THE LATEST:

We’re still deep in rosé season with the hottest days ahead, so I hope y’all are loading up on boxes of the stuff from all corners of the globe. Lord knows I’m guzzling buckets of rosé . I’m actually finding some of the best rosés I’ve ever tasted, especially out of Provence where 09 was an amazing vintage. Send me an email with some of your favorites so I don’t miss any. I think the Charles & Charles 09 rosé is tasting optimally right now. At least from my perspective the important balance between fruit, mineral, spice and acid have come into total focus. We’re loving it and based on how fast it went out the door I don’t think we’re alone. Our stocks of 09 rosé are kicked so what’s out in the market is all there is. Now’s the moment.

On August 1st we begin bottling our 2009 Charles & Charles red which is a blend of cabernet sauvignon (51%) and syrah (49%). With the ‘07 all sold, the ‘09 will be rolling out to all corners of the US by late August. It’s a young wine, but it’s already shockingly luscious with chewy dark fruit that is hard not to love. I think the most notable difference between the vintages is that with the 07, the cab sauv dominated the personality of the wine with the syrah playing a minor role but, with the 09 it’s a much gutsier syrah that takes far more control of the agenda, and we’re psyched about that.

And with the new vintage of red we’re excited to debut a new label. It’s a photo of Charles and I in front of the American Legion Post 35 building in downtown Waitsburg, WA. Charles S. bought this building a few years ago and painted it to create this conceptual art piece. It’s intention is to provoke thought of the future while honoring the past.

Check out this video link of Charles S. explaining his inspiration for this conceptual art piece: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8Tqi4wrZm0

THE STORY BEHIND THE ART:

THE PROJECT:

A collaboration founded in 2008 between Food & Wine Magazine 2009 Winemaker of the year, Charles Smith (K Vintners, Charles Smith Wines) and Charles Bieler (Three Thieves, BIELER Pere et Fils, Sombra mezcal). The label is an abstract play on the American Flag done by the well loved and historic Nashville, TN poster shop, Hatch Show Print.

bielerandsmith.com

charles@bielerfamily.net

MAIN STREET WAITSBURG, WASHINGTON