A wine that wasn’t produced in 2010, the 2011 Syrah Clifton Vineyard is a 100% Syrah all from the Wahluke Slope AVA. Loaded with potential, it exhibits a dense, full-bodied profile to go with already complex aromas and flavors. Showing the freshness of the vintage with its juicy, integrated acidity, it has beautiful ripeness, no hard edges and superb overall balance. It should be reasonably approachable on release and age gracefully. Drink 2015-2026. In the top tier of producers in Washington State, wild man Charles Smith fashions singular, exotic wines that never lack for richness or texture. While his wines can push the limits in some vintages and be slightly controversial, there’s nothing controversial or over the top with these 2010s and 2011s and they have beautiful purity of fruit, clean, integrated acid profiles and solid underlying structure. In almost all cases, given the quality, they represent incredible values. While this was a slight marathon tasting, when the wines are this good, it’s always easy to keep your motivation. Focusing on low-yields in the vineyards, the winemaking here is straight-forward with almost all of the wines seeing some whole cluster fermentation, time on lees and aging primarily in neutral French oak.www.kvintners.com

The Clifton is holding back at the moment, its tannins feel a little scrapey and the fruit is showing a cool-climate aspect, although the Wahluke is generally one of Washington’s hot spots. Gravelly and dry, with a long finish that somehow holds your interest long after the fruit has faded.——P.G.(12/15/2011)—— 89

In the aromas are some organic, composty notes, some violets, and plenty of purple fruits. This wine has extra grip in the mouth, drying tannins, quite ripe and polished, and elevated with beautifully ripe fruit. Veins of licorice and black olive run into the finish.——P.G.(2/1/2011)—— 92