We had Bill & Jane Easton over Wed for apps/wine & good company. We cracked these two Syrahs:
1. Qupe Syrah BienNacido Hillside Estate/SantaMariaVlly (EB; 14.5%) 1997: Dark color w/ slight bricking; strong blackberry/Syrah/spicy some c-c/black pepper some toasty/pencilly/Fr.oak slight Rhonish/bretty/horsecollar fairly complex nose; some tart/tangy strong blackberry/Syrah/very spicy some toasty/smokey/Fr.oak bit dried out/tannic rather complex bit Rhonish flavor w/ modest drying tannins; very long rather smokey/toasty/pencilly/Fr.oak fairly strong blackberry/blueberry/very spicy Syrah light c-c/peppery slight bretty/Rhonish/roasted rather complex finish w/ light drying tannins; still loads of c-c spicy Syrah fruit but drying out on the palate somewhat; drink up.
________
2. TerreRouge Syrah DTR Ranch/Fiddletown (13.8%) 2011: Very dark color; very strong blackberyy/Syrah/very spicy some Amador/briary light pencilly/smokey/Fr.oak bit earthy/Rhonish/smokey/roasted fairly complex nose; lightly tart fairly rich/lush strong briary/blackberry/Syrah/very spicy light pencilly/toasty/Fr.oak light earthy/Rhonish/roasted some complex flavor w/ light gentle tannins; very long/lingering styrong blackberrry/Syrah/very spicy/briary light pencilly/cedary/oak some Rhonish/roasted/earthy finish w/ light smooth tannins; speaks strongly of Amador and probably in a perfect place right now; ready to drink & should go another few yrs; a really love expression of Calif Syrah.
______________
A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Both of these were terrific Syrahs, though the Qupe is probably on the downside. We also had two outstanding Timorassos (LaColombera & Coppi), a Weininger GemisctcherSatz '18 and a EdmundsStJohn Heart of Gold '18. Finished up with a beautiful Friuli Picolet '12 for dessert. Great company and spirited conversation.
Tom
