Charles Smith K Vintners The Cattle King Syrah 2020

Cellar for up to 20 years. Decant for an hour before serving. The Cattle King is a smoky, full-bodied Syrah, infused with the warm, dusty earth of Washington’s Yakima Valley. Look for scents of black cherry and plum jam, supplemented by sarsaparilla, animalistic hints of cured meat, and dried herbs. Like most of Charles Smith’s wines, it is an expression of one vineyard - this time, the Syrah was sourced from Upland vineyard in the Snipes Valley AVA. Through his rock and roll attitude and fearless experimentation, Charles Smith has become the biggest winemaker in Washington state. House of Smith encompasses six punchy brands, and K Vintners represents ground zero for Charles. It’s a Rhône-inspired brand, founded in 1999 when the eponymous winemaker began selling excellent Syrah from the back of his van. The Cattle King Syrah is a brooding red, with sinewy tannins and a taut vein of acidity. It is one of the denser Syrahs in Charles Smith’s range and is a joy to explore. On the palate, you can discover strong, long-lasting flavours of cherry, plum and liquorice, backed up by pungent spice, herbs, and a hint of menthol. Upland vineyard is planted on some of the oldest soils in the state, unaffected by the Missoula floods. Consider pairing this with lamb, venison, or smoky, barbecued vegetables.

Price: £61.21 from 8wines UK