K Vintners Cougar Hills Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, USA

K酒莊庫(kù)格山西拉干紅葡萄酒

點(diǎn)擊次數(shù)：3422

From deep, loamy soils and a north facing slope located to the west of The Rocks region of the Walla Walla Valley, the 2010 Syrah Cougar Hills is an age worthy effort that boasts complex aromas and flavors of kirsch liqueur, crushed stone, ground pepper and dried flowers. This is followed by a medium to full-bodied, broad, chewy effort that maintains an overall sense of elegance and freshness. Drink it over the coming 10-12 years. Drink now-2025. In the top tier of producers in Washington State, wild man Charles Smith fashions singular, exotic wines that never lack for richness or texture. While his wines can push the limits in some vintages and be slightly controversial, there’s nothing controversial or over the top with these 2010s and 2011s and they have beautiful purity of fruit, clean, integrated acid profiles and solid underlying structure. In almost all cases, given the quality, they represent incredible values. While this was a slight marathon tasting, when the wines are this good, it’s always easy to keep your motivation. Focusing on low-yields in the vineyards, the winemaking here is straight-forward with almost all of the wines seeing some whole cluster fermentation, time on lees and aging primarily in neutral French oak. www.kvintners.com

The 2006 Syrah Cougar Hills was made with 80% whole clusters. It offers up the best aromatics of the first 4 wines with scents of chocolate, mocha, espresso, mineral, blueberry, and black cherry leaping from the glass. On the palate notes of roasted herbs, salt, and iodine emerge for additional complexity. The oak is fully integrated and the tannin well hidden. This rich, pleasure-bent effort can be enjoyed now or cellared for 5-7 years. When it comes to his wines, the otherwise wild and irrepressible Charles Smith is as serious as a heart attack. 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. His 2006 collection is as good or better than anything he has done to date, although a tasting of 2007 barrel samples indicate that the best is yet to come. Tel. (509) 526-5230; www.kvintners.com

The 2005 Syrah Cougar Hills is a bit more restrained aromatically with a more elegant personality. Concentrated, ripe, and round, the flavors are already exhibiting complexity, and the finish is very long. Allow for another 3-4 years in the cellar and drink it through 2020 K Vintners is where the larger-than-life Charles Smith presides. He is an innovator, marketing genius, outspoken, you name it – but above all the man is a brilliant winemaker who knows where all the great fruit is hidden. In a region where blending is the rule of thumb, he is the ultimate terroirist. Each wine reflects the vineyard from which it was produced but there is also a house style which lets you know immediately who made the wine. While it’s way too soon to put K Vintners on the same level as a Domaine Leroy or Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, the experience you get tasting in the cellar is much the same as in those legendary wineries, brilliantly made wines reflecting the terroir but also a winemaking signature that makes it totally clear which winery made the wine. www.kvintners.com