Jeb Dunnuck; “Brennon Leighton is one of the pillars behind the incredible quality coming from the K Vintners lineup, yet he also makes a tiny amount of wine under his own B. Leighton label. These are singular, incredibly impressive wines which are unfortunately made in just tiny quantities. Trust me, they’re well worth the effort to track down!”

Wowaweewa! Where to start with this double 93 pointer beast? Let’s rewind back to its sibling King Coal - that big, bad, powerful Cab/Syrah from Charles Smith that rocked us to our core with its power and beauty…our bodies have been CRAVING more of that. So we went back to the well and found the last FEW cases of this so-called “impeccably made sex-pot” from the library of his sidekick Brennan Leighton. Talk about a TOTAL thriller! This stuff will put some pep in your step and some swerve in your curve, that’s for sure.

Close your eyes and this might transport you straight to Cornas. Crushed violets, graphite, black olive, sage, and smoky cured meats. A burst of ripe black plums, blueberry bramble, Turkish coffee, cardamom, and layer upon layer of intriguing complexity fade in and out. Deep, penetrating tannins with seamless integration, full and long, yet also featherlike. Wow, just wow. Stunning complexity like this calls for gamey cuts of meat. It would sing with Argentine skirt steak.

We’ll echo the sentiment from the Wine Advocate review: “it’s impeccably made, has first-rate purity and is well worth its going rate.” At our price, it’s a must-have and anyone who tasted the King Coal, or any of the other Wines of Substance by Charles Smith labels will be all over this. Anyone who hasn’t yet…well, we can’t click for you. But you really need to experience these wines. Just 4 barrels made by the way, so when it’s gone, IT’S GONE!

93 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“Another upcoming superstar winemaker is Brennan Leighton, who’s one of the driving forces behind the sensational quality coming out of K Vintners today. Brennan considers his Petit Verdot his top cuvee, but he makes a brilliant Syrah. The 2014 Syrah Olsen Brothers Vineyard checks in as 100% Syrah, all from rocky, volcanic soils, that was fermented with 100% whole cluster and aged in 20% new puncheons. This full-bodied, concentrated, low acid, sex-pot of a wine sports a deep ruby/purple color and terrific notes of liquid violets, pen ink, blueberry, graphite and hints of plums. Like all of Brennan’s wines, it’s impeccably made, has first-rate purity and is well worth its going rate.”

93 Points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous

“Just 100 cases made; all from Phelps clone, which was brought up to Red Willow vineyard by David Lake in 1986, planted on fragmented basalt soil. Bright, dark red with ruby highlights. Knockout nose melds aromas of raspberry, strawberry, wild herbs, game, mocha and leather. At once savory and juicy, offering a rare combination of creaminess and inner-mouth lift, with its intense cassis fruit accented by spices. A very classy wine with a captivating light touch and suave tannins. Brennon Leighton carries out a maceration lasting about 25 days, while his boss Charles Smith leaves his own Charles Smith Wines on their skins for more like 45. Drink 2018-2025.”