2004 Qupe Syrah (Central Coast)

[Bucko]

Tanzer obviously likes them as well, Gil:

Qupe Sep/Oct 06
By Stephen Tanzer

2004 Qupe Cellars Los Olivos Cuvee 88
($22; 48% syrah, 32% mourvedre and 20% grenache) Deep red. Strawberry, violet, smoke and meat on the nose. Distinctly dry on the palate, with good peppery lift to the flavors of strawberry, smoke, spices, red licorice and black tea. Finishes with light tannins and lingering spice character.

2004 Qupe Cellars Syrah Alisos Vineyard Santa Barbara Valley 88
($40) Bright ruby-red. Crystallized blackcurrant, blackberry and meat on the nose, lifted by a cool minerality. Tangy, juicy, penetrating and quite dry, even a bit ungiving, with rather tightly wound black fruit flavors. Finishes with building tannins and some dryness.

2004 Qupe Cellars Syrah Stolpman Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley 90
($35) Ruby-red. Enticing aromas of blackberry, smoked meat, licorice and loamy earth. Juicy and densely packed, with a spicy quality to the penetrating fruit. Mounts impressively on the back end, finishing long and spicy, with a subtle sweetness. Youthfully tight but not hard.

2004 Qupe Cellars Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard 89(+?)
($35) Saturated ruby-red. Slightly reduced aromas of blackberry, minerals, graphite and meat. Tightly wound, juicy and dry but not hard, with solid acids and firm mineral spine currently dominating the dark fruit and mineral flavors. Doesn't quite have the personality for an outstanding rating, but that may come with aging.