Press

• "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." (The Wine Advocate)
• “Nine years ago, this California native was managing a rock band in Copenhagen when he made an unusual career shift: ‘I left my life in Denmark and moved to Walla Walla, Washington, where I knew exactly one person.’ That was Cayuse Vineyards’ Christophe Baron, who had rhapsodized to Smith about the potential of Washington Syrah. Smith taught himself how to make wine by creating minuscule lots of Syrah for his own K brand. Now his wines are some of Washington’s most sought-after. And Smith’s ‘modernist’ Charles Smith Wines (The Velvet Devil Merlot, Kung Fu Girl Riesling and more) are among the best values anywhere. Despite his success, Smith remains a rocker at heart, with the 80-mph motorcycle habit to prove it.” (Food & Wine Magazine, 2009 Winemaker of the Year)