Bought on a whim off Winebid based on Qupe’s early reputation for producing long life wines. Cork crumpled. Upon opening we got dark fruits, mint, leather. With air mild tannins emerge and the fruit becomes more candied. Earthy, but vibrant. More life than expected. Clearly on the downside, but a surprising amount of fruit still exists. My guess is these will go a few more years from here. Enjoyable and fun.
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My last bottle! This is an amazing wine! 15 years old & looking and drinking like a 6 to 8 year old bottle. No one in our group guessed it as a 2001. Smoky black fruit surrounded by spice & earthiness. Limited tannins at this point but still presenting itself as a classy, smooth, unique version of California syrah. Way to go Qupe!!
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Rare steak, blackberry, garrigue, herbes de provence, black tea, pepper. Medium bodied. Focused with lots of energy. Juicy palate really packs a punch. Just getting there. (Drink now to 2020+).
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Amazing at this age. Tannins nearly gone, so drinking well soon after opening. Color not showing age. Nose is very complex: anise, pepper, forest floor, etc. Probably at peak.
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From Magnum. At 12 years old, my biggest take away from this wine is the ageability of santa Barbara syrahs. This was surprisingly vibrant, coupled with an easy smoothness. I thought this was a very good showing for what I think are, in general, average wines.
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clear, maroon in color. berry, blackberry, blueberry, spice, pepper, tobacco, cedar, oak, on the nose. good mouth-feel, light acid, medium tannins on the finish.
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Santa Barbara County Tasting Trip - Day 2 (Tercero, Scott Cellars, Qupé/Verdad/Ethan, Sides Restuarant) (Los Olivos, CA): Tasting Room in Los Olivos. Poured as a "bonus" bottle by Bob Lindquist. This showed quite soft and juicy with some secondary notes and tannins pretty much resolved. Mr Lindquist stated that this would go another 10 years, though, personally, I thought the 2007 was much better and this 2001 was going past its prime. But what the hell do I know? It was a very good wine, nonetheless.
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Popped and poured. Medium-plus ruddy garnet. Expressive, forward nose upon opening is filled with refrained dark fruits and tertiary notes of roasted herbs, dried mushrooms, charred cedar, earthy clay, and other complexities. Medium to medium-plus body. With an almost elegant mouthfeel on the palate, the flavors show more on the red-fruited side than is typical for Syrah, with notes of black cherry and a bit of raspberry being complimented by herbaceous undertones, earth and a faint impression of minerals. The tannins are a touch astringent on the lingering finish. A flavorful, well-integrated wine that is drinking almost perfectly at present but will perhaps reach a state of apogee with just a little bit more time in the cellar.
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- Brick color with slow forming legs and has flavours of dusty and oak - Astringent. Fruit almost gone. Not as a powerful, syrupy-like texture as was hoping for. Decent 15 sec finish. Earthy. Graphite. Overall not greatly impressed.
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Popped and poured. Deep hue, still quite youthful in appearance. Initially, the nose was dominated by a funky aroma reminiscent of earthy, smoked bacon. Evolving through the evening, blackberry, anise, and fresh herbs were quite prominent (my wife smelled wintergreen while I picked up fresh mint and a touch of cilantro). Medium body, quite elegant on the palate, with blackberry, black cherry, smoked meats, more herbs, and a touch of oak. Tannins are soft and with a light acidity keeping it fresh on the medium length finish. Very fun to taste and contemplate.
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Classic Syrah, lightly oaky and tannic with balance and fruit. Did well at the Syrah tasting. Tied for first place with Joseph Phelps and Kendall Jackson. But at $40 a bottle not a good value.
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Tasted at Al Gordon's house on way home from work. Nothing great. Glad I paid ony $4. Maybe this needs time to evolve. Expected it to be bigger. Not unpleasant but nothing to chase after, either
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3/27/2024 - Mootsie Likes this wine: 90 Points
Bought on a whim off Winebid based on Qupe’s early reputation for producing long life wines.
Cork crumpled.
Upon opening we got dark fruits, mint, leather. With air mild tannins emerge and the fruit becomes more candied.
Earthy, but vibrant. More life than expected.
Clearly on the downside, but a surprising amount of fruit still exists. My guess is these will go a few more years from here.
Enjoyable and fun.
