A lively number with tonnes of character, this wine is bursting with delicious stone fruits and citrus notes, with a subtle minerality on the palate.

This wine is from the Columbia Valley region of Washington state, two states up from California on the west coast of the USA. The grapes come from a cool site producing fruit with sublime minerality. The wine is smooth and aromatic with apricot, key lime and nectarine flavours.

Winemaking is the new rock and roll. Or in Charles Smith’s case it is the new Danish Thrash Metal. Charles spent a decade in Europe managing various bands you’ll never have heard of (unless you mis-spent your youth in disused warehouses near the Copenhagen ring road) before seeing the light and heading to Washington State to plant vines.

Fast-forward a dozen vintages or so and Charles still has the hair, the t-shirts and the attitude of his music days but has replaced the guitar pick for a corkscrew and the Jack Daniels for some supremely elegant Riesling and Syrah.

Will be an ideal match for oysters, Chinese food or Thai fishcakes!

90 Points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate