Emidio Pepe - Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 'Branella' 2021

Emidio Pepe is a singular producer creating amazingly complex age-worthy reds and whites in a region of mass production, overly engineered versions of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.

The winemaking regime at Pepe follows an uber-natural and artisinal path. Grapes are grown biodynamically, hand-harvested, hand-destemmed, fermented with spontaneous yeast and aged 18-24 months in glass-lined cement tanks. The wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered and are aged in their cellar in bottles for continued development.

2020 is the first release of both single vineyards at Emidio Pepe: Casa Pepe & Branella. These two wines replace the one Montepulciano d'Abruzzo from old vines. That is to say, there will only be these two cru wines and not, also a third non-vineyard designated wine.

Branella comes from the two hectare Branella vineyard. Purchased by the family in 1981. The name of the vineyard, Branella, comes from the name of the former owner of the parcel. Fermented in 22 - 30 HL cement tanks with natural yeast and aged for two years in cement before bottling.

"The 2021 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Vecchie Vigne Branella is spicy and floral, with a smoky burst of grilled herbs and autumnal spice complementing dried black cherries. This is elegant and seamlessly silky, with depths of dark red and blue fruits that slowly saturate. All is underscored by saline minerals as a coating of grippy tannins emerges toward the close. It finishes with staining length and concentration, leaving bitter blackberries and violet inner florals to resonate on. The 2021 will be released in 2025. It's shaping up to be an epic and powerful rendition of Pepe's Vigne Branella." - 95 points, Vinous

Producer: Emidio Pepe

Country: Italy

Region: Abruzzo

Varietal: Montepulciano

Appellation: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Vintage: 2021

Size: 750ml