2020 Charles Smith (K Vintners) ‘Motor City Kitty’ Yakima Valley Syrah

JS98 This is a serious and intense syrah. Complex notes of chocolate, blackberries, black cherries, cedar and nutmeg here, with cracked pepper, rosemary and dried lavender. Evolving. Firm, tight and compact, with a full body. Beautiful freshness, too. More structure here. Try from 2025.
VIN96+ Dark and viral in the glass with savory exotic spices, crushed ashen stones, grilled sage and smoked meats, the 2020 Syrah Motor City Kitty (MCK) makes a big first impression. This is texturally deep with a wave of mineral-tinged black fruits accelerated by sour citrus, as sweet herbal tones form toward the close. The 2020 tapers o! with a potent concentration of wild berries and smoky earth, as gently grippy tannins tug at the palate. There’s simply so much going on here, and so much more to come through cellaring.
Estate Notes: A generous display of Syrah. Lavender, white pepper, black plum, grilled meat, cold fireplace ash, Asian five spice, seashells. All-encompassing, totally engaging
a seamless delivery of a classic! 100% Syrah, native yeast, 100% whole cluster fermentation, concrete tank and SS Rules, 48 days on skins | 21 months aged on lees in 25% new French oak puncheons