decanted for a couple hours, inky extracted purple crushed fruit…SO plush and smooth for such a big wine, ala Petite Sirah, yet there is a tart cherry skin freshness that lifts the wine…gorgeous violet florals, tar reduction nuance, licorice…drinks well now, but better days to come.
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nice round and ripe red and blue fruits, slightly perfumed and distinctive flowery aromas… very raw and honest, this is very well made in the cellar, no make up (wood) and bullshit. the winemaker obviously tried to keep the wine as natural as possible.
the wine moved like an ocean and was not linear at all, but changed almost by the minute. it was like aroma-waves were coming, at times stronger and at times less strong. it became even smoky after a while,
very well handcrafted. on the palate some bitter notes, almost some carbohydrate, nice and long lasting acidity. absolutely a wine which has an USP with its raw and "natural" style.
we called it the markus ruch from italy.
decanted for 4 hours and needed every bit of it.
wouldn‘t drink it every day, but once in a while this expands the horizon.
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Tasted double blind. My first Pepe and it exceeded all my expectations. No disturbing funk, this is a stunning wine, with stunning complexity and precision and an impeccable structure. Wow. 95/96 pts.
TN: Intense, expressive volcanic soil, green vegetal aromas, lots of minerality and with time more and more brighter red berries and an intriguing dominant floral aromatic which lead to a superb aromatic balance. So well crafted with the finest tannins, roundest acidity, superb freshness, good length wonderful light, satin-like texture.
Decanting: Decanted for 4 hours and improved massively in the glass. An even longer decanting might be best.
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Effervescent on opening. Needs an hour of air to lose the fizz. Inky dark color. Dry, astringent tannins. Violets. Floral. Very wild, au naturale essence. Red crunchy fruit. Natural. Young. Needs food and time.
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Effervescence strong right out of the bottle. 75% faded after an hour decant. Robust wine with flavor profile I would have initially guessed as syrah or maybe brunello. 2 hours after opening it was in a good place and more true to form, and it was even better on day 2. Very good, but will hold off on my other bottle for several years or decant for at least a few hours.
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YOUNG VINES: Similar to my bottle opened almost exactly one year ago. No decant, after hearing Chiara say multiple times they never decant as the wines are decanted before bottling. It has a dark, ink-like purple color that has the glow around the rim. Scents of fresh cranberry, and some bright and a brambly wild essence. It shows that glou glou wildness at opening, an almost v/a-like tangy-astringency. The wine needs to hours in the glass to resolved that edge- maybe a decant IS needed. Cause then it takes off to show wild, raw, youthful fruit and some tobacco and earth notes. The wine is ALIVE.
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A private dinner (Restaurant Nazka, Amsterdam, NL): Double decanted to release some carbon dioxide. Pure and rich, fresh and complex, warm spices and white flowers, crushed red berries, juicy tannins, creamy texture, very good length. Surprisingly civilised and approachable.
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This is the younger-vine cuvée that's meant to be released in the European market only. Exceptional. So classic and riled up with energy and humble class. A fun, nutty (walnut?) note accompanies the dark fruit profile. It was enjoyed by all with homemade pizza on the Roccbox.
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Pnp then splash decant, nose is rustic with a touch funk, dark florals and juicy dark berries. Palate is tight initially hopefully will open with a little time. Blinded may lean southern rhone on this although the weight is slightly less.
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YOUNG VINES: Similar to my bottle opened almost exactly one year ago. This time, however, I decanted for three hours, instead of one (won't do that anymore after hearing Chiara say they don't ever decant their wines, since they are decanted before bottling). It has a dark, ink-like reddish-purple color. Scents of cranberry, and some bright and a brambly wild essence. First taste at opening shows that super tangy-almost effervescent astringency. So I just left it alone. At the two hour mark, that tart acid began to even out, but it remains a raw, energetic wine. At three hours things fell into place and what remained was clean and harmonious. Some clove and baking spice came on with a long, drying finish. Singular wines.
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- 4h decanted - Nose: organic wine character, dark fruits of prunes, present spices with cloves, violets, gingerbread spices, a little floral touch, accompanied by cocoa and dark chocolate. This is something different for once! - In the mouth the overall picture is stringent, fresh notes with almost sparkling acidity. Medium + long finish and exciting from the aromatic spectrum. If you are open to "orange wines", then you must have tasted this. I personally like it! - Decanting seems to be important for the integration of the tannins.
