Charles Smith
M.C.K. (Motor City Kitty) Syrah
Walla Walla Valley, Oregon/Washington, USA
Eye popping goodness! Perfect balance. Well made.
Eye popping goodness! Perfect balance. Well made.
May 24th, 2024
14.5% abv. One of the more assertive offerings in the K Line. Savory and aromatic with violets, bramble, smokey BBQ, olive, camphor, and wild dark fruits. Long decant if drinking now, has the stuffing for another decade.
14.5% abv. One of the more assertive offerings in the K Line. Savory and aromatic with violets, bramble, smokey BBQ, olive, camphor, and wild dark fruits. Long decant if drinking now, has the stuffing for another decade.
Apr 25th, 2023Lavender, fennel, olives… all that good Syrah stuff except the meat.
Lavender, fennel, olives… all that good Syrah stuff except the meat.
Dec 11th, 2022This is powerful Syrah with a lot going on. More concentrated and tannic than many of the other Smith Syrah offerings I’ve encountered. Game, black pepper, violets, camphor, cocoa, coffee, and wild berries all leap from the glass. This wants lamb or a rib roast. Considering the price difference I think I prefer this to the Royal City. Well made wine.
This is powerful Syrah with a lot going on. More concentrated and tannic than many of the other Smith Syrah offerings I’ve encountered. Game, black pepper, violets, camphor, cocoa, coffee, and wild berries all leap from the glass. This wants lamb or a rib roast. Considering the price difference I think I prefer this to the Royal City. Well made wine.
Mar 7th, 2021
Black pepper and fruit explosion with a pile of smoke! Delicious and long finish...
Black pepper and fruit explosion with a pile of smoke! Delicious and long finish...
Dec 28th, 2020Love this wine...gritty, fruit forward with black pepper at its core, smoky with mild meaty overtones...felt quite rustic at same time...Next one ill decant for hr or so to see if comes more alive but otherwise really great syrah from Charles...
Love this wine...gritty, fruit forward with black pepper at its core, smoky with mild meaty overtones...felt quite rustic at same time...Next one ill decant for hr or so to see if comes more alive but otherwise really great syrah from Charles...
Oct 25th, 2020
I don’t drink enough Syrah but I blame that mostly on the fact that the Northern Rhônes in my cellar are aging at a glacial pace so it’s hands-off for at least a few more years. That being said, from time to time, I like to see what the New World has to offer and on this night, it was a back-to-back tasting of K Vintner’s Motor City Kitty and Reynvaan’s “Contender” with M.C.K. going first. Talk about a black pepper bomb, holy smokes! It’s on the nose and on the finish and it’s the first impression you get on the pop and pour. However, there is a core of dark fruit that is very nice and while I’m not overwhelmed by it, I appreciate its uniqueness. But man, oh man, dat pepper tho!
I don’t drink enough Syrah but I blame that mostly on the fact that the Northern Rhônes in my cellar are aging at a glacial pace so it’s hands-off for at least a few more years. That being said, from time to time, I like to see what the New World has to offer and on this night, it was a back-to-back tasting of K Vintner’s Motor City Kitty and Reynvaan’s “Contender” with M.C.K. going first. Talk about a black pepper bomb, holy smokes! It’s on the nose and on the finish and it’s the first impression you get on the pop and pour. However, there is a core of dark fruit that is very nice and while I’m not overwhelmed by it, I appreciate its uniqueness. But man, oh man, dat pepper tho!
Apr 29th, 2020
Boisterous and rich... a solid Walla Walla Syrah.
Boisterous and rich... a solid Walla Walla Syrah.
Jan 20th, 2020This wine is very enjoyable and also very young. I opened it yesterday and I’m writing a review on it 24 hours later. Initially it was nothing but black pepper on the nose with minimal fruit and a lot of pepper. Today the pepper is subdued and there is some enjoyable red fruit. Old world and new world collide. Don’t open this for at least 5 years. It’s an amazing wine! One for the cellar for sure.
This wine is very enjoyable and also very young. I opened it yesterday and I’m writing a review on it 24 hours later. Initially it was nothing but black pepper on the nose with minimal fruit and a lot of pepper. Today the pepper is subdued and there is some enjoyable red fruit. Old world and new world collide. Don’t open this for at least 5 years. It’s an amazing wine! One for the cellar for sure.
Sep 17th, 2019
Mmm.. single vineyard Syrah named after Charles Smith's cat.. and for good reason - this thing purrrrrs. The nose is awesome and screams old world Syrah - roasted herbs, jalapeño, black licorice, mushroom, brambly black fruit and mint, all enveloped by waves of hickory smoke and charcoal. Seductively smooth and inviting on the palate. Not overtly heavy, but packs just the right amount of punch with some soft minerality and refreshing acidity. Great wine, well worth the money.
Mmm.. single vineyard Syrah named after Charles Smith's cat.. and for good reason - this thing purrrrrs. The nose is awesome and screams old world Syrah - roasted herbs, jalapeño, black licorice, mushroom, brambly black fruit and mint, all enveloped by waves of hickory smoke and charcoal. Seductively smooth and inviting on the palate. Not overtly heavy, but packs just the right amount of punch with some soft minerality and refreshing acidity. Great wine, well worth the money.
Jan 3rd, 2018