2005 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
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Tasting notes
The 2005 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Vecchie Vigne is dark and brooding, with a whiff of ground cloves, worn leather and underbrush giving way to dried black cherries, all lifted by fresh mint. It opens with a pretty inner sweetness, coming across as lifted and refined. Saline minerals complicate the core of ripe red berry fruits. It tapers off fresh with medium length. A subtle coating of resolved tannins and licorice stick around. The 2005 is in a very giving stage at this moment, and while I don’t see it maturing any further in a positive direction, I also don’t expect it to decline anytime soon.
Critic scores
Average Score
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Chiara, Emidio's granddaughter, explains that 2005 was a 'super-balanced season. We haven’t got a lot of stock left, but it was a solid vintage. We didn't produce 2004, it was too rainy for Montepulciano (it was great for the whites), which forced us to sell more stocks of the 2005.' Bottle number 42,978. Mid to deep ruby with some development, but less than the 2007, visually it seems a bit younger even. Complex and multi-layered nose with crushed red- and dark-fruit notes. Concentrated and yet taut. Iron and hints of orange. Succulent, elegant and taut on the palate too, with lots of finely grained tannins that frame the fruit. Already irresistible, but will go on for a long time. Real class. (WS)
The 2005 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is further along its evolutionary track. The wine presents tones of dried fruit, dark spice, licorice, smoked bacon and dry earth. The aging process has taken this wine down a path of elegance, refinement and sophistication. In the mouth, it presents a thick framework with softness and roundness. You get flavors of dark cherry, plum and prune. The wine's fruit identity is more intact on the palate despite this bottle's ten years of age. It should age forward safely for five more years.
About the producer
Emidio Pepe is a star of the Abruzzo region and one of Italy’s most famous names. Worshipped by natural-wine lovers for its low-intervention approach, this estate makes category-defying, age-worthy examples of Montepulciano, Trebbiano and Cerasolo d’Abruzzo, as well as Pecorino Colli Aprutini.