Red Wine Charles Smith K Vintners Roma Cabernet – Syrah 2018. Charles Smith is a legendary figure amongst Washington State winemakers thanks to his maverick attitude and passion for innovation. The former rock band manager fell in love with wine while touring in Europe, and later returned home to figure out how to make his own wines. He began in 1999 with a first vintage of 330 cases of Syrah, and within a few short years he had been named Winemaker of the Year by both Food & Wine and by Wine Enthusiast magazines. This fine single vineyard cuvee comes from the River Rock Vineyard which was planted in 2001 to the south of Walla Walla. The soils here are very well-draining and the climate is the warmest of all the Walla Walla Valley, creating ideal conditions for premium red winemaking. This blend is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, with the fruit fermented in stainless steel tans and then aged in new French oak for 22 months before bottling. This rich and intense wine takes a little time to open up in the glass, showing off gentle notes of wild black berries, tobacco leaf, tapenade, and hints of forest floor. On the palate there is a robust full body, firm tannins, and a solid core of black fruit which lingers on the tongue. It’s a great wine to either cellar for a few more years or pair with rich meat dishes.
2018
Red Wine Charles Smith K Vintners Roma Cabernet – Syrah 2018
Red Wine Charles Smith K Vintners Royal City Syrah 2018. Decant 1 hour before serving. Syrah has been winemaker Charles Smith’s signature grape since his very first vintage in 1999. The self-taught winemaker fell in love with wine while touring Europe as a tour band manager and later returned home to Washington State to start making his own. In recent years he’s been named Winemaker of the Year by both Food & Wine and by Wine Enthusiast magazines, and is widely recognised as one of the state’s finest Syrah producers. This exceptional cuvee was first released in 2006 and takes its name from the nearby town of Royal City. Remarkably the very first vintage was awarded 100 points by Wine Enthusiast magazine, the first perfect score ever to be awarded to a Washington State wine. Ever since then it has been a cult favourite for Syrah lovers all over the world. Fruit is sourced from the isolated Stoneridge Vineyard where the high elevation and sunny growing season helps create tough conditions for the vines. This results in richly concentrated fruit which is fermented with wild yeasts and then aged in 60% new French oak barriques for 28 months before bottling. A magnificent red to cellar for a few more years or to serve now alongside hearty red meat dishes.
2018
Red Wine Charles Smith K Vintners The Beautiful Syrah 2018. Charles Smith has a reputation for producing many of Washington State’s finest Syrah wines and has even been named Winemaker of the Year by both Food & Wine and by Wine Enthusiast magazines. The self-taught winemaker fell in love with wine while touring Europe as a rock band manager and later returned home to pursue his new interest in the pristine lands of Washington State. This single vineyard Syrah is made exclusively with fruit from the Powerline Estate Vineyard, a 38 acre site which was planted in the Walla Walla Valley at some 1200 feet of elevation. Here the well-draining soils, high elevation, and warm summers help to produce rich yet balanced fruit with plenty of complexity. Once in the winery the grapes are fermented using wild yeasts and then aged in 43% new French oak barrels for 20 months. Intense notes of blueberry, black cherry and plum dominate on the nose while the first sip reveals a punchy full body, firm tannins, and a solid core of ripe black fruit on the palate. The delicate balance between power and elegance makes this a great wine to enjoy now or to cellar for a few more years.
2018