Charles Smith, rocker turned self-taught winemaker. He grew up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains just outside of Sacramento. In 1999 he moved to the Pacific Northwest and opened a wine shop in Seattle. His passion for wine sent him traveling throughout the west coast to visit and sample great wines. He fell in love with the small town of Walla Walla and decided he wanted to try making his own wines. He made Walla Walla his new home and in 2001 released his first wine. Only 330 cases of his 1999 K Syrah. He has been behind huge wines like “House Wine” which he sold in 2006 to Precept Brands. He now opperates the fourth largest winery in Washington, recently launched the “Wines of Substance” brand, and is partnering with his friend French winemaker Charles Bieler on the Charles and Charles label. Named “Winemaker of the Year” by Wine Enthusiast, Food & Wine Magazine, and many others.
Featured Wines:
Enjoy a flight for $5
2017 Kung Fu Girl Riesling; $9.99
This is a dryer style Riesling with only about 1.4% residual sugar (which is less than Apothic Red.) The grapes come from the Evergreen vineyard sight in the newest appellation in Washington, the Ancient Lakes AVA. It is a very cool vineyard that develops grapes with a refreshing acidity and wonderful minerality from the besalt and gravely soil. The wine undergoes a very slow and cold fermentation to retain an extremely vibrant aroma. Flavors of white peach, apricot, and honeysuckle. - $1.00 Sample
2016 The Velvet Devil Merlot; $9.99
This is what well made Merlot can really be, and at a great price. They do a whole berry fermentation which produces a more gentle extraction of tannins and then aged 10 months in mainly neutral French oak. They do blend just a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec into the wine to give it a little more body and complexity.
“...deep and delicious black fruit, cedar and tobacco, and cassis.” - $1.00 Sample
2016 Boom Boom! Syrah; $14.99
A 96% Syrah co-fermented with 4% Viognier. Left on the skins for 30 days to extract soft rich tannins and then left on the lees in oak for 6 months to give it a silky and full texture. The grapes were sourced from 9 seperate vineyard sites all bringing their own character and depth to the wine. It is very complex with big tannins. Notes of blackberry, boysenberry and pepper with a traditional meaty savory note, herbs and minerality. - $1.50 Sample
2014 Chateau Smith Cabernet Sauvignon; $19.99
The grapes for this one are sourced from six vineyards located in Wahluke Slope, Rattlesnake Hills and Yakima AVAs. This one is also a whole berry fermentation, naturally inoculated with the natural wild yeasts. The oak usage is very balanced playing a nice supporting role without covering up the terroir. It really just is a very balanced Cabernet all the way around.
“If you like Cabernet dark and rich, this is your sexy beast. Chocolate, dark cherries, and tobacco leaf. It continues with earth and stone on an infinite finish.” , 90pts Wine Enthusiast - $1.50 Sample