TN: 2017 Emidio Pepe Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo (Italy, Abruzzi, Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo)

[B_Buzzini]

2017 Emidio Pepe Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo - Italy, Abruzzi, Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo (6/28/2023)
Been awhile since I've had this one...my last bottle. Age has toned down the vibrant "pretties" in this...now more tilled strawberry field earth tones...dried roses and cherries...still very tangy and tarted up nicely with vigor...some tingle in this bottle...love the red licorice and crushed mineral dryness...little tar...cinnamon stick/white pepper spice...showing a little heat, so not as polished as before...rustic for sure! Doesn't pop with brightness as before...dulled down a bit...I think I prefer the younger versions...but still seems like a bowl full of Italian sun kissed fruit...crushed with vineyard walked feet! Still my favorite Pepe wines. (93 points)

Posted from CellarTracker

[Jon_H]

Nice - thanks for sharing. The only varietal in the line-up I’ve yet to try. Looking back, the Montepulciano was a bit heavy on the fruit than I’d prefer these days (palate has certainly changed). Cerasuolo might be the answer…

[T_Melloni]

Thanks for posting the TN.

I was fortunate to buy a few Emidio Pepe wines when I was in Italy last Fall. I did get a 2019 Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo.
Saw your note on that wine and liked the comment on the funk of “dirty vineyard feet.”
That is what I got from the 2020 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. But I referred to it as “grandpa’s slippers.”

[Matthew_King]

Toe jam?