Wine

Rock-n-roll winemaker Charles Smith has been enjoying the spotlight a lot lately.

Following a string of stellar reviews for some of his recent vintages (most notably the tremendous Royal City Syrah) he was named FOOD & WINE Magazine's Winemaker of the Year in the 12th Annual American Wine Awards. In October, twelve (count 'em! 12!) wines from his 2006 vintage were awarded 93 points or better by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.

The new year finds Charles back in Japan again to spread the love (and wine), and he was kind enough to take a few minutes to chat with Vinotokyo about Tokyo, Japan and his his increasingly sought-after wines.

Mourvedre, or “Mataro” as it is known in its native Spain, is a thick-skinned, slow-ripening red grape that has until recently languished in relative obscurity. Lacking the star power of varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir, it has typically played a minor, supporting role in the winemaking process. When blended with other grapes such as Grenache and Syrah, Mourvedre’s dark color, strong tannins and a reductive, “animal” character add structure and body.