Winemaker Notes
In the glass, this Syrah pours deep purple color with aromas of blackberry, black raspberries and hints of cola and leather. Flavors are savory with a spicy smoky character, refreshing juicy acidity and a touch of French oak. Balanced alcohol gives the wine a suppleness that make it an easy drinker.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Aged 16 months in (15% new) François Frères Burgundy barrels, this Syrah-dominant blend with 13% Grenache, 3% Tempranillo, and 2% Mourvèdre comprises fruit sourced from vineyards spanning from Santa Ynez to Paso Robles. With an echo of the Northern Rhône, it shows the grip, grit, graphite, and bite that true Syrah lovers seek out. Aromas of stemmy dark fruit, earth, and animale make a deep impact, as do flavors of black pepper and juicy plum. The sensational mouthfeel and finish of dark chocolate–covered cherry leave us convinced that this beloved label remains an icon—and a great value to boot.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Coming from a mix of sites and a blend of 82% Syrah, 13% Grenache, and the rest Tempranillo and Mourvèdre, the 2018 Syrah Central Coast sports a saturated ruby/purple color as well as peppery, crunchy notes of blackberries, black raspberries, leafy herbs, and peppered meat. This elegant, medium-bodied, spicy red has loads to love and will evolve for a solid 7-8 years.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Qupé Syrah is delicious and nicely textured. TASTING NOTES: This wine shows abundant black fruit and a hint of minerality in its aromas and flavors. Pair it with a well-seasoned lamb stew. (Tasted: May 11, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
The largest and perhaps most varied of California’s wine-growing regions, the Central Coast produces a good majority of the state's wine. This vast California wine district stretches from San Francisco all the way to Santa Barbara along the coast, and reaches inland nearly all the way to the Central Valley.
Encompassing an extremely diverse array of climates, soil types and wine styles, it contains many smaller sub-AVAs, including San Francisco Bay, Monterey, the Santa Cruz Mountains, Paso Robles, Edna Valley, Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Maria Valley.
While the Central Coast California wine region could probably support almost any major grape varietiy, it is famous for a few Central Coast reds and whites. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel are among the major ones. The Central Coast is home to many of the state's small, artisanal wineries crafting unique, high-quality wines, as well as larger producers also making exceptional wines.