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Robert Parker - "Over the past two years a cult following has sprung up around the persona of Charles Smith, imbuing him with larger than life attributes. By and large, he has acquired this status the old-fashioned way, he has earned it. When I tell enquiring minds that I’ll be visiting Charles later in the day, they knowexactly where I’m going. Once past the persona, however, Charles continues to make some of Washington’s finest wines. Native yeast fermentation, footcrushing, spontaneous malolactic fermentations, gentle basket pressing, no fining or filtration are routinely practiced in the cellar. Even more important, Charles knows where to find the great grapes. In a region where blending is still the rule of thumb, he is the ultimate terriorist. Almost all of his wines are sourced from single vineyards. There are three groupings, the K Vintners selections, the Cayuse selections and the Charles Smith selections."