Qupe, Syrah, Central Coast, California, USA, 2017

Qupé focuses on cool climate expressions of Rhône varietals along the Central Coast of Santa Barbara Country.

Due to a their positioning, right next to the cool Pacific Ocean, they are set apart from most other regions of California. They are a proud member of the Rhone Rangers, America’s leading non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting American Rhone varietal wines. Their founder, Bob Lindquist, was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015 and the Californian poppy logo of the winery is now world renowned.

VITICULTURE

A wet winter turned quickly into a dry spring and summer, with steady growing conditions apart from a warm spike in September which stalled many of the late-ripening varieties. Luckily, the dry, consistent fall conditions enabled a long hangtime. The resulting wines have good concentration and excellent fruit character.

WINEMAKING

10% whole clusters in open-top fermenters before destemming the rest. Fermentation was in a combination of small open-top fermenters using manual punch down, and larger closed-top tanks using pump overs. The wine was aged for 16 months in François Frères Burgundy barrels, 15% new.

TASTING NOTES

An immediately attractive deep purple colour leads into aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant, and coffee followed by a savoury palate with a spicy smoky character and refreshing acidity. The balanced alcohol gives the wine a suppleness that makes it an easy drinker.