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Initially tons of VA so I decanted. Was unyielding till 6hrs at which time this went through a complete transformation. Nose became cleaner with berries, tar and a bit of barnyard. On the palate this showed tart cherry fruits, earth and high acid. Perfect pizza wine. Not worth the current wine-searcher listed prices across the US. Definitely not the same as the E Pepe VV bottling.
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Decanted for one hour and needed every bit of that and more. Dark, ink-like purple color. "Scents of plum and cranberry, and some bright tangy fruit. Palate showed what felt like VA for the first hour, a tad worrisome, actually. But at the two hour mark, everything popped and what was remained was clean and energetic. Very floral with a long, drying finish. Very good. Give it lots of air, or just be smart and wait a few years.
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-- decanted approx. 1.25 hours before initial taste -- -- tasted a couple pours non-blind over approx. 1.5 hours --
NOSE: concentrated cherry Twizzlers; mineral; some darker berries; brooding.
BODY: very dark color of great depth.
TASTE: dark-fruited; packed; good acidity; medium-light brett note is somewhat worrisome, as this is otherwise a wine I'd love to be buying for my cellar at home. Will improve with age if the brett doesn't go crazy. Gut impression score: 90 - 92.
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Bevuto al ristorante "Grani & Braci" ieri sera. Prima volta con Emilio Pepe di cui ho sempre sentito parlare molto bene.
Bel naso. In bocca era molto "verde" quasi ancora si sentiva la clorofilla (ahahah). Nonostante ciò, a differenza del resto della tavolata a me è piaciuto molto. Aveva una eleganza e una promessa futura notevole. Da aspettare sicuramente almeno 5 anni ma sospetto che per goderne appieno una decina d'anni potrebbero essere meglio.
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Small tasting glass @ VINEUM during service, so a brief note. This is young, but top class! Delicious wine, very happy with the amount of bottles I purchased. Probably can merit 94 with some more time in bottle.
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93+ Opened the night before and allowed to slow ox ~24hrs. Gorgeous nose of dark berries, tar, still a touch tight. Although very good I know how much better these can be in time. Will wait a bit before opening the next bottle.
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Did I commit an infanticide ? Maybe but that tasted very good. Had with veal marsala saltimboca a la luppa. this pairing was a struggle for a while, and this is one of the best one. The tannins were good and soft and paired very well with the sage, onions and sauce. Made the wine very silky and good combination. Surprised I liked such a young Italian wine.
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Deep garnet red with purple shine. Fairly deep scent of fruits, sweet spices and farm. On the palate a lot of blue and black fruit, plenty of sweet licorice, ripe figs, cherry liqueur and a little mocha chocolate and tart spices (laurel) on the finish. The tannins are powerful, but polished and sweet-looking. Medium to strong body, juicy substance and a Little bit of funk.
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Open in bottle for 5hrs...dark inky black cherry color...somewhat shy nose of anise, blackberry, currants, tar, slight brett ala Rhone funk. Juicilicious wine here...deep and dark fruited, borderline dried raisined, yet a freshness with that Italian acidity that energizes like no other. This is SO young...I get it...showing monolithic plushness, a polished El Capitan with its size and age ability...this dude will outlive me for sure. Wonderful dark earth and minerality...florals, smoky tar, fruit jam...an intriguing wine for sure, that will only get better. ++pts
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3/18/2024 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 93 Points
decanted for a couple hours, inky extracted purple crushed fruit…SO plush and smooth for such a big wine, ala Petite Sirah, yet there is a tart cherry skin freshness that lifts the wine…gorgeous violet florals, tar reduction nuance, licorice…drinks well now, but better days to come.
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3/5/2024 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice, lithe, and interesting. A bit of initial fizz, but quite serious. I'd drink it any day at half the price, but the QPR is way off. 13.5%
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11/5/2023 - decaturwinedude wrote: 92 Points
Still trucking along-wiry- effervescent- tobacco leaf- olive- celery seed- lively!- some wild game- meat- juicy berry!
