Red Wine Charles Smith K Vintners Milbrandt Syrah 2018. Decant 1 hour before serving. Charles Smith’s early career managing rock bands took him all over Europe and gave him a taste for fine wine and dining. Before too long this passion became a brand-new career opportunity and Smith moved back to the United States to pursue a dream of making his own wines. Fast forward a couple of decades and Smith is one of the country’s top self-taught winemakers and has been named Winemaker of the Year by Food & Wine magazine, Wine Enthusiast, and Seattle Magazine. Smith’s diverse portfolio of wines capture the exceptional terroir of Washington State, like this hearty single varietal Syrah sourced from two prime vineyards on the Wahluke Slope. Once in the winery the grapes are fermented in stainless steel to preserve varietal typicity and the young wine is then aged in new puncheons. Hearty and robust, this Syrah is sure to please lovers of big, bold reds thanks to the punchy cassis, blackberry and dark cherry notes seasoned with cinnamon, black pepper, liquorice, and smoky game notes. On the palate there is a rich full body, ripe tannins and a firm structure that will help this wine age gracefully in the cellar.
2018
Red Wine Charles Smith K Vintners Milbrandt Syrah 2018
Red Wine Charles Smith K Vintners Ovide 2018. Decant 1 hour before serving. Before becoming a winemaker Charles Smith worked for almost a decade managing rock bands like the well-known Danish group The Ravonettes. While touring Europe on the rock concert circuit, he discovered a passion for fine dining and wine that would take his career in a radical new direction. Over the past couple of decades he has succeeded in founding his own winery and has been named Winemaker of the Year by no less than three publications, Food & Wine magazine, Wine Enthusiast, and Seattle Magazine. Over the years Smith has built up a packed portfolio of wines which display his talent and adaptability as a winemaker. Ovide is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah grapes which are harvested by hand, fermented with wild yeasts and basket pressed to preserve the purity and typicity of the varieties. The wine is named after Smith’s father, Robert Ovide, with fruit sourced from Jack’s Vineyard situated on the floor of the Walla Walla Valley in Washington State. Made in a robust, full-throttled style, Ovide opens with intense notes of blackcurrants, dark cherry and ripe plums seasoned with dried Mediterranean herbs, black olives and tobacco. On the palate there is a luscious full body, firm tannins and a hearty structure that will help the wine age gracefully in the cellar over the next decade or more.
2018
Red Wine Charles Smith K Vintners Powerline Syrah 2018. Syrah was the very first grape that Charles Smith experimented with during his first vintage in 1999 when he made just 330 cases. The self-taught winemaker began his career as a rock band manager touring Europe, and it was here he realised the beauty and attraction of the world of wine. Since founding his winery in Washington State Smith has been recognised as one of the most innovative and dynamic winemakers in the region, and has been named Winemaker of the Year by both Food & Wine and by Wine Enthusiast magazines. This masterful cuvee is crafted from the Powerline Estate Vineyard in Walla Walla Valley, a 38-acre site that sits on well-draining soils at over 1200 feet of elevation. These conditions help to produce perfectly-balanced reds with plenty of power and refreshing aromatics and acidity. Once in the winery the fruit is fermented in whole clusters and aged in new French oak barrels for 28 months. As soon as you pour out a glass you’ll be entranced by the enticing notes of blackberry, cassis and dark plum which mingle with hints of anise, toasted oak, and woodsmoke. On the palate there are some juicy, firm tannins and a generous full body bolstered by a velvety texture. A great option to keep in the cellar for a few more years or enjoy now with hearty red meat dishes.
2018