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Tasting notes

Tasting notes
Score 97/100 · Drink 2021-2042, Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate, Dec 2020

Lighter in style than previous vintages, the 2016 Syrah Royal City begins with a core of dark fruit with a sturdy oak backbone that gives way to a rocky essence and mineral expression with soft, elegant baking spice notes. Full-bodied, the wine shows a delightful array of spice expressions before exposing complexity with a firm and juicy structure. Flavors of blackberry reduction, compounded by the mineral tension on the long, evolving finish, the wine will last for a couple of decades. It’s a solid wine that has me pleased.

Critic scores

Critic scores
98
98/100

Average Score

99
99/100

Jeb Dunnuck

97
97/100

Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate

More reviews and scores

99 points
Jeb Dunnuck
Score 99/100 · Jeb Dunnuck, Apr 2020

The flagship release, the 2016 Syrah Royal City is all from the Stoneridge Vineyard on the Royal Slope (not far from the Frenchman Hills). It was not destemmed and spent 27 months in 60% new French oak. Offering a sensational bouquet of blackcurrants, baking chocolate, beef blood, toasted spice, and loamy earth, it builds slowly, with full-bodied richness, silky tannins, beautiful power and elegance, and a great, great finish, it's another magical wine from this team. 572 cases. This is what I call a stacked lineup from K Vintners, and the team of Charles Smith and Brennon Leighton continue to make brilliant wines. The lineup is broken up into multiple brands today, with K Vintners focusing primarily on Rhone varieties. The Wines of Substance (or just Substance) label are the Bordeaux based wines, then you have CasaSmith, Sixto, B. Leighton, and now Golden West.

About the producer

Charles Smith Wines
View Producer

Product details

Grape Blend

Syrah / Shiraz

Colour

Red

Taste

Dry

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