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8/21/2023 - Chris Davies Likes this wine: 90 Points
A touch of Brett, a bit of trapped CO2, raspberry fruit and bit wild/ natural but overall it hangs together. 3.5+
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12/23/2022 - La Sprezzatura wrote: 93 Points
nice round and ripe red and blue fruits, slightly perfumed and distinctive flowery aromas… very raw and honest, this is very well made in the cellar, no make up (wood) and bullshit. the winemaker obviously tried to keep the wine as natural as possible.
the wine moved like an ocean and was not linear at all, but changed almost by the minute. it was like aroma-waves were coming, at times stronger and at times less strong. it became even smoky after a while,
very well handcrafted. on the palate some bitter notes, almost some carbohydrate, nice and long lasting acidity. absolutely a wine which has an USP with its raw and "natural" style.
we called it the markus ruch from italy.
decanted for 4 hours and needed every bit of it.
wouldn‘t drink it every day, but once in a while this expands the horizon.
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12/22/2022 - Cailles wrote: 95 Points
Tasted double blind. My first Pepe and it exceeded all my expectations. No disturbing funk, this is a stunning wine, with stunning complexity and precision and an impeccable structure. Wow. 95/96 pts.
TN: Intense, expressive volcanic soil, green vegetal aromas, lots of minerality and with time more and more brighter red berries and an intriguing dominant floral aromatic which lead to a superb aromatic balance. So well crafted with the finest tannins, roundest acidity, superb freshness, good length wonderful light, satin-like texture.
Decanting: Decanted for 4 hours and improved massively in the glass. An even longer decanting might be best.
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10/30/2022 - decaturwinedude wrote: 91 Points
Effervescent on opening. Needs an hour of air to lose the fizz. Inky dark color. Dry, astringent tannins. Violets. Floral. Very wild, au naturale essence. Red crunchy fruit. Natural. Young. Needs food and time.
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12/28/2021 - PVJC Likes this wine: 94 Points
Effervescence strong right out of the bottle. 75% faded after an hour decant. Robust wine with flavor profile I would have initially guessed as syrah or maybe brunello. 2 hours after opening it was in a good place and more true to form, and it was even better on day 2. Very good, but will hold off on my other bottle for several years or decant for at least a few hours.
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12/25/2021 - decaturwinedude wrote: 92 Points
YOUNG VINES: Similar to my bottle opened almost exactly one year ago. No decant, after hearing Chiara say multiple times they never decant as the wines are decanted before bottling. It has a dark, ink-like purple color that has the glow around the rim. Scents of fresh cranberry, and some bright and a brambly wild essence. It shows that glou glou wildness at opening, an almost v/a-like tangy-astringency. The wine needs to hours in the glass to resolved that edge- maybe a decant IS needed. Cause then it takes off to show wild, raw, youthful fruit and some tobacco and earth notes. The wine is ALIVE.
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6/22/2021 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
A private dinner (Restaurant Nazka, Amsterdam, NL): Double decanted to release some carbon dioxide. Pure and rich, fresh and complex, warm spices and white flowers, crushed red berries, juicy tannins, creamy texture, very good length. Surprisingly civilised and approachable.
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5/22/2021 - Nojomoschwa Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is the younger-vine cuvée that's meant to be released in the European market only. Exceptional. So classic and riled up with energy and humble class. A fun, nutty (walnut?) note accompanies the dark fruit profile. It was enjoyed by all with homemade pizza on the Roccbox.
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1/16/2021 - Vinophiliac559 wrote:
Pnp then splash decant, nose is rustic with a touch funk, dark florals and juicy dark berries. Palate is tight initially hopefully will open with a little time. Blinded may lean southern rhone on this although the weight is slightly less.
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12/24/2020 - decaturwinedude wrote: 91 Points
YOUNG VINES: Similar to my bottle opened almost exactly one year ago. This time, however, I decanted for three hours, instead of one (won't do that anymore after hearing Chiara say they don't ever decant their wines, since they are decanted before bottling). It has a dark, ink-like reddish-purple color. Scents of cranberry, and some bright and a brambly wild essence. First taste at opening shows that super tangy-almost effervescent astringency. So I just left it alone. At the two hour mark, that tart acid began to even out, but it remains a raw, energetic wine. At three hours things fell into place and what remained was clean and harmonious. Some clove and baking spice came on with a long, drying finish. Singular wines.
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11/11/2020 - J_H Likes this wine: 92 Points
- 4h decanted
- Nose: organic wine character, dark fruits of prunes, present spices with cloves, violets, gingerbread spices, a little floral touch, accompanied by cocoa and dark chocolate. This is something different for once!
