Charles Smith CasaSmith Porcospino Primitivo 2019

Drink now or cellar for another 8 years. No need to decant before serving.

Self-taught winemaker Charles Smith spent his early career working as a rock band manager and touring Europe. It was here that he first fell in love with wine culture, and later when he returned to the States it was an easy decision to go into winemaking in Washington State. Smith celebrated his first vintage in 1999 and since then he has been recognised for his talent numerous times, including being named Winemaker of the Year by Food & Wine and by Wine Enthusiast magazines.

This elegant Primitivo is a great example of the Smith style with plenty of rich ripe fruit balanced with grace and poise. The fruit all comes from Northridge Vineyard in the Wahluke appellation and once in the winery it is fermented with wild yeasts in stainless steel tanks. The young wine is then aged on the lees for 10 months in neutral French oak.

This light touch in the winery allows the natural beauty of the terroir and grape to shine through. On the nose there are enticing notes of plum, crushed wild berries, and dried fruit while the first sip reveals a robust full body, firm tannins, and velvety texture.