Azienda Agricola Giovanni Faraone, Giulianova Abruzzo

One of the oldest and most traditional producers in the zona as well as a big local favorite, Giovanni is overshadowed only by Valentini in the ranks of truly interesting Trebbiano producers, makes two rich and meaty yet truly elegant reds and THEN makes a late harvest vino di meditazione version of Montepulciano of which he often jokes, "Vin Santo is for the local priest, THIS is for the Cardinal!". Enjoy...

Faraone Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Santa Maria dell'Arco 2001  Sold Out, Returning Soon!

The Santa Maria bottling is more rustic with meat, earth and forest floor notes on the nose and a wonderfully rich texture, think roast pork loin, wild mushrooms covering a succulent duck breast or maybe a nicely grilled steak with some truffle risotto on the side. Pour some for you local Burg Head and see if they find a familial connection.

Faraone Costa del Monte Vino Liquoroso Rosso della Cattedrale, Abruzzo  $35.00

100% Montepulciano made in the style of Recioto: Nearly black in the glass and intensely spicy on the nose, this one can be served in place of port at the end of a meal or just savored in a big arm chair with a good book and Miles Davis playing In a Silent Way in the background...

The Return of the Mountain King:

Azienda Agricola Emidio Pepe, Torano Nuovo, Abruzzo

At VinItaly 1997, while greeting friends in the Abruzzo pavilion, we stumbled upon an unpretentious booth that turned out to be one of the greatest wine producers we have ever encountered. It must have been the classic bottle presentation and vintages dating back to 1964 being poured that caught our eye rather than the three beautiful women working within (yeah, right!). Then three years ago we brought in eleven different vintages, they blew out in short order and not a week has gone by since without someone calling up and demanding “Yeah, Yeah, Brunello, Barolo, Amarone, Sforsato, I know, I know...but WHERE THE HELL is the PEPE!!!!!”

What makes these wines so special? Well, meeting Emidio was like meeting a T - Rex still in fighting trim, snacking on passing farm animals and unaware / uninterested in what had happened in the last 63 million years: he does what he does and is not about to change anything to meet the demands of the market or some critic. Emidio is the Orson Welles of the Abruzzi (although he actually looks like Clint Eastwood and Sean Connery morphed into one hard as nails, take no prisoners kind of guy), everything must be done HIS way because he knows it is the RIGHT way: totally organic, manual agriculture, pressing the grapes with the feet of his beautiful daughters, fermenting the wines in stone tubs, bottling them by hand (without racking or filtration) into demijohns and THEN aging them for up to thirty years at the winery before decanting into a new bottle, cork and label ensemble (after standing up for two months and only his wife is allowed to do this!) when it is actually sold. This results in wines of amazing quality and diversity (Sr. Pepe considers consistency in wine from year to year not only undesirable but dishonest and spares no words castigating producers who achieve this!) ranging from Syrah / Sagrantino style spice bombs in ripe vintages to deeeeeeep meat and earth scented marvels in more balanced vintages.

All of these bottlings are ORGANIC and the cantina will be certified BIODYNAMIC with the next vintage.

Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2005  $100.00

Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 1995  $175.00

Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 1995  $500.00  3ltr Double Magnum

Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 1985  $300.00

Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 1982  $240.00

Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 1980  $220.00

Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 1979  $350.00

Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 1977  $280.00

Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 1975  $350.00

Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 1967  $450.00