1994 Casa Emma Soloío Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT

Community Tasting Notes (1) Avg Score: 91 points

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  7/16/2021 - forceberry wrote: 91 Points

  100% Merlot fermented and macerated in oak, aged for 18 months in new oak barriques. Tasted blind.
  
  Hazy and dark, almost fully opaque maroon color. Sweet, rich and somewhat tertiary nose with subtly oxidative aromas of wizened figs and raisins, some toasty notes of mocha oak, a little bit of cherry marmalade, light soy sauce notes, a hint of beef jerky and a touch of chocolate chips. The wine is ripe, broad and very evolved on the palate with a full body, silky texture and moderately tertiary flavors of raisins and dried dates, some bittersweet dark chocolate, a little bit of juicy black cherry, light toasty notes of savory oak spice, a hint of salty liquorice and a rich touch of balsamic VA. The overall feel is still quite firm and broad-shouldered with the high acidity and still enjoyably grippy medium-plus tannins. The finish is long, complex and moderately grippy with rich, sweet-toned flavors of dried dates and raisins, some oxidative notes of beef jerky and soy sauce, a little bit of cherry marmalade, light toasty notes of mocha oak and a hint of balsamic VA.
  
  One sniff from this wine and I said immediately that this must be from Italy. Another sniff and a small taste, and I added that it doesn't seem to be from Piedmont, I'd say Tuscany. I guessed 30-yo Super Tuscan, probably from the mid-to-late 1980's. Not a bullseye, but close enough. All in all, this is a very good effort - especially considering it's a Merlot aged in new barriques, and I'm not a fan of either. The wine might be a bit too toasty for my wheelhouse, but the flavors have nevertheless melded wonderfully with the tertiary flavors and the overall impression is very harmonious with a still surprisingly firm and muscular structure. I'd say the wine is peaking now - and has been on its peak for some time - but I can imagine this will continue to stay good for at least some years more. Another solid case that Tuscany is surprisingly good terroir for prime Merlot. Great value at 39,80€.

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