2007 K Vintners Syrah Northridge
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Tasting notes
Good medium-deep red. Very ripe red fruits and tea leaf on the nose, plus an exotic suggestion of white fruits. Then tactile, suave and juicy, with firm structure framing and supporting the red fruit, spice and floral flavors. The 50% whole clusters give lift to this wine, and the very old soils give it density with a light touch, notes Charles Smith. The wine's 30% new oak component contributes to its tannic spine. This is the first vintage made by K Vintners from this 2000 planting.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jay S Miller, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2007 Syrah Northridge Vineyard sports a brooding bouquet of balsam wood, smoke, Asian spices, lavender, and blueberry; on the palate it is smooth-textured, elegant, ripe, and lengthy but lacks the complexity of The Deal. Over the past two years a cult following has sprung up around the persona of Charles Smith, imbuing him with larger than life attributes. By and large, he has acquired this status the old-fashioned way, he has earned it. When I tell enquiring minds that I’ll be visiting Charles later in the day, they know exactly where I’m going. Once past the persona, however, Charles Smith continues to make some of Washington’s finest wines. Native yeast fermentation, foot crushing, spontaneous malolactic fermentations, gentle basket pressing, no fining or filtration are routinely practiced in the cellar. Even more important, Charles Smith knows where to find the great grapes. In a region where blending is still the rule of thumb, he is the ultimate terroirist. Almost all of his wines are sourced from single vineyards. There are three groupings, the K Vintners selections, The Cayuse selections, and the Charles Smith selections. Tel. (509) 526-5230; www.kvintners.com