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5/18/2016 - papabluez Likes this wine: 93 Points
My last bottle! This is an amazing wine! 15 years old & looking and drinking like a 6 to 8 year old bottle. No one in our group guessed it as a 2001. Smoky black fruit surrounded by spice & earthiness. Limited tannins at this point but still presenting itself as a classy, smooth, unique version of California syrah. Way to go Qupe!!
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8/30/2014 - MarkLA wrote: 93 Points
Rare steak, blackberry, garrigue, herbes de provence, black tea, pepper. Medium bodied. Focused with lots of energy. Juicy palate really packs a punch. Just getting there. (Drink now to 2020+).
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2/18/2014 - papabluez wrote: 92 Points
Amazing at this age. Tannins nearly gone, so drinking well soon after opening. Color not showing age. Nose is very complex: anise, pepper, forest floor, etc. Probably at peak.
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4/26/2013 - Seafoam Manor wrote: 91 Points
From Magnum. At 12 years old, my biggest take away from this wine is the ageability of santa Barbara syrahs. This was surprisingly vibrant, coupled with an easy smoothness. I thought this was a very good showing for what I think are, in general, average wines.
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3/15/2013 - affordableCollector wrote: 91 Points
clear, maroon in color. berry, blackberry, blueberry, spice, pepper, tobacco, cedar, oak, on the nose. good mouth-feel, light acid, medium tannins on the finish.
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9/7/2012 - mikeaukenbals wrote: 89 Points
fine, but boring
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5/19/2012 - PIntag wrote: 88 Points
Santa Barbara County Tasting Trip - Day 2 (Tercero, Scott Cellars, Qupé/Verdad/Ethan, Sides Restuarant) (Los Olivos, CA): Tasting Room in Los Olivos. Poured as a "bonus" bottle by Bob Lindquist. This showed quite soft and juicy with some secondary notes and tannins pretty much resolved. Mr Lindquist stated that this would go another 10 years, though, personally, I thought the 2007 was much better and this 2001 was going past its prime. But what the hell do I know? It was a very good wine, nonetheless.
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1/4/2012 - *Vine* wrote:
Popped and poured. Medium-plus ruddy garnet. Expressive, forward nose upon opening is filled with refrained dark fruits and tertiary notes of roasted herbs, dried mushrooms, charred cedar, earthy clay, and other complexities. Medium to medium-plus body. With an almost elegant mouthfeel on the palate, the flavors show more on the red-fruited side than is typical for Syrah, with notes of black cherry and a bit of raspberry being complimented by herbaceous undertones, earth and a faint impression of minerals. The tannins are a touch astringent on the lingering finish. A flavorful, well-integrated wine that is drinking almost perfectly at present but will perhaps reach a state of apogee with just a little bit more time in the cellar.
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10/16/2011 - ckleiman wrote: 89 Points
- Brick color with slow forming legs and has flavours of dusty and oak - Astringent. Fruit almost gone. Not as a powerful, syrupy-like texture as was hoping for. Decent 15 sec finish. Earthy. Graphite. Overall not greatly impressed.
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11/21/2008 - *Vine* wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Deep hue, still quite youthful in appearance. Initially, the nose was dominated by a funky aroma reminiscent of earthy, smoked bacon. Evolving through the evening, blackberry, anise, and fresh herbs were quite prominent (my wife smelled wintergreen while I picked up fresh mint and a touch of cilantro). Medium body, quite elegant on the palate, with blackberry, black cherry, smoked meats, more herbs, and a touch of oak. Tannins are soft and with a light acidity keeping it fresh on the medium length finish. Very fun to taste and contemplate.
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11/18/2007 - mouton45 wrote: 88 Points
Soft, pleasant, complimented a dinner of standng rib roast. Drink up
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8/14/2005 - WaltM wrote:
Classic Syrah, lightly oaky and tannic with balance and fruit. Did well at the Syrah tasting. Tied for first place with Joseph Phelps and Kendall Jackson. But at $40 a bottle not a good value.
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1/13/2005 - mouton45 wrote: 86 Points
Tasted at Al Gordon's house on way home from work. Nothing great. Glad I paid ony $4. Maybe this needs time to evolve. Expected it to be bigger. Not unpleasant but nothing to chase after, either
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