Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/46939
THE LEGEND: Qupé TASTY TRIPLE PLAY: Flora Springs Winery The Flora Springs estate is located on the bench of the Mayacamas in the far northwest corner of the Rutherford appellation in the Napa Valley. The winery makes a triple play with its proprietary Bordeaux blend, Trilogy (79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 2.5% Petit Verdot and 2.5% Malbec), one of the original Meritage wines. Now, more than 20 years after the first version, Flora Springs 2008 Trilogy (SRP $65) has been released. Our panel agreed that this is the most approachable Trilogy we've tasted (could one reason be because they scaled back on the Malbec?), bursting with jammy blackberry fruit. The Call: "Dense and juicy with a velvety texture . . . complex," says Anthony Dias Blue. Anthony Dias Blue score: 91 Ethan Lindquist, Bob's son, is an avid Dodger fan, and the next generation at the winery. Bob Lindquist is The Babe of the wine biz: The first Syrah producer in Santa Barbara County, he has become a legend in our industry, and has been the Godfather of Rhône varietals in this region since 1982. From a five-acre block on top of Bien Nacido, the Qupé 2006 Hillside Estate Syrah (SRP $45) is aged for two years in barrel. The Call: "This wine has the winning combina- tion of character, finesse, complexity—and most important, drinkability," says Pourtal Bar's Rachel Bryan. "This is one of the purest forms of this grape in California." Jonathan Mitchell adds tasting notes: "Loads of blackberry and blueberry jam, balanced by white pepper, smoky breakfast meats and Asian spice; smooth and sultry!" Anthony Dias Blue score: 91 "Together, this team of umpires faced the difficult task of call- ing out the wines that were clear home runs. Needless to say, with each winery's top sluggers at bat, the runs kept piling in! november 201 1 / the tasting panel / 103