Before I entered into the wine industry, I worked as a record label marketing professional for about a decade where I traveled with many of the world’s most famous pop artists, many of them rappers who probably wondered what a Norwegian girl was doing in their world. Making the transition from music to wine was not that different, I’m still surrounded by a big group of nut jobs. No, don’t worry, I’m not about to review the song by rapper Nas and the Bravehearts named in the title of this post, but I always think of this song when I am drinking wines from Walla Walla Valley in Washington.
I picked up a bottle of the Motor City Kitty 100% Syrah 2010 by Charles Smith of K Vintners, one of Washington State leaders with Syrah. I found it appropriate to quote a song here and mention my music industry background, because Charles Smith is known for his rock n’ roll roots, with his big, crazy hair and his funky black and white labels. He in fact lived in Denmark for nine years where he managed rock bands and toured Europe, much like I did for many years (although I didn’t live in Denmark, but I’m Norwegian and hence the close relation:). I guess it was meant to be that I stumbled upon his wines!
A self taught winemaker with a big love for Syrah, Mr. Smith became friends with Christophe Baron of Cayuse after returning to the U.S., and who encouraged Mr. Smith to start making wine. Mr. Smith has since won many accolades, among others “Winemaker of the Year” by Food & Wine Magazine in 2009 and K Vintner was named one of the “Best New Wineries of the last Ten Years” by Wine & Spirits Magazine.
Image below is from Charles Smith & K Vintner’s Facebook page where he is pitcured in Scandinavia:
Walla Walla is perhaps the region that best embodies the spirit and the style of Washington state’s industry. The number of wineries have exploded in this beautiful part of the country in the last two decades with the tourism booming. Walla Walla specializes in Syrah, making more than two hundred different designated Syrahs in any given vintage. In addition to Syrah, they grow fruity merlots and cabernets as well as the country’s best sangiovese, in addition to carmenere, cabernet franc, malbec and tempranillo (Washington Wines & Wineries, Paul Gregutt).
Image from magmire.net
Syrah is one of my favorite grapes, as it always demands attention and with its aromatic, exotically perfumed qualities, has a very recognizable scent and flavor to me. Many people might be familiar with the big, fruity wines of the Barossa Valley in Australia where they are referred to as Shiraz, but I actually prefer the more savory, gamy, tough and smoky wines of the northern Rhone such as Cote Rotie and Hermitage. There simply aren’t any wines in the world that taste like the wines grown here. That aside, I’ve found some really nice examples in Washington State, where I think they do a great job of mixing the fruity characters of the grape with earthy elements. Here you find wines with distinct blackberry, cassis, mulberry and bacon fat flavors.
K Vintners opened in 2001, and is located at the base of the Blue Mountains in Walla Walla. Here they produce small lots of single vineyard syrahs and field blends that are hand picked foot-stomped, fermented with natural yeast and basket pressed. The MCK Syrah goes through malolactic fermentation, no fining is performed and it is aged in French Burgundy Barrels for 24 months. 380 cases is produced.
Tasting Notes:
Deep ruby core, the wine is quite herbal on the nose with black and red fruits on the nose; blackcurrants, black cherries, plum and some mint/herbal notes, spice and licorice.
On the palate it’s full bodied, with flavors of black cherries, black raspberries, licorice, tobacco and some tar. Low, soft tannins with acidity and alcohol being quite high – fairly long finish. The alcohol here somehow dominated, and at 14.5% I am not surprised, as that is one of Syrah’s benchmarks. After I let the wine breathe and sit out for about an hour, it was more pleasant to drink, which leads me to think this may do well with another year or so in bottle before reaching its prime.
Conclusion: Good, concentrated Syrah with many interesting layers of flavors, and where I can see the potential, the alcohol here did overwhelm me somewhat as I found the wine a bit “hot”. That said, it definitely tasted like the varietal and all in all a very good quality Syrah.
Rating: 3.5/5
Retail price: Around $30
Food Pairings: Beef stew, lamb chops, game and sausages. Any herbal dishes and dishes with fennel, pepper and black olives would go well here too.
SOILFUL WINES 