2014 Tua Rita Perlato del Bosco

$36.95 btl / $221.70 cs (case of 6 x 750ml)

Never let a good crisis go to waste, I always like to say.

2014 was cool and wet in most parts of Europe. Consulting a vintage chart for Tuscany will tell you it is a softer vintage meant for earlier consumption. As a result, Tua Rita’s American importer initially passed on their allocation of the 2014 Tua Rita Perlato del Bosco, because they believed consumers would be turned off by impressions of the vintage. However, they never tried the wine before making their decision!

We knew that 2014 was cool and wet inland in Tuscany, but the coast was warmer, and Fall was beautiful. Those producers who gambled and left their grapes on the vine long enough were rewarded with lovely, complex and fully-ripened grapes. In fact, Tua Rita harvested their grapes almost two months later than normal, and they always make great wines regardless of the conditions, so we were keen to see the results. We also tasted the wine and were impressed with the quality.

American consumers have begun clamouring for the 2015s, which the press deigned to be excellent. So, the winery was highly motivated to move its stock of 2014. And we struck a deal. We are very pleased to be able to offer this wine at $36.95 per bottle versus last year’s price of $55. The price will definitely increase for the 2015 vintage, so this is a rare opportunity to get a highly-rated Super Tuscan at almost one-third off.
Eventually, James Suckling, the former Wine Spectator reviewer, gave this vintage a score of 92 points, and the Americans decided they wanted it. Too late — those polite but canny Canadians beat them to it!

This underscores how vintage ratings can be misleading. There are nuances within a large region like Tuscany that vintage charts are not able to capture. And of course, great wine can be made in a bad vintage, while bad wine can be made in a great vintage. The most important thing is to know your producer.

The 2014 Tua Rita Perlato del Bosco is artisanal Tuscan wine making at its best. Concentrated, dense, nearly opaque purple in color. It delivers aromas of blackberries, black cherries, currants, ripe plums, tea leaves, exotic spices, and leather. Rich, full-bodied and complex on the palate, this wine’s enticing fruit flavors are accompanied by notes of anise, violets, and peppery spice, all of which are framed by fine-grained tannins.
We have two shipments of this wine — one here and another due late June. So we should be able to eventually fill most requests. Demand by restaurants has been strong, though, and it will not last long.
Price: Case of 6 at $221.70 ($36.95 per bottle)

Drink: Now or over the next 10 years

Type/Variety: Dry red, 100% Sangiovese

Maturation: 12 months in French barriques and 6 months in bottle before release

Food Pairing: Grilled red meats, dishes with a cream sauce, roasted Cornish game hens, and duck confit risotto

Accolades: 92 points, James Suckling:
“This is only Sangiovese from a single vineyard. Full and juicy with loads of fruit and coffee character. Spicy too. Lovely cherry tannins. This area did much better than others in Tuscany.”