TN: 2013 Casa Emma Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

WINE TALK
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  • 2013 Casa Emma Chianti Classico Gran Selezione _- Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG (11/15/2020)_Picked this up during a visit to the farm/cellar in March 2017; been resting at 57F ever since. Upon removing the cork, the first aromas are of sweet oak, ripe red/dark red berries and the lightest touch of soil. I immediately poured this into decanter for 30 minutes’ aeration; the wine pivoted quickly, shifting/evolving each 5 minutes thereafter in this vessel. Having returned to bottle as I finished cooking, the wine was served some 45 minutes after first opening, at 66F.

relatively simple but very attractive blend of the initial aromas of oak and creamy berries; those quickly dissipated after only 5 minutes in the glass. Following, it then moved toward the center, which was more a story of grape, place, and vintage rather than wood and sweet fruit. That said, it was the second glass, at about the 75 minute-open mark that the wine re-invented itself: the berries exploded in volume and intensity, the tannins firmed up, the acids came to attention, and the flavors broadened, becoming deeper at the same time.

Nearing 90 minutes open, some iron/clay notes along with pine/forest came alive, while on the med+ bodied palate some excess weight was shed putting this firmly within its ‘fighting weight’.

And here I sit, two hours after opening this, and it’s nothing short of lovely - a wine that I’m no longer driven to taste, but rather compelled to invest myself in its vast assortment of vivid, compelling aromas. Every now and again, some notes of campfire, tree moss/mushrooms revel in a cheerful dance. I’m feeling quite fortunate just now. 13,5% abv., drink thru 2032. highly recommended+

p.s This was Marco Salvadori’s (enologo) second vintage at Casa Emma. The jump in quality during those two years, and in the years until now, has been steadily increasing to the point that these wines are heavily undervalued in the marketplace. Thus, I’d put these wines in the top quartile of the zone. Today’s farming is entirely organic.

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Posted from CellarTracker

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I just had the 2015 of this, and enjoyed it so much I ran out and bought 6 bottles…Extremely impressive and enjoyable, though the tannin was pretty strong. Not so much as to detract from my enjoyment, as the fruit was fully up to the tannin…but enough that I’m on the fence between consuming these over the next 4-5 year (in case the tannin outlasts the fruit) OR aging them based on the conventional wisdom that a structured wine like this needs time. The '15 is available at various Costco locations in Dallas and Plano, Tx, for $34.99/bottle.

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That is a terrific price! I cannot find anywhere that will ship to NYS.

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the '15 is superb. Having had it beginning the day before Anteprima Toscana began, and about a dozen times since, I’d recommend loading up at $35 - or even $40. It’s the real deal, and in my top 5 of the vintage from that zone.