- In the mouth the overall picture is stringent, fresh notes with almost sparkling acidity. Medium + long finish and exciting from the aromatic spectrum. If you are open to "orange wines", then you must have tasted this. I personally like it!
- Decanting seems to be important for the integration of the tannins.
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12/31/2019 - Nick4378 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Initially tons of VA so I decanted. Was unyielding till 6hrs at which time this went through a complete transformation. Nose became cleaner with berries, tar and a bit of barnyard. On the palate this showed tart cherry fruits, earth and high acid. Perfect pizza wine. Not worth the current wine-searcher listed prices across the US. Definitely not the same as the E Pepe VV bottling.
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12/15/2019 - decaturwinedude wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for one hour and needed every bit of that and more. Dark, ink-like purple color. "Scents of plum and cranberry, and some bright tangy fruit. Palate showed what felt like VA for the first hour, a tad worrisome, actually. But at the two hour mark, everything popped and what was remained was clean and energetic. Very floral with a long, drying finish. Very good. Give it lots of air, or just be smart and wait a few years.
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8/11/2019 - rraaffaa wrote: 91 Points
A little too inky, might get better with age as it mellows out.
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5/26/2019 - grafstrb wrote:
-- decanted approx. 1.25 hours before initial taste --
-- tasted a couple pours non-blind over approx. 1.5 hours --
NOSE: concentrated cherry Twizzlers; mineral; some darker berries; brooding.
BODY: very dark color of great depth.
TASTE: dark-fruited; packed; good acidity; medium-light brett note is somewhat worrisome, as this is otherwise a wine I'd love to be buying for my cellar at home. Will improve with age if the brett doesn't go crazy. Gut impression score: 90 - 92.
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3/30/2019 - Euge67 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Bevuto al ristorante "Grani & Braci" ieri sera.
Prima volta con Emilio Pepe di cui ho sempre sentito parlare molto bene.
Bel naso.
In bocca era molto "verde" quasi ancora si sentiva la clorofilla (ahahah).
Nonostante ciò, a differenza del resto della tavolata a me è piaciuto molto.
Aveva una eleganza e una promessa futura notevole.
Da aspettare sicuramente almeno 5 anni ma sospetto che per goderne appieno una decina d'anni potrebbero essere meglio.
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3/30/2019 - dvansteenderen Likes this wine: 93 Points
Consistent with previous note.
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3/16/2019 - dvansteenderen Likes this wine: 93 Points
Small tasting glass @ VINEUM during service, so a brief note. This is young, but top class! Delicious wine, very happy with the amount of bottles I purchased. Probably can merit 94 with some more time in bottle.
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3/6/2019 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: 93 Points
93+ Opened the night before and allowed to slow ox ~24hrs. Gorgeous nose of dark berries, tar, still a touch tight. Although very good I know how much better these can be in time. Will wait a bit before opening the next bottle.
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10/25/2018 - Pierre-Yves wrote:
Did I commit an infanticide ? Maybe but that tasted very good. Had with veal marsala saltimboca a la luppa. this pairing was a struggle for a while, and this is one of the best one. The tannins were good and soft and paired very well with the sage, onions and sauce. Made the wine very silky and good combination. Surprised I liked such a young Italian wine.
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10/24/2018 - MQuentel@web.de Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep garnet red with purple shine. Fairly deep scent of fruits, sweet spices and farm. On the palate a lot of blue and black fruit, plenty of sweet licorice, ripe figs, cherry liqueur and a little mocha chocolate and tart spices (laurel) on the finish. The tannins are powerful, but polished and sweet-looking. Medium to strong body, juicy substance and a Little bit of funk.
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10/9/2018 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 93 Points
Open in bottle for 5hrs...dark inky black cherry color...somewhat shy nose of anise, blackberry, currants, tar, slight brett ala Rhone funk. Juicilicious wine here...deep and dark fruited, borderline dried raisined, yet a freshness with that Italian acidity that energizes like no other. This is SO young...I get it...showing monolithic plushness, a polished El Capitan with its size and age ability...this dude will outlive me for sure. Wonderful dark earth and minerality...florals, smoky tar, fruit jam...an intriguing wine for sure, that will only get better. ++pts
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