2017 Agharta Syrah Central Coast 750 ml

The 2017 Agharta Syrah is one of the great secret wines in California. 

The man behind it? Bob Lindquist, the founder of legendary California-Rhône house Qupé, which Robert Parker himself called “one of my favorite Central Coast wineries.” This 91-point Agharta displays Bob’s four decades of experience with the grape—and shows why he’s long captivated lovers of Hermitage and Sine Qua Non alike.

This was one of the final wines Bob made for Qupé, and by the time it was ready for release, the winery had been sold. So this late-bottled beauty came out under the Agharta label, which Pax Mahle—another Syrah maven—had founded for the specific purpose of aging stellar wines in barrel until they unfurl all their glory.

This one is really starting to reveal some beautiful detail as it loosens up. Pouring a purple-ruby in the glass, the nose is beautifully aromatic, with a mixture of fresh and jammy blackberries accented by spices, African violets, and classic cracked pepper. On the palate, the snappy plum core is framed nicely by hints of lavender, herbs, and a broad, rich mouthfeel. It’s California at its core, with a decidedly French bent.

If past Lindquist bottlings are any indication, this is going to be dynamite after a few years in the cellar (or many—we recently drank a ‘99 Los Olivos Cuvée that was en fuego). But let’s be real—as delicious as it is today, we’re not going to hold back.