Washington, USA
Located at the base of the Blue Mountains in Walla Walla (Washington State), Charles Smith opened his first winery, K Vintners, in December of 2001. The first release,1999 K Syrah from Walla Walla Valley, initiated the style of winemaking that Charles continues today: small lots of single vineyard Syrahs and field blends of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Tempranillo and Viognier, all of which are hand-picked, foot-stomped, fermented with naturally occurring yeasts and basket pressed.
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Substance 'Cs' Cabernet Sauvignon
| SKU | 782383 |
| Country | United States |
| Region | Columbia Valley, WA |
| Type | Red |
| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Listing | |
| Case Config. | 12x750ml |
| Available In |
Colour
Bright dark red with ruby tones.
Aroma
Blackberry, black currant and licorice.
Flavour
Dark fruits, cassis and oak backed up by firm lightly grainy tannins.
Food Pairing
Prime rib roast, gourmet hamburgers, Salisbury steak.
More Info
Winemaker Charles Smith is the only person to have received Winemaker of the Year distinctions by both Wine Enthusiast (2014) and Food & Wine (2009). His wines continue to receive broad recognition from leading wine publications such as Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, and Wine & Spirits with 98 scores of 95 points and above, and 386 scores of 90 points and above.
James Suckling, Mar/2022
2020 -
"Lovely ripe blackcurrant, ginger, cinnamon and violet on the nose. Full-bodied with fine tannins. Good balance and depth here, with well-rounded, ripe fruit. Nicely refined. Drink now."
Jeb Dunnuck, Jul/2022
2020 -
"The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Cs is outstanding, and certainly another smoking good value. Offering plenty of both red and blue fruits as well as flowers and spicy nuances, it's medium-bodied, has fine, silky tannins, and a great finish. Drink this totally charming, forward, beautifully balanced Cabernet any time over the coming 4-6 years or so, and it might even keep longer."
Jeb Dunnuck, May/2021
2019 -
"Juicy blue fruits, leafy tobacco, violets, and orange blossom notes all emerge from the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Cs and it's medium to full-bodied, has a beautifully balanced, fruit-forward style, no hard edges, and a great finish. It's no simple fruit bomb and has notable structure, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. It reminds me of a top Cru Bourgeois from Bordeaux and represents a stunning value. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years."
James Suckling, May/2021
2019 -
"Currants, flowers and walnuts on the nose. Medium-bodied with a pretty core of fruit and fine tannins and a crisp finish. Lead pencil. Fresh. Compact. Delicate and delicious. Enjoy. Drink or hold."
Tom Firth, Culinaire Magazine, Jul/2022
2019 -
"Washington State Cabernet? Yes please! Cherry fruits with menthol tobacco, cedar, capsicum, and a mild brininess and smoke on the nose lead into a full-bore, complex, bold cabernet with earthy fruits, a lot of cedar and spicy tones, and some serious, steak friendly acids. Though I will say this is damn good with a nice cheese board and charcuterie."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Oct/2022
2019 -
"Open-knit and approachable in youth, the 2019 Cs Cabernet Sauvignon is juicy with a mineral essence and a classic beam of dark berry nature with hints of dried herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the Cabernet is fleshy with an agreeable mid-palate that is balanced, highlighting a fresh, lingering finish that delivers at a great price. Give it a try."
James Suckling, Jun/2020
2018 -
"This has the wonderful, dark-fruit and olive character of a ripe cabernet sauvignon, but the polished tannins fold over the wine. It’s full-bodied, yet agile and focused at the finish. Real wine for the money. Drink now."
JebDunnuck.com, Apr/2020
2018 -
"I loved the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Cs, which ranks with the finest releases to date for this cuvee. Classy cassis fruits, lead pencil, and tobacco notes all emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, with ripe tannin, integrated oak, and a great finish. It makes a mockery of just about every other Cabernet Sauvignon in this price range. Buy a case and enjoy over the coming 4-6 years, probably longer."
Wine Spectator, Oct/2021
2018 -
"A zesty, fruit-forward version, offering black cherry, bittersweet mocha and spice flavors."
Wine Spectator, Oct/2021
2018 -
"A zesty, fruit-forward version, offering black cherry, bittersweet mocha and spice flavors."
JebDunnuck.com, Apr/2019
2017 -
"The base 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is brilliant, and as Cabernet Sauvignon goes, it’s a value that’s hard to beat! Classic black and blue fruits, damp earth, violets, and tobacco notes all emerge from this medium to full-bodied effort that stays pure, impeccably balanced, and vibrant on the palate. It’s the real deal, and if it was from Napa, it would sell for 3-4 times the price."
