2007 Qupe Reserve Chardonnay Bien Nacido Block 11 Santa Barbara

  • From CA Pioneer Bob Lindquist
  • Grand Cru Santa Barbara Chard
  • From best parcel in Bien Nacido vineyard
  • Only for people who love aged white wine
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About the Wine

Founded in 1982 by CA pioneer Bob Lindquist, Qupe quickly established itself as the premier winery in Santa Barabra County. Bob planted some of the first cool-climate Syrah in California at the Bien Nacido vineyard in 1997, which has since been thrust into the "Grand Cru" spotlight and is universally regarded as one of the best vineyard sites in all of California. Bob is known as one of founding Rhone Rangers and demonstrated that Rhone varietals could succeed in California and cooler climates in particular.

"Qupe" is a Chumash Native American word for poppy, the California state flower often found in the area. The Bien Nacido vineyard translates to "of good birth" and is part of a larger parcel, associated with an original California land grant. Given the vineyard's east-west exposition, the cool air from the Pacific Ocean flows into the Santa Maria valley and creates a perfect, natural air conditioning that keeps nights and mornings cool and the days warm. For this reason, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay reign supreme here. And, as Bob discovered, so too does Syrah.

The Block 11 is Qupe's "Reserve" Chardonnay. It is one of the best blocks in the 240-acre vineyard for Chardonnay. This wine has a 10-15+ year drinking window and is peaking now. Given the blend, expect a  wine that is broader in the mouth, golden in color, and a fully integrated wine that blossoms with lemon peel, smooth oak and vanilla and dried apricot.

Tasting Notes: This wine is 17 years old. Expect it to be nutty, lightly oxidized and aged.78% Chardonnay, 22% Roussanne. Another amazing vintage of this wine. Rich, complex, balanced. As always, this wine is made using very traditional, time tested winemaking techniques… whole cluster pressed, complete barrel fermentation with 100% malo, and aging on the lees for the first year in mostly new, Francois Freres oak barrels, then bottled after 18 months total barrel time.

Reviews

(includes 22% Roussanne) Vivid yellow-gold. Seductively perfumed aromas of dried pear, white peach, and floral honey, with floral, oak, and leesy notes gaining strength with air. Sweet, palate-staining pit fruit flavors are complemented by toasty oak spice and floral qualities, with dusty minerality adding lift and cut. Very seductive wine, with strong finishing spiciness and lingering florality. ~91 Vinous Media

A lovely Chardonnay, softly creamy and lilting, with opulent flavors of pineapples, sweet lemon custard, buttered toast, vanilla, honey, and smoke. Great with lobster. ~91 Wine Enthusiast

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