Syrah
2001 SYRAH “STOLPMAN VINEYARD”
This wine is 100% Syrah from the Stolpman Vineyard in the hills just west of Los Olivos, in the Santa Ynez Valley. Stolpman was planted in 1994 and we have been buying syrah from them since 1996. This vineyard was first put on the map by outstanding wines made by Ojai Vineyards and Jaffurs Wines, and now by wines bottled under Stolpman’s own label.
The grapes were de-stemmed and then fermented in small open-top fermentors and punched down manually twice a day. It was aged 15 months in French oak barrels, of which 20% was new Francois Frères. We bottled 10 barrels (about 240 cases) with no fining or filtration in February 2003. This is a classic Santa Ynez Valley Syrah - earth and spice, with a rich plumy middle. It’s a big wine but not over the top. Great balance should allow this wine to age for many years.
Craig's Comments
2001 SYRAH “STOLPMAN VINEYARD”90pts -WS
Qupé Wine Cellars is located on the Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Maria, California. Qupé shares a production facility with Jim Clendenen from Au Bon Climat, and together they have a production and sales support staff. Jim Adelman is the General Manager and also shares winemaking duties. Once a year, during harvest, visiting winemakers and wine professionals with various backgrounds (many from different states and countries) in the wine business come to work with Bob and Jim at the winery to share techniques and ideas.
Focusing on fruit grown in the Central Coast Appellation of California, Qupé produces Rhone varietals and Chardonnay. A majority of Qupé’s wines (about 50%) are made from grapes grown on the Bien Nacido Vineyard, where the Syrah and Chardonnay are planted and grown to Bob’s specifications. In addition to Bien Nacido, Qupé also farms (using organic practices) a 14 acre vineyard in Los Olivos called “Ibarra-Young Vineyard.” The balance of the Qupé wines are made from grapes grown at various vineyards in the Central Coast appellation of California. Bob and his wife Louisa have recently purchased an 80 acre vineyard site in the Edna Valley which they began planting in the spring of 2005. This vineyard will be developed and farmed under the rigorous principles of Biodynamic Farming.