Drink.  Learn.  Laugh.  Repeat.

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 333,819 strong:

Register Today!

Charles Smith Charles & Charles Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2014 Wine Review

Charles Smith Charles & Charles Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2014

Charles Smith Charles & Charles Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2014

Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States

Community Score:88/100

Community Reviews: 3

  Add My Review


Price: $24.95

Drink: 2015-2019

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 13.9%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine


Winery: Charles Smith

Agent: Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd.

Natalie's Score: 89/100

A full-bodied Washington state blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah grapes. Aromas of black fruit and toasty oak. Could use more cellar time to smooth the tannins. Decant for 1-2 hours and pair with a rare steak. Campfire toasty and smoky with black fruit and a whip of dark spice across the palate. Great value here in this Washington State Cabernet. Pair with a pepper steak for maximum pleasure.

Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah food pairings: steak frites, grilled gourmet sausages.

This Charles Smith Charles & Charles Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2014 was reviewed on March 3, 2017 by Natalie MacLean

More Vintages: 2019  2017  2016  2015  2013 

  Add New Vintage

Pricing & Stock Information

StoreStock    
Major Mackenzie & Jane10 Add
Highway 27 & Innovation8 Add
Front & Spadina7 Add
Yonge & Davis West7 Add
Avenue & St. Clair6 Add
See More Edit
  • BCLDB
  • 114611
  • $17.02 
  • Check Stock

Reviews and Ratings

Greg Hughes rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

This wine was pretty well put together. The Shiraz was fermented whole cluster and the Cabernet de-stemmed. Both were fermented separately and slowly and given a nice, long maceration period. This wine doesn't appear to have been given any time in barrel, which may shock some people who taste it. The winemaker's notes only makes mention of carrying out fermentation and malolactic inside stainless steel.
The colour is a deep ruby, with a lot of purple towards the rim
Aromas of leather, cracked pepper, plum, cherry, and tons of fresh blackberry.
The palate is chocolatey, with lots of dark fruit influences from the Shiraz. Plum, mulberry, black currant, and cherry. There is some expression from the Cab in the structure and the red fruit that eek through. It's pretty dark and brooding.
Pure tasting fruit with good extraction. The alcohol is a modest 13.9%, which is surprising considering Washington is capable of superripe 14.5-15% wines. The vintner probably judiciously picked slightly early to preserve the juicy acidity that gives dimension to the dark Shiraz fruit.
A super generous wine, in this category, that would go great with Canadian cuisine: poutine or a Montreal smoked meat sandwich.
Top pick for value.
Monique Sosa - Accredited Sommelier rated this wine as 86/100 with the following review:

Major blackberry, leather, spice and mocha hit the high notes. Tannins are young, chewy and seem to bury the acidity. A medium bodied wine lacking some backbone. Tasted March 2017 by @sommsosa | bespoketastings.ca

If you liked the Charles Smith Charles & Charles Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2014, you might also like these wines:

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

Wine of the Week

As featured on  

CTV Wine of the Week!

Poggio al Tesoro Red Wine
2021,
Bolgheri, Tuscany D.O.C. ...

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 333,819 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

  Best Books of the Year

Red, White & Drunk all over by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

  Best Books of the Year

Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

Insider tips on starting a wine cellar
From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources.   learn more  
Winner World's Best Drink Writer
WFour-Time Winner James Beard Foundation
Five-Time Winner Association of Food Journalists
Six-Time Winner Bert Greene Award
Best Wine Literature Book Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
Online Writer of the Year Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Award