1982 Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Community Tasting Notes (29) Avg Score: 93.1 points

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  1/9/2024 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 96 Points

  This bottle was in pristine condition and I was very excited to open it tonight as I’ve never drank Emidio Pepe with this much age before. Immediately after opening the clarity and aromatics were exceptional, but it tasted a bit like dirt. Definitely made me nervous, but I was confident it was going to clean up… and within 30 minutes in the decanter it was perfect. So delicate, translucent and bright, very Burgundian in weight and elegance but with more robust fruit that made me think of older northern Rhône Syrah — slightly animal and wild. Very cool!

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  3/13/2023 - forceberry wrote: 92 Points

  100% Montepulciano from organically farmed vineyards, all fruit fully destemmed. Fermented spontaneously and aged for two years in concrete tanks. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. 13% alcohol. Bottle no. 9001.
  
  Deep, dark and quite evolved pomegranate color that permits very little light through. The nose feels dry and spicy with complex, moderately evolved aromas of dried fruits and leathery funk, some raisiny tones, a little bit of licorice root, light lifted notes of ethery VA, a hint of cranberry sauce, a touch of dried red plums and a fine fragrant whiff of arrack. The wine feels dry, evolved and somewhat rustic on the palate with a rather full body and complex, savory flavors of leather and wizened black cherries, some licorice root tones, a little bit of cranberry sauce, light volatile notes of balsamico, an autumnal hint of damp leaves and a touch of meaty umami. The wine still retains good sense of structure with its high acidity and supple, slightly grippy medium tannins. The finish is evolved, savory and lengthy with a layered aftertaste of gamey meat and autumnal leaves, some leathery tones, a little bit of sweet black cherry, light licorice root tones, a hint of balsamic VA and a touch of brambly raspberry.
  
  A fine, serious and somewhat burly vintage of Emidio Pepe that certainly shows its age, but hasn't started to fall apart yet. The overall feel is firm, wonderfully savory and so nuanced with good sense of tertiary complexity, evolved yet vibrant fruit tones and a touch of rusticity. I'd say the wine is on its plateau of maturity now. It has been there for quite some time already, and it will remain there for a good handful of years more. Fine and delicious stuff; better to drink sooner than later - even if the wine can keep, it really doesn't benefit from any further aging. This is as good as it is going to get.

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  12/21/2022 - ShadowIII Does not like this wine:

  Couldn't get into this wine, initially thought it was corked, but the off notes blew off, then more funk, Brett, never seemed together, off bottle? Have liked these wines in the past.

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  11/5/2022 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 96 Points

  Purchased at La Sirena in West Palm Beach. One of the better wines I’ve had. Extremely polished with exceptional balance. My first experience with this producer and certainly not my last. This still requires a 90 min decant and it’s likely in its prime. However, at least a decade left but likely 2. New cork in 2015. Revisit 2025. Outstanding. A wow wine.

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  10/29/2022 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:

  Emidio Pepe Agriturismo Visit and Aurora Vertical Tasting; 10/29/2022-10/30/2022 (Emidio Pepe Winery): #7 in the line-up of 7 wines in the Aurora vertical tasting paired with dinner at the Emidio Pepe Agriturismo. Without a food pairing at this point of the dinner and perhaps to far along to fully appreciate. This is mature and more lean and elegant in style, it has a lightness on the palate - earthy, mature red berries - silky.

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