Well I had to do it. WA97 and WS89. I just had to know! Daniel Thomases rated this ahead of the Redigaffi for the first time, and also being reputedly a conservative scorer, I had to calibrate my palate to his - after all, he is the new Italian guy for the Wine Advocate. The Guisto di Notri is Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Cab Franc.

It was decanted for 2 hours before being bottled again and served blind to 2 friends at the wine shop.

Tua Rita 2001 Guisto di Notri ($73)

Hour 2
Dark, thick and opaque purple ruby color in the glass. The wine is so thick it stains the glass when you swirl it. Aromas of dark blackberry, blueberry and graphite. Thick and very chewy on the palate with dark fruit flavors - a wonderful component of graphite and minerals buttress the fruit. A thick palate coating, meaty finish. Satiny, yet thick texture. A bruiser now, but has fantastic stuffing.

Hour 4
This wine is very mercurial - it seems disjointed right now. Needless to say it is super-young, but there are flavors of smoked meat, funk, orange rinds and all sorts of other interesting flavors twisting and turning around.

Right now it doesn't offer too much pleasure because the wines components are still coming together, but man, when it does, it will be stunning. My score, if and when it comes together is 93-96 - my next bottle is scheduled for 2006.