Tua Rita Syrah Toscana Per Sempre 2018

98 points Monica Larner (Wine Advocate): "The Tua Rita 2018 Syrah Per Sempre is another monumental achievement from this iconic Tuscan estate. Stefano Frascolla and his team have slouched into a very cozy and comfortable relationship with the Syrah grape, and this wine registers marked exuberance, generosity and quality with each vintage that I taste. I had previewed a sample of this 3,500-bottle release earlier in the year but did not give the wine a definitive score. Now on the market, Per Sempre boasts solid footing, rich density, ample fruitiness and pretty notes of spice and charred meat, thanks to 17 months in new French oak. The tannins are especially well managed, soft and integrated. Drink: 2021-2040. (1/14/21)"

97 points Susan Hulme, MW (Decanter): "The 2018 Per Sempre is one of the best examples of this wine I have tasted. The combination of freshness and elegance of the 2018 vintage combined with the powerful expression of Tua Rita's Syrah has created something magical: it has a dense, complex nose with liquorice, blackberry, flint, smoke and roasted meat notes. Big, bold flavours of blackberries, wood smoke and liquorice lead to a juicy, bright, savoury finish. It's concentrated but still manages to be light on its feet. Drinking Window: 2022-2032. (2/19/21)"

97 points Falstaff Guide: "Powerful, bright ruby. Opens with notes of beeswax, black pepper and intense elderberry, very clear. At first, still a little timid, blossom, however, then developing grandiose blueberry and blackberry flavours, with a firm, driven finish. Alcohol 14.5%. (8/27/20)"

95 points James Suckling: "Aromas of blue fruit, white pepper, dried flowers and stone. It’s full-bodied and grows on the palate, showing blue fruit, black tea leaves and chocolate. Bitter orange at the end. This is a baby. Solid and tight. Needs two or three years to come together. (6/20/20)"

Producer notes: "Hand-crafted by the esteemed winemaker Luca d'Attoma, Tua Rita Syrah is a beautiful expression of this noble variety. Yields are kept to a minimum to ensure flavor concentration. Remarkably layered and complex, this Syrah is pure harmony in the glass and a must-have for every collector of fine Tuscan wines. Deep garnet in color, notes of ripe blackberries and plums complement undertones of figs, black pepper, and violets. On the palate, it is full-bodied with silky tannins and flavors that unfold into the lush finish. Pair this wine with Moroccan lamb stew, champignon sauces, grilled venison, or pork chops with a rhubarb-cherry sauce."