Charles Smith Wines K Vintners The Hidden Syrah 2018 750ml

An instant success, the 2018 Syrah The Hidden Northridge Vineyard is impressive and possesses layers of spiced red fruits, black raspberry and nuances of dusty floral tones that sway with precision and finesse. Medium to full-bodied, the wine offers gobs of complexity that overflow with almost immaculate accuracy before ending with a long-lingering and ever-evolving finish that persists for more than a minute. Bravo, I’m going back for another sip. (Anthony Mueller)

Kirsch, ripe black cherries, roasted herbs, violets, and orange blossom notes all emerge from the 2018 The Hidden Syrah Northridge Vineyard, which is all Syrah brought up in neutral oak. Rich, full-bodied, and beautifully polished, it packs loads of fruit yet stays light on its feet, with no sensation of heaviness. As with all of these Syrahs from Smith, it’s going to benefit from 2–4 years of bottle age.

Sourced from the Northridge vineyard on the Wahluke Slope, set on limestone soils, the 2018 Syrah The Hidden saw 50% new French oak puncheons for 22 months prior to bottling. Wet stone and creosote tones combine with bright red fruits on the nose. The palate is fresh and viscous, with lovely tension that runs through a core of medium-bodied dark fruits, and salty and stony undertones. Gorgeous to consume now, this well-balanced wine has another 8-10 years ahead of it. (Owen Bargreen)