Haunted Legends of Abruzzo by Vasyl Velykanskiy
Valentini, Pepe and Praesidium.
By Boris · Hosted by Vasyl Velykanskiy
There are winemakers whose wines you eagerly want to try, but something always gets in the way (mostly the price, of course). My story with Emidio Pepe goes like this: I had only tasted their relatively recent releases, which didn't impress me much. Meanwhile, those around me would nod knowingly, saying, "Well, this wine is only six years old. Give it another 5-6 years, and it will be perfect. It's too early to drink it now!" And though the older vintages sit on the shelves, their prices are quite daunting. So, it's great that there are adventurous people (hello, Vasyl) who organise tastings designed to definitively answer specific questions while broadening our horizons. Valentini had been on my radar for a while, but Praesidium was a completely new name to me (and I'm not ashamed to admit it).
Thus, in the subdued atmosphere of Lo bar, a small group of us had the chance to taste wines from three distinguished winemakers, stars from different provinces of Abruzzo.
| Wine | WAVG | SD | Price | QPR | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Brut Rosé Reserve (d2020)(2017) NV Loimer | 🥉 | 4.00 | 0.06 | – | 800 ₴ | 1.45 |
 Praesidium | #5 | 3.79 | 0.08 | – | 1,215 ₴ | 0.61 |
 Valentini | 🥇 | 4.37 | 0.34 | 3 | 6,500 ₴ | 0.87 |
 Emidio Pepe | #6 | 3.72 | 0.32 | 1 | – | – |
 Emidio Pepe | #4 | 3.97 | 0.15 | – | 5,800 ₴ | 0.40 |
 Praesidium | 🥈 | 4.22 | 0.16 | 2 | 3,075 ₴ | 0.93 |
Loimer Brut Rosé Reserve NV
A welcoming that we tasted blind. One of the attendees managed to guess producer.
Praesidium Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Superiore 2018
This rosé is produced entirely from Montepulciano grapes, harvested from 60-year-old vines situated 400 metres above sea level in soils with a high clay content and abundant white calcareous stones. The grapes are picked at the ripeness level typical for red wine production. They undergo a four-day maceration period, followed by extended ageing in stainless steel vats to maintain freshness and develop complexity.
Valentini Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 2014
This wine is made exclusively from Trebbiano grapes, sourced from vines that are 70 years old and located at an altitude of 550 metres in soils composed of calcareous clay. It undergoes spontaneous fermentation using indigenous yeasts, without any temperature control or filtration. The ageing process takes place over 12 months in old oak barrels ranging from 50 to 70 hectolitres, contributing to its unique character.
Emidio Pepe Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 2009
This wine is produced solely from Trebbiano grapes, harvested from vines that are over 40 years old and located at an elevation of 240 metres in clay-rich soils. The grapes are foot-pressed and fermented with native yeasts, followed by a 15-month ageing process in glass-lined concrete tanks. It is bottled unfiltered and unfined. Additionally, older vintages undergo hand decanting and are recorked when an order is placed.
Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva 2009
This wine is crafted entirely from Montepulciano grapes, coming from vines older than 40 years and grown at 240 metres above sea level in clay-rich soils. The grapes are hand-destemmed and undergo fermentation with native yeasts. The ageing process extends for two years in glass-lined concrete tanks. This wine is presented unfiltered and unfined. For older vintages, each bottle is hand-decanted and recorked once an order is received.
Praesidium Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva 2009
This wine is made entirely from Montepulciano grapes harvested from 60-year-old vines located at an altitude of 400 metres in soils abundant in clay and white calcareous stones. It undergoes spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel tanks with a maceration period of approximately 12 days. The maturation process lasts around 24 months, taking place in both Slavonian and French oak barrels. Following this, the wine is refined in the bottle for about 6 months before release.