Wine Spectator, Aug/2019
2017 -
#49 Top 100 Wines of 2019 "Precise and vibrantly structured, with black cherry, espresso and spice flavors that take on richness toward polished tannins. Drink now through 2024. 162,605 cases made."
JebDunnuck.com, Apr/2018
2016 -
"The largest production cuvee, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon was vinified in tank before being pressed to barrel where it went through malo. Aged 13 months in barrels, its vibrant purple color is followed by a terrific bouquet of blueberries, cassis, scorched earth, and spice. Deep, rich, full-bodied, and beautifully balanced, this is the real deal, ladies and gentlemen, and it's a no-brainer purchase. Just pretend you paid three times the price."
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Jun/2018
2016 -
"Amazingly, there are 125,000 cases of the value-priced 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine offers up classic aromas of crushed cassis, loamy soil and pencil lead. On the palate, it's medium-bodied, layered and flavorful, with chewy but ripe tannins and succulent balancing acids, concluding with good length. Considering the scale of this cuvee and the pittance it commands, it's a remarkable achievement."
Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Jun/2017
2016 -
"The deep, inky-colored 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that will see 12 months in French oak. It offers terrific notes of cassis, blueberries, violets and wood smoke, medium to full body, ripe tannin and a classy finish. It way over-delivers for the price. It's worth pointing out that this cuvee comes mostly from vineyards planted, and farmed, by Charles Smith and Brennon Leighton; this undoubtedly contributes to the incredibly high quality."
Wine Spectator, Aug/2018
2016 -
"Dark and spirited, with appealing blackberry, black olive and smoked anise flavors that build toward big but polished tannins. Drink now through 2024. 120,000 cases made."
Wine Enthusiast, Oct/2018
2016 -
#54 Top 100 Best Buys of 2018 "The aromas are compelling, with notes of fresh herb, black currant, black raspberry and black cherry, showing a pleasing sense of purity. The flavors are soft and pure, with sleek black-fruit notes lingering on the finish. Firm tannins back it up. It's a fruitful expression of the variety and a superb value. Drink now."
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Jun/2017
2015 -
"One of the best values I have tasted in a long time, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon from the team at K Vintners was hand-harvested, natively fermented and aged all in French oak. Smoking good notes of cassis, black currants and hints of plum all emerge from this rich, beautifully textured, layered beauty that has solid tannic grip, a silky, elegant texture and a great finish. It has real elegance and finesse and is a dark fruited, unctuous beauty to drink over the coming 3-4 years."
Natalie MacLean, Jan/2018
2015 -
"A firm tannic grip on this big Washington state red wine. Cellar a few years then decant 2 hours and pair with a rare steak. Aromas of black fruit and toasty oak."
Antonio Galloni’s Vinous, Oct/2017
2015 -
"(not inoculated for either the alcoholic or malolactic fermentation; aged for 12 months in barrels, 40% new): Bright ruby. Slightly porty high-toned ripeness to the aromas of cassis, redcurrant, black cherry, licorice, dark chocolate and cocoa powder. In a distinctly sweet, ripe style, with its slight warmth nicely buffered by a huge mouthful of fruit and leavened by firm natural acidity. Finishes with a serious dusting of horizontal tannins. This powerful, slightly unrefined Cabernet is a seriously good value."
Wine.com 2018
2015 -
Top 100 Most Popular Sellers (#1)
Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Jun/2016
2014 -
"The straight 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is outstanding. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, native fermented, aged in French oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered, it’s a killer value that has lots of blue fruits, violets, graphite and leafy herbs in medium to full-bodied, concentrated, layered style. Savvy readers should buy a case of this and drink bottles over the coming 4-5 years, although I see no reason that it won’t keep longer either."
Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Jun/2015
2014 -
"Tasted out of barrel, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon should be just as good as the 2013. Seeing all native yeast, 42 days on skins, 12 months in French oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered, it offers classic plum and blackberry fruit intermixed with ample licorice, toasted bread and violet aromas and flavors. Concentrated, balanced and the real deal, buy it by the case and drink it over the coming 4-5 years." (Issue #219)
Wine Enthusiast, Feb/2017
2014 -
"This 100% varietal wine from Goose Ridge and Frenchman Hills vineyards provides immediate appeal, with fresh aromas of blackberry, black currant and licorice. The flavors are full and don't hold back, with firm lightly grainy tannins providing support. It still needs some time to stretch it legs. Give it an hour decant or wait until after 2017."