NB: tasted on 24th of January this year.

• 1977 Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d'Abruzzo - Italy, Abruzzi, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo (1/24/2008)
  I have been drinking this wine today during a memorable lunch. While meeting with someone for the first time, it was amazing how quickly the choice of food and wine made me think I knew this person for many years already.
  
  Still a deep ruby color at the core, clearly ambering on the edges. Clear secudairy aromas like barnyard and mushrooms on the nose, but still a lot of vivid red fruit and coffee, chocolat and some boxwood. Very round and balanced on the palate. Balanced, but relatively high acidity that never dominates because of the concentrated core of ripe fruit and refined tanines. A long, lingering finish. This wine has matured gracefully, but still has the vividness and punch to survive another 30 years. Drink now, or in 20 years if you like! (93 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

Great notes on the Pepe. The only vintage of this wine I've had is the 1983, and it was outstanding. Very shy from the outset, a couple hours air allowed it to become much more expressive. I had read that Pepe's wines needed this air to come around, regardless of age, and it was spot on.

Nice one Jochems!