“Where do I begin? Aromas of wildflowers, bark, sarsaparilla, pottery studio, cherry compote, undergrowth, forest floor. On the palate, it oozes with flair running the gamut from tree fruits, plums, cherries to an array of herbs and spices. Long and silky, ethereal. A dream.” –Charles Smith, 2018
To say our K Vintners Royal City Syrah made history right from its inaugural bottling in 2006 would be an understatement.
The real story starts back in 2005, when Charles released not one but three high end Syrah Wines sourced from Stoneridge Vineyard. All were well received. But then, in 2006, he chose to combine them into one singular juggernaut of a wine. Named for the nearest town Royal City was born, the crown stamped upon its label telling you everything you need to know about what’s bottled inside.
What other wine’s first vintage can claim Wine Enthusiast declared it “had nothing missing” and awarded it 100 points – the first triple digit score ever bestowed upon a Washington wine by the venerable magazine? Ever since that auspicious inception Royal City Syrah has been the darling of collectors and critics alike, an immediate and enduring icon.
Born from the extremely isolated and wildly celebrated Stoneridge Vineyard in Washington’s 30-mile-long Royal Slope AVA, Royal City’s excellence doesn’t come easily. House of Smith fans will recognize the Stoneridge name, where at elevations between 760-814 feet, a hot, sunny growing season forces vines to dig through sandy, rocky topsoil into particulates held together by calcium carbonate and basalt called ‘caliche.’ This forces grapes to struggle to survive – and that struggle makes for sophisticated wine.
Nothing about Stoneridge is simple. Even as the vineyard’s chunky soil beguiles farming attempts, a shallow underground creek dissecting the vineyard must be reckoned with. This creek grabs the roots of some vines, over-watering them and leaving their fruit less desirable for winemaking. But these challenges aside, somewhere in this remote, feast-or-famine confluence of potential agricultural heartache, real magic resides.
At least one thing was easy: the label.
“Since the region is called the Royal Slope, Charles and my European background took us to this design,” explained designer Rikke Korff. “The crown stamp on the label, in the dark and edgy style of House of Smith, represents a take on Royal City being ‘by appointment’ of royalty, crafted from the highest grade and the absolute best of the best.”
Other wines in our portfolio sourced from this vineyard make up a who’s who of potential flagships: King Coal, Broncho, El Jefe, Old Bones, Stoneridge Merlot, and Stoneridge Cabernet Sauvignon. While each of these individual wines clearly has its own strong character and point of view, they also all share high scores and a heady dose of that concentrated Stoneridge magic.
“Red and black fruits, toasted nuts, peppery herbs, and savory, meaty, spicy notes all define the aromatics, and it’s medium to full-bodied on the palate, with good mid-palate depth, ripe, building tannins, and a great finish.” –Jeb Dunnuck, 97+ points.
“This is fantastic with dark-berry, tar, black-pepper, stone and almond aromas and flavors. It’s full- bodied and tannic, yet polished and focused. A gorgeous finish. Shows balance and reserve.” –James Suckling, 98 points
“…the 2015 Syrah Royal City bulldozes with elegance and power that is rarely seen in top bottlings… Full bodied on the palate the wine has a seriousness that cannot be denied, yet it still has a velvety richness with lifting tannins and acidity on the mid palate…” –Robert Parker, 98 points
“…a wine with genuine gravitas. There is nothing missing, from the first sniff to the last sip, the wine delivers on all levels. Complex, beautifully balanced, powerful, and detailed.” Wine Enthusiast, 2006, 100 points
Royal City’s latest vintage, the forthcoming 2021, stands right in line with its pedigree.