2016 K Vintners Vintners Charlotte
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Tasting notes
An interesting blend of 41% Mourvedre, 36% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 4% Counoise, 4% Cinsaut, 3% Grenache Blanc and 2% Picpoul, the 2016 Charlotte starts with dusty stewed red fruit, white pepper and black tea with elements of dark cherry skin, wild strawberry and wilted violets. Medium-bodied, the wine offers 13.5% alcohol with a balanced frame and expression and displays grippy tannins that will be food-friendly, ending with a lingering finish and soft smoky essence. It's a beautiful wine.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
All co-fermented (not destemmed) blend of 41% Mourvèdre, 36% Grenache, and the rest a mix of Rhone varieties (some white), aged in neutral demi-muids, the 2016 Charlotte reveals a medium ruby color as well as gorgeous notes of kirsch, black cherries, mulled strawberries, spring flowers, game, and peppery herbs. Rich, medium to full-bodied, graceful and yet powerful on the palate, with silky yet present tannins, it's another stunning wine. 371 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.
Bright medium red with a palish rim. Highly perfumed scents of red cherry, strawberry, rose petal and violet, along with a wild gamey nuance and an almost liqueur-like brambly quality. Fine-grained red berry and spice flavors display lovely subtle intensity and stony mineral grip. This broad, nuanced blend finishes with excellent breadth and a fine dusting of tannins. This wine is made from river cobblestone but at an altitude 500 feet higher than The Rocks, says Brennon Leighton, noting that the vineyard benefits from cooling breezes from the Blue Mountains. (14.5% alcohol; from Powerline and River Rock vineyards; fermented in concrete, then aged for 26 months in neutral demi-muids ; 3.85 pH)