Winemaker Notes
Dark and intense, the 2017 Cuadrilla shows delicious suppleness through the palate.
Blend: 55% Syrah, 27% Sangiovese, 18% Grenache
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 La Cuadrilla is a blend of 55% Syrah, 27% Sangiovese and 18% Grenache. It has a medium ruby-purple color and has pretty aromatics of fresh red cherries and cranberry with sliced blueberry, lilac, black cherries, warm earth and meaty/spicy touches in the background. Medium to full-bodied, it gives up loads of wonderfully ripe fruit in the mouth with firm, grainy tannins and juicy freshness, finishing long with gobs of sweet fruit. Yum! 4,400 cases produced. All the profits of this wine benefit Stolpman's full-time vineyard crew.
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Wine Enthusiast
Dense aromas of baked black plum, lilac and cherry cola show on the nose of this red blend that is dedicated to and managed by the winery’s vineyard crew. Cola, roasted fennel and grilled strawberries and red plums show on the palate, which is framed by tense tannins.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
Accounting for only ten percent of the greater Santa Ynez AVA, Ballard Canyon’s north-south orientation provides an ideal pattern of sunshine and martime fog for producing excellent Syrah. While Syrah is planted to half of the total AVA acreage, an additional third is dedicated to other Rhône varieties, red and white.