Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2020
95 points - Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, June 2023 This is one of the more precious and fragile reds from Abruzzo, a mountainous region known for hearty flavors and abundantly full-bodied wines. The 2020 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo knocks that paradigm onto its side. The certified organic wine reveals subtle veils of wild berry fruit, rose, iron ore and blood orange. The wine shows a dark garnet color with finely polished tannins. Balanced acidity gives hot-vintage fruit an extra boost.Emidio Pepe's 2020 releases underline one of the fundamental truths of Abruzzo's finest wines. When executed to the highest criteria, the red wines made from Montepulciano can deliver the grace and luminosity of a white wine. And the white wines made with Trebbiano can exhibit the texture and aging potential of a red. This fascinating role reversal is at play in the two beautiful wines reviewed here. - Monica Larner