2009 K Vintners Syrah Royal City

Community Tasting Notes (47) Avg Score: 93.4 points

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  2/24/2024 - fitchbuck Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Even at 73 bones on auction, still not worthy QPR-wise. I often confuse this with the Heart and Old Bones, in that I come in expecting a bruiser... but here, I think that with the fine-grained approach of this syrah, these drink better earlier.

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  1/27/2024 - williamswhine wrote: 90 Points

  Dark deep inky hue. Feel like this juice is past its prime. Soft, velvety, plum, blackberry, little funk, black licorice. Wish that I opened this bottle sooner. Sense is it was a terrific bottle.

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  5/17/2023 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Age has brought a modicum of balance to this big Charles Smith Syrah with mellow funky black fruit integrated with sweet acid and still-grippy tannins. The finish is long and exciting with herbs, minerals, and rough tannin on the tongue. Not present is the firehose intensity of so many of these cult Washington Syrahs, which I much appreciate as I find my palate tired of that experience after a few bottles. I expect this to last for years and I have two bottles left.

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  5/15/2023 - mojotojo Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Delicious, complex, monumental Syrah. There is a LOT going on with this wine that has deepened in complexity over the years. Nice blackberry and plum fruit wrapped in a blanket of smoke, violets, minerals, a touch of WA funk, tar, black licorice and Asian spices. A hint of mocha on the finish. Really outstanding. It opened up nicely after about 20 minutes in the glass and plateaued after about 2 hours. It has enough structure to last a few more years. Velvety.

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  5/6/2023 - JasonClapp Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Fruit, cola, faint mint and a little wet moss on the nose. Smooth and mellow on initial sip. Big big fruit, mouth coating and rich… a touch of forest floor, spice, and cola on the palate…and a long finish. Not seeing salinity, olive, bacon, or other secondary savory characteristics or experiences (which I normally welcome). I’m not sure if that’s due to the aging (drinking an ‘09 in ‘23), or if it’s simply how Smith makes the wine. Wish I had a younger vintage to compare. This is easy drinking and yet robust, paradoxically. The score on this wine is relative to its price point, so the score would be a little higher if the QPR seemed more appropriate. Overall it’s a “good” wine, but does this stand out from the Hidden or the Cattle King?

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