Winemaker Notes
Since Qupe’s first vintage in 1982, this wine has been the cornerstone of the winery’s portfolio. A blend of a number of vineyards in both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties… and a balanced mix of cool climate grapes for spice, acidity and freshness with warm climate grapes for delicious forward fruit. Aged for a minimum of 12 months in neutral French oak barrels.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Syrah includes 10% total of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Tempranillo. It has a medium to deep ruby-purple color and nose of black cherry cordial, warm blueberries, graphite and woodsmoke with dark chocolate, olive, salami and dried violet. Medium to full-bodied, it gives up loads of juicy black and blue fruits with firm, pleasantly chewy tannins and a long finish. This is fantastic for the price point.
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.