Mission Codename Pepi talk
“Over the years since he left the Pepi winery Bob Pepi has quietly carved a stellar reputation for his ability with the Napa Valley’s most important grape.” - WRO
Last year we brought you the 95-point 2017 vintage of this wine. And it was one of our Top-10 Cabernet deals of the year.
Today we’re back with the 2018 vintage and it’s even better.
The value here is simply nuts - it tastes like an upper-echelon Napa Cabernet (because it is). But it’s priced at the entry-level?!
While doing our due diligence on this one we noticed a social review saying “really, really nice 2017 Cab… will buy again if I ever see it at $45.”
LOL. Poor fella thought the NH liquor store gave him a bargain. Should’ve been on our list. Because YOU lucky souls, you know where to get the real deal discounts. And our $33 price is truly absurd.
Robert Pepi sold his renowned family winery in 1994. As part of the deal, they couldn’t use the Pepi name on any future wines. So, with the unstoppable desire to make more wine, he came up with the “Eponymous” moniker. It’s a cheeky nod to “one who is unable to use his family name on his own bottle of wine” as he says. With a chip on his shoulder, Pepi went all in to make this wine. It’s sourced from four vineyards, with Mt. Veeder accounting for HALF the fruit and Howell Mountain, Atlas Peak, and Coombsville making up the rest. So, it’s essentially a mountain Cab!
Chock-full of dark black cherries, cassis, blackberry jam. Some creamy vanilla bean, rosemary, saddle leather, and a touch of spice, too. It’s lush and powerful and elegant. Pure class and everything you hope for in a Napa Cabernet from 2018. Just for the sake of a vintage comparison Wine Spectator rated 2018 a near-perfect 99 points defining it as “a spectacular year, with wines that are rich and dark, but detailed, restrained in style and very terroir-driven.”
If you bought the 2017, you must try this one because in our minds it’s at least another 95-100 pointer… but you be the judge.
Only 15 barrels were made. We got what we could, but you already know what will happen…
Tasting Profile
Black cherries, cassis, blackberry jam, vanilla bean...
Look | So inky and dark ruby in the heart, darker than a moonless midnight |
---|---|
Smell | Pure class, chock-full of dark black cherries, cassis, blackberry jam |
Taste | Creamy vanilla bean, rosemary, saddle leather, and a touch of spice |
Finish | Very long and silky smooth, elegant while lush and powerfully built |
Pairing | Fire up the grill to sear your favorite cut of meat just the way you like it |
What the Winery Says
2018 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
- Winemaker
- Robert Pepi
- Varietal
- 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Vintage
- 2018
- Alcohol
- 14.4%
- Appellations
- Mt. Veeder, Howell Mountain, Coombsville & Atlas Peak
- Total acidity
- 6.13 g/L
- pH
- 3.62
- Residual sugar
- 0.37 g/L
- Harvest dates
- Late September - Mid October 2018
- Bottling date
- July 29, 2020
- Aging
- 20 months
- Barrels
- 60% new French oak
- Production
- 15 barrels