Just bottled a few weeks ago, the 2015 Redigafi is rich, powerful and explosive, with serious depth and volume in all of its dimensions. A host of chocolate, mocha, espresso, licorice and smoke overtones give the wine nuance to match its intense, super-ripe purplish and black-fleshed fruit.

This is an extraordinary merlot with such purity and focus. Flowers such as violets and hints of orange peel. It is full-bodied yet incredibly energetic and structured. The finish goes on for minutes. Seamless texture. Fresh yet dense. Contrasty. Best Redigaffi ever. Hard not to drink now but a wine for decades.

No surprise, Tua Rita delivers yet another unbelievable edition of its legendary Merlot from Coastal Tuscany. The 2015 Redigaffi is a blockbuster, a beautiful and expressive blockbuster at that. This vintage delivers a unique level of intensity and power that is very much linked to the easily ripened fruit obtained in this warm and sunny vintage. Despite that inner bulk and power, the wine reveals an elegant sense of harmony and depth. Etched mineral or graphite notes segue to black fruit, spice, leather, mocha and toasted espresso bean. The wine is structured and firm in terms of mouthfeel. ML

The 2015 Redigaffi is dubbed "an explosive year" by the winery team. In fact, this Merlot is especially opulent and exuberant after a cool spring season and a hot summer. Fruit on the vine was picture-perfect, and I remember photographing clusters for my archive. My tasting notes describe dark cherry fruit, baker's chocolate and a soft lactic note. The wine wraps thickly over the palate, imparting sweet tannins, toasted oak and lots of abundant textural richness. This is a beauty that is still holding well.

The winemaking team describe this as 'an explosive year' - a hot summer was preceded by a cool spring which yielded healthy, crunchy grapes. The 2015 Redigaffi has crushed blackberry and wild bramble aromas, and a slightly lifted note. It is seductively smooth on the palate, with a rich, plump middle and a lovely blue plum, black fruited, smoky element with a little toasty oak. The tannins are fine but with a slight dryness. I liked it a little better when I tasted it in 2018 but it may just be this particular bottle, or this stage in its evolution. Nevertheless, it is still a beautiful wine.

Nutty oak wrapping up plush cherry fruit and plenty of acidity keeping it supple. Posh and hedonistic wine, if a little anonymous. Can already be approached. (WS)