Tag Archives: casasmith

Wine of the Day: Charles Smith CasaSmith Jack’s Vineyard Barbera, Walla Walla Valley 2014 – July 2016

Charles Smith K Vintners CasaSmith Jack’s Vineyard Barbera, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($39.95) Buy Now: $33 special

Italian taste meets Washington muscle. Winemaker Charles Smith took Piedmont’s Barbera grape and made it boldly American in this wine. Brooding, deeply pigmented, and stuffed full of ripe red fruit, earth, and roses, the 2012 Jack’s Vineyard Barbera is almost a meal in itself. Aged 26 months on the lees in 40% new French oak: here’s a big Washington wine, from the rocky Walla Walla Valley, that speaks Italian, with an American accent. Any fan of Washington wine should taste this ode to Italia. – Daniel… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Charles Smith CasaSmith Cervo Barbera 2014 7-2-16

Charles Smith K Vintners CasaSmith Cervo Barbera, Wahluke Slope 2014 750ML ($21.95) Buy Now: $18 special

Delicious as Washington’s Cab, Syrah, and Merlot can be, let’s face it: we can only drink so much French varietal wine! Which is why CasaSmith proposes a trio of grapes from Italy instead, refreshing as a breeze on the Amalfi coast. Their 2014 Cervo Barbera represents Piedmont, with no new oak, grown sustainably on the Wahluke Slope, and it makes you wonder why the Evergreen State doesn’t cultivate more grapes from Italia. Barbera’s earthy, spiced, red fruit nature comes through a cappella in the Cervo. Serve it with Italian fare, or Washington-style with a proper venison steak, or, que cazzo, spaghetti and venison meatballs!… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Charles Smith CasaSmith Porcospino Primitivo, Wahluke Slope Washington 2014 6-26-2016

Charles Smith K Vintners CasaSmith Porcospino Primitivo, Wahluke Slope, Washington 2014 750ML ($21.95) Buy Now: $18 special

primitortUnroll the red-and-white checkered tablecloths, the lasagna, pizza, cannelloni, spaghetti… all spread out on the hilly, arid Washington scrubland just east of the mighty Columbia… Casa Smith celebrates the junction of Italy and America with its Wahluke Slope-grown Italian varietal wines. The Primitivo honors the families of Southern Italy (and the USA, where it’s called Zinfandel). Bold in character and deeply colorful like its Puglia homeland, this Primitivo – from the word primativo, meaning “first to ripen” – delivers the luscious dark fruit and mouth-feel that made Washington wines famous. Charles Smith (K Vintners, et al.) makes the wine with guidance and inspiration from Italian friends.… Read the rest