise to the top of Italy’s most collectable estates.
Stefano is extremely pleased with the success their new wines and the overall power and precision of the 2016 vintage, which he compares to the superlative 2001 and 2007 vintages. Overall, the wines express stunning perfume and elegance, despite their obvious structural power.
“Keir is both for those who love Syrah, and those who are curious to discover this amazing and powerful grape.Our new venture on Pantelleria has been made with great pride, from a tiny piece of land far from Tuscany near the Tunisian coast - you will be enchanted by Sese when you taste it.” Stefano Frascolla.
2016 is the first vintage of this 100% Syrah, and what an exciting wine it is! It's kept on its skins in amphorae for six months, followed by a further five months maturation in old oak. The lack of overt new oak allows the pure and transparent quality of the fruit to shine much more, and personally I love this new direction - it's a beautifully poised Syrah with typical violet and smoky bacon aromas and ripe, fragrant fruit with heady, creamy spice...and much more. It's elegant and smooth, with fine-textured tannins and a bright, lively, vivacious palate. A delightful wine, and the rising star of the tasting.
97 points Susan Hulme MW
Tua Rita Keir and Sese are now available alongside the 2016 releases of the rest of the Tua Rita range, including Perlato del Bosco, Giusto di Notri and Redigaffi.