Just an informal poll. Obviously Pepe is part of the discussion. Who else?
Certainly E. Valentini used to be in the talk. Not sure anymore. I have had problems with older bottles of both.
Emidio Pepe would be my vote.
Whoever Bobby John tells us it is.
True dat…
Could you please elaborate? I am holding several bottles of both, on the understanding that they will live long lives. If that is mistaken, it would be good to know now.
Who is Bobby John??
The wines no doubt need time, so you are correct in holding them. Depending on the age of the bottles of course. I have tasted some bottles that were very good and others that were flat and still others that seemed to be heat damaged. Some were purchased in Italy by me, in Pescara. Others here in the states. And most recently through local dist. I want to say it was the 2004 Pepe Mont. but I am not exactly sure. The bottle seemed to be off and flawed with VA. We had about 15 bottles open on the bar that night and I kind of lost track after it showed it was off. As with any great wine, good and bad nights.
Been on the lookout for this one, but haven’t found it yet.
2009 Torre dei Beati Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Cocciapazza
“One of the best montepulcianos I’ve tried in years, magically combining power, purity and elegance.”
Ian D’Agata
Valentini by far IMHO
Historically, Valentini, followed by Emidio Pepe, have been the undisputed stand-outs, I think.
There is another relatively little known winemaker, Giovanni Faraone, whose reds I consider to be almost as good (and occasionally just as good) as Pepe’s.
And then there are dozens and dozens of very good wineries spanning the proverbial traditional-modern spectrum, such as Illuminati, Zaccagnini, Pietrantonj, Masciarelli, Dragani etc.
Emidio Pepe. The 1974 was my Montepulciano d’Abruzzo epiphany wine. Although I haven’t really parlayed that into vast experience with category.
Valentini is the ne plus ultra of the grape and place.
People like Pepe because it can be Valentini-esque and you can actually find it.
That being said, I’ve had terrible bottles of Valentini, but that is the price you pay for the potential, I suppose.
At one point I would put Valentini at the top. But I am not sure how the estate/son is doing after his father’s death in 2006. Might take a decade or more to know.
I’m sure it’s not “the best” but the Masciarelli Marina Cvetic bottling is an excellent wine at about $20.
Really like the wine. But not in the same class as the others. Found it to be a touch modern. At $20 a steal. Not in my area.