The nose is a spicy mix of black and white pepper, black- and blueberry, black cherry and cedar. If an over use of the adjective “black” is an indication, this is a big wine.

Big like oil, in fact. The mouthfeel is thick and oily, like the stuff leaking out of your Little Deuce Qupe. Thankfully, it tastes better (not that I’m an aficionado of motor oil – my palate’s not, um… distinguished). Flavors of dark, slightly brambly berries, plenty of earth cedar are the stuff that California dreamin’ is made of.

The finish just goes and goes. Berries and black cherry, oak and just a little cinnamon in the back of the palate last longer than a Santa Monica summer.

So jump in your T-Bird (before your daddy takes it away) and pick up a bottle of this syrah. At just $15, it’s one thing that doesn’t seem to be affected by California’s high cost of living.

Cheers,
TSW

This wine is so Californian, I think its full name is “Dude, Like Totally Qupe.”

When you think of red wine from the Golden State, big, opaque, oaky, fruity monsters leap to mind. That pretty much sums up this syrah.

The difference is, while many wines matching that description are simultaneously expensive and uninspiring, Qupe skirts both of those shortcomings.

The color is a deep purple-hued ruby, inky blackness that has surely sucked up a few stars in its time. (I know I just mixed a black hole metaphor in this California-focused review… just go with me.)