'09 Royal City Syrah wine ranked 6th by Wine Enthusiast

ROYAL CITY - There is something special about Syrah grapes grown at Royal City's Stoneridge Vineyards turned into wine by Charles Smith's K Vintners in Walla Walla.

According to Wine Enthusiast Magazine of New York, if you are serious about wine, then you want the 2009 Royal City Syrah in your 2013 cellar. It is rated 6th in Wine Enthusiast's top 100.

"I was kind of excited when I found out," said Stoneridge owner Rhonda Davis. "Little Royal City."

The challenge for the connoisseur is that the wine may not be available. At last check, it was valued at $140 a bottle retail.

Smith reports that the 2010 Royal City Syrah, his fifth vintage, is already sold out. This very limited production wine was offered on pre-release in January and sold out in less than two hours.

"This is a kick (butt) wine in an elegant, fancy black dress," Smith said. "This will be the fifth vintage of this amazing wine, and 2010 is destined to be every bit as magnificent as the previous releases."

Smith's first release, a 1999 K Syrah from Walla Walla Valley, initiated the style of winemaking he 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 and foot-stomped.

According to Wine Enthusiast, the 2009 Royal City Syrah "beautifully reflects the vintage as well as the place. There is astonishing density, length and detail-as much as any Syrah in the country."

Founded in 1979, Wine Enthusiast Companies address the wholesale, retail and consumer-direct markets and are headquartered just 30 minutes outside of Manhattan, in Mt. Kisco, NY.

In 1988, Wine Enthusiast Magazine was founded, bringing consumers vital information on the world of wine, with hundreds of wine reviews in every issue. The magazine has grown to become the world's largest periodical devoted exclusively to wine and spirits.

To a large extent, WEM's list of Top 100 Cellar Selections reflects which classic wine regions released the best vintages during the past year. This is a refined list, and many of the wines are expensive-no surprise there. Many of these wines are also limited in production.

The 2010 Royal City Syrah was given 99 points (100 possible) by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. He called it "one of the top Syrahs out there" crediting, in part, the big stones and broken limestone soil at Stoneridge.

"Borderline perfect," he said.

Other Royal City Syrahs by K Vintners to strike big included 2005 with 100 points from Wine Spectator, 2008 with 96 points from Wine Spectator and 2007 with 98 points from Wine Spectator.

Other K Vintners award winners from StoneRidge, through Wine Spectator include the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (91), 2009 Merlot (92), 2010 Merlot (92), 2010 Melbec (90) and 2010 Viognier (90).

Award winning wines from Davis's own Foxy Roxy Winery and StoneRidge Vineyards include 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Gold; 2008 Vixen Red Blend, Silver at Sunset international WIne Competition; 2008 Vixen Red Blend at World Wine Challenge, Silver; and 2010 Late Harvest Viognier, World Wine Challenge, Silver.