December 25, 2023 - Sadly flawed. Win some, lose some.
April 24, 2023 - Fairly clean with cherry tinged fruit.
August 29, 2021 - Emidio Pepe tasting (Clos Pasoh): Popped and poured from a new bottle, still a tight showing compared to an earlier bottle that was opened in the morning apparently. Bricking in colour, showed the most VA out of all the bottles. Tertiary notes of mushroom and forest floor, with a slightly raisiny note that I didn't like so much. Definitely more of an acquired taste but with such wines you are drinking history.
July 22, 2020 - Some say Pepe’s wines are overrated but I love em. This 1983 was recorked in 2017 and direct from his cellar. The wine color is bricking , nose has classic dried cherry, bit of mushroom and licorice , palate has secondary fruit , bit of oxidation , medium body but good length. Traits of a natural wine. Overall delicious .
May 11, 2020 - Don't let the 2018 cork confuse you, this is definitely an old wine. Though it pours a bricked purple-red and throws an instant array of tertiary aromas, this benefits from a good hour-plus decant that allows the overly-strong sherry aromas to subdue and the structure to find its footing. Eventually, the nose offers aromas of dried cherry, tomato vine, marzipan, button mushroom and licorice. Barely medium bodied, the acid is bright and outshines the modest tannins just a bit more than would be preferable, though the latter are themselves refined and elegant. The flavor profile is really nice, and includes ripe, juicy cherry, tomato leaf, licorice, chili flake, strawberry preserve, blood orange, black pepper and heavily-worn leather. Definitely not for everyone. As this ages (gracefully), I doubt it will improve. Drink up.
February 13, 2020 - Bad! Sick
I don’t know if it was because of age or because of a problem.
Have some more old pepes and will try to find out whether there is any substance behind the hype
August 25, 2019 - Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo sees no oak, the wines are fermented in cement with no added SO2. Surprisingly their wines have the ability to age for decades, but I don’t think I am a fan of their wines despite their popularity. Tasted blind - Mellow red berries, horse sweat, volatile shoe polish and leather. Light bodied with soft extraction, concrete ceramic smell, sour cherry, mild liquorice. Tart on the palate with angular acidity. Unique smell. Rosso di Montalcino? 2011? (85/100)
August 22, 2018 - This bottle was reconditioned in 2016. Compared to younger vintages of Emidio this was much more refined and developed. I didnt get that strong sweet tar I so often find in his wines, rather this had lots of leather, tobacco, dried rose, and cherry. Tannins fully resolved, nice mid palate acidity, very good with food.
April 21, 2018 - First time trying this and quite happy with this bottle. Light and easy drinking - not what I was expecting given its Italian heritage. Good red fruit and highly nuanced berries and charcoal notes. Not a lot of notes but definitely recall being v impressed w this and thinking it was no where near decline.
April 19, 2018 - Have only had one Emidio Pepe before, a 2000, and this was surprisingly similar. Light hearted with a distinct spritz to the palate. Soft red cherry fruit nose. Flickers of darker fruit but unlike most of the Italian wines I know. Hard to believe this is 35-years-old as there is such freshness and vibrancy. Unique and a lot of fun.