Emidio Pepe Montepulciano D Abruzzo 2000 Decanted 750ml

Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2000 Decanted is an exceptional mature Italian red wine from one of Abruzzo's most celebrated traditional producers. Produced in Torano Nuovo, this historic vintage showcases the remarkable ageing potential of Montepulciano and the distinctive winemaking philosophy of the Pepe family.
The 2000 vintage was warmer than the preceding 2001 harvest, resulting in ripe, concentrated fruit and rounder tannins. The winery describes it as an enveloping expression of Montepulciano, combining richness and approachability with the structure needed for extended bottle maturation.
Made from 100% Montepulciano, the wine follows the estate's traditional low-intervention approach. The grapes are hand-harvested and fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in glass-lined cement tanks. It is matured in the same vessels before bottling without fining or filtration, allowing the wine to evolve naturally over many years.
The "Decanted" designation refers to Emidio Pepe's special pre-release process. Mature bottles are carefully transferred into fresh bottles to separate accumulated sediment, assess the wine and preserve its quality. The wine is then topped up with another bottle of the same vintage and recorked.

Tasting Notes:

Colour:
Deep garnet red with evolved brick-red and ruby reflections.

Nose:
Complex aromas of wild cherry, ripe blackberry and dried red fruit, layered with mature spice box, leather, cigar box, roasted coffee and subtle earthy notes.

Palate:
Full-bodied and richly textured, revealing concentrated dark fruit, savoury herbs, leather and graphite. Rounded tannins provide a smooth, generous structure, while lively acidity maintains freshness and balance.

Finish:
Long and persistent, with lingering wild cherry, coffee, iron-like minerality and savoury spice.