“Casa Pepe Vecchie Vigne” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC 2022

Emidio Pepe | Abruzzo
Az. Agr. Emidio Pepe | Contrada Chiesi, 10 | IT 64010 Torano Nuovo

12112222 · 0,75 l · 198,67 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping11 units available
Limitation of 2 articles per customer

There are vineyards that are more than just plots of land. They are part of the family history, witnesses to generations who have worked and lived here. Casa pepis one such place: the vineyard directly in front of the winery in Torano Nuovo, 0.8 hectares, which Emidio pepplanted in 1974 with a careful mass selection. Between 1972 and 1974, he grafted the best genetic material he could find on various Montepulciano plots in the region onto rootstock from 1970 – an old technique when there were no nurseries and winegrowers had to master grafting themselves. The result is an extraordinary genetic diversity: under the old pergola, each vine has slightly different leaves, slightly different grapes – and yet, in DNA tests, always Montepulciano. A living archive of this noble grape variety. With a southern exposure and plenty of morning sun, Casa pepbenefits from the silt-dominated soils that give the Montepulciano the fullness and expressiveness that make it the richest and most opulent of the two new single-vineyard wines.

2020 marked a turning point in the history of the winery: after intensive soil studies with Californian geologist Brenna Quigley, Chiara pep, the fifth generation, decided to replace the previous Vecchie Vigne selection with two single-vineyard wines – casa pepand Branella. A decision based on the deep understanding that even 300 metres of distance create geological differences that are worth vinifying separately. The grapes are harvested by hand and destemmed by hand with a wire net – since 2022 using small stainless steel tanks that are emptied by gravity via a hydraulic valve. Fermentation begins spontaneously in 2,Liters tanks with whole berries and a pied de cuve, with Chiara attaching great importance to ensuring that the yeasts ferment energetically. The high fermentation temperatures promote the polymerisation of the tannins – a deliberate process that gives the Montepulciano its characteristic structure. After maturing for 18 to 24 months in glass-lined cement tanks, the wine is bottled unfiltered and unfined.

The 2022 presents itself in the glass in the deepest, impenetrable garnet red with violet reflections – those blood tones that Emidio pepregarded as a sign of aromatic complexity. The bouquet is rich and inky: luscious black cherries and blackberries meld with smoky, stony notes of charcoal and a hint of iodine. The fruit is sweet and fleshy, underpinned by earthy, mineral accents and a hint of dry pickled olives. On the palate, this Casa pepis powerful and concentrated, with remarkable depth and generosity. The fruit is warm and lush, the tannins are present but smoothly interwoven with the fruit, while the lively acidity gives the wine freshness and tension. Black cherry, blackberry jelly and dark plum dominate the palate, accompanied by notes of leather, tar and a hint of exotic spices. The finish is long and gripping, with a firm grip that emphasises the structure of this exceptional wine. A Montepulciano of impressive expressiveness and personality – rich, concentrated and yet elegant, a wine that already gives great pleasure but will gain in complexity and finesse over the next 20 to 30 years. SUPERIORE.DE

"Darkly alluring, the 2022 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Vecchie Vigne Casa pepopens with a perfumed bouquet, mixing wilted violets and wet stone with blackberries, dried cherries and incense. This is round and cool-toned in feel, with a supple wave of ripe red and blue fruits flowing across a core of vibrant acidity. The 2022 saturates the palate with primary concentration and a web of fine-grain tannins that wrap the senses in youthful poise. A tart twang of citrus-tinge black currants lingers on. The 2022 is embryonic, yet it displays an inner harmony that will guarantee a long and fruitful evolution. Bury this deep in the cellar." Vinous