Charles Smith Wines: the Modernist Project focuses on the way people generally consume wine today, immediately! Wine in this category is typically either simple, or a wine that would be much better a few years down the road. Charles Smith Wines are wines that are about putting as much into the bottle as possible. The intent is to create wines to be enjoyed now, but with typicity of variety (i.e., merlot that tastes like merlot) and to the vineyard (wine that tastes like where it was grown). The wines are full of flavor, balanced, and true to place of origin.
For Charles Smith Wines the fruit is sourced from some of Washington State's finest vineyards. Greatest attention is paid to those growers that practice sustainable farming methods.
Owner-winemaker Charles Smith with his big hair, kick ass attitude and bold packaging has earned the moniker "rock star" of Washington State Syrah. Charles Smith arrived in the Walla Walla Valley following 11 years in Scandinavia managing rock bands. Originally from northern California, he has been involved with wine personally and professionally his entire life. In 2009 Food & Wine Magazine recognized Charles as "Winemaker of the Year."
“This little devil is wrapped in a velvet robe. Full with density and bursting with flavor. Dark fruit, cherry ,blackberry. Brimming with cedar, pipe tobacco
60c
Washington » Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley
" Yet another terrific vintage. Pure, focused and mouthwatering. Citrus blossom, lime leaf, white peach intermingle with mineral that fills the palate. Carries on to
“Very cool wine. Pure, vibrant, fresh, penetrating perfume giving way to lilac, guava, tangerine, and passion fruit. Delivered on a silky palate, this
6bWashington » Columbia Valley
Tasting Panel 91 Fresh, smooth, and luscious with blackberry notes and tangy, balanced style. The winery describes it as “one of the biggest and boldest Syrahs
53aWashington » Walla Walla Valley
Wine Enthusiast 91 “The only varietally labeled Barbera from the Rocks District, this offers intriguing notes of currant, savory herb, pipe tobacco and moist earth. The
61aWashington » Columbia Valley
Wine Enthusiast 90 "Syrah (71%) makes up the backbone of this wine along with Cabernet Sauvignon (17%) and other Rhône varieties. An appealing pale-salmon color, this
4cWashington » Columbia Valley
"If You like Cabernet dark and rich! This is your sexy beast. Chocolate, dark cherry and tobacco leaf. It continues with earth and stone on
11bWashington » Columbia Valley
The Vintage Coming off of two rather hot vintages, 2016 was warmer still setting the record for the warmest vintage on record in Washington State. Spring
"A shimmery, brilliant, green golden of a wine. Aromatic pear, tangerine, guava, but more than anything, TRUE CHARDONNAY FLAVOR. Add a vein of minerality running
62aWashington
Winery Note Guava, kumquat, fresh cut hay, so begins this delicious wine. Mouth filling notes of papaya, fennel, passion fruit and an ample dose of minerality. Yes! Single
Wine Advocate 94 "The usual co-fermented blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Syrah blend, the 2014 The Creator, offers lots of dark fruits (currants,
“Very cool wine. Pure, vibrant, fresh, penetrating perfume giving way to lilac, guava, tangerine, and passion fruit. Delivered on a silky palate, this
" 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah - co-ferment Tasting Notes: Bow down. Single vineyard, low yield, complex, and very individual. Tapenade, herbaceous
Wine Enthusiast 90 "Coming from a downright hot vintage, this wine offers quite pure aromas of black currant and black fruit. The palate brings more of
" Syrah: 52% Yakima Valley AVA—Upland Vineyards, Olsen Brothers, and Den Hoed; 19% Wahluke Slope AVA - Sundance, Don Talcott, Northridge, Katherine Leone, Pheasant,
Wine Advocate 93 "The 2011 The Creator is a 70/30 blend of Cabernet and Syrah that’s aged all in smaller barrel. Beautifully perfumed and aromatic, with
" Our inaugural release of Old Stones Syrah from down in the "rocks" area of the Walla WallaValley. Generous and rich, this wine asks what
" 100% Grenache, 66% River Rock, 34% Northridge. Wrapped in a velvet robe, this Granache shimmers with energy, purity and true life force, not to
Wine Enthusiast 90 Best Buy “Vineyard-designated offerings of this variety are an extreme rarity in the state. Citrus, green apple, herb and wilted flower aromas predominate.
Wine Advocate 92-94 "Aged in 80% new French oak, the 2012 El Jefe Tempranillo Stoneridge Vineyard gives up classic Christmas spice, cedar and graphite to go
Wine Advocate 99 "Another wine that flirts with perfection is the 2012 Syrah Royal City. From the Stoneridge Vineyard in the Columbia Valley, it offers up
Wine Spectator 95 "Firm, focused and dripping with personality, this is full of wet slate, rare meat and sourdough toast flavors, along with dense, dark
Wine Advocate 92-94 "A wine that wasn’t produced in 2010, the 2011 Syrah Clifton Vineyard is a 100% Syrah all from the Wahluke Slope AVA.
" Vineyards: 65% Alder Ridge Vineyard —atop a series of arid ridges rising 1000 ft from the Columbia River; volcanic soils; 25% Milbrandt Vineyard—farmed by
" Yet another terrific vintage. Pure, focused and mouthwatering. Citrus blossom, lime leaf, white peach intermingle with mineral that fills the palate. Carries on to