Well no one would dare do this post but I am not a normal wine reviewer. Almost all my samples are purchased so I really don’t care about what any winery thinks of my wine reviews as I work for the everyday consumer. It is amazing at the outrageous scores that critics gave some of these wines I found were influenced by smoke taint. Here is the list so far.
- 2020 WeatherEye Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain (2/21/2025)
Well over 3 days this wine is clearly smoke tainted. How do you know a wine is smoke tainted? Not a lot of fruit showing, ash and really not so much smoke on the nose or palate. Some of the 2020s are worse than others. You can really tell after swishing the wine around in your mouth as it is very unpleasant on all taste buds and has a really chalky texture on the tongue. It is a shame there were fires in 2020 as it was a great growing season until the end. Not rated. - 2020 WeatherEye Vineyards Syrah Estate – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain (1/30/2025)
Day 1: While smoke tainted and the only pro in the world calling this out not undrinkable. Smoke, bramble, ash, violets and spice. Medium finish. Drinkable but so many better for half of $50. 84 points
Day 2: Even more pronounced. Ash, smoke, bramble, dark fruit hiding and earth. A very gritty wine and again a shame as I am sure any other vintage this would be outstanding. 78 points
Day 3: Poured this blind for 4 friends at a wine shop today and Julie nailed it as Syrah. Everyone got some pepper and spice but it was the finish they couldn’t get behind. Showing some alcohol with pepper, spice, some fruit but not noticeable and ash. This is actually more drinkable than day 2 and I could easily see if someone had 20 Syrah’s in a row, they might rate higher. The fact critics were handing out 95 plus on this wine makes you think. For sure smoke tainted and one should wonder either these critics are on the pay roll or the producers are sending samples that are not from 2020. This is why I created WINE DISRUPTORS which will point out great wineries around the world but also the flaws of the industry. 80 points
Recommendation: NO don’t buy even at $49.99. (84 points)
www.winedisruptors.com - 2020 Sparkman Cellars Malbec Preposterous – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (12/30/2024)
Severely smoke tainted. My friends bottle and asked him what he thought and he instantly said smoke tainted. A lot of wines are not being detected at all levels of reviewing whether it is a casual cellar tracker user to the “pros.” Easiest way to tell is on the finish it will be a very apparent chalky, ash taste that lingers. This wine should have never been made. There was some spice and muted fruits. Very unpleasant. (70 points) - 2020 K Vintners The Boy – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (12/21/2024)
Day 1: Natural cork. James Suckling 98 points? While this is not as impacted by smoke taint like the K Powerline Syrah it still has smoke taint issues. Ash, floral, lighter fruits, mild funk, stone and earth. I have had other vintages of this wine and always enjoyed them but this one is not up to par. You can really get the smoke taint linger on the tongue minutes later. Not a complete disaster of a wine but for $50 money is better spent elsewhere. 85 points
Day 2: As with other smoke tainted bottles the flaws are more noticeable on day 2. Charcoal, ash, light fruit and some floral notes. Just a gritty texture to this wine that lingers for well over a few minutes in the mouth. Some locals know about the smoke taint issues that the valley suffered and some made great wines others maybe should have skipped the vintage. I would really love to send a bottle of this to James Suckling for him to review this wine again with a bottle off the shelf. 84 points
Day 3: This is a shame as there is a nice wine hiding under the smoke influence. Getting a little more fruit on day 3 with cranberry and raspberries. Spice and some floral notes. The ash element on this wine dominates the finish masking the fruit. While this is very drinkable I would go with the 2021 vintage of this wine as this one was even discounted. 84 points
Recommendation: Get a different vintage as this is a solid Grenache wine from different vintages. (85 points) - 2020 Tobias Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Formation – USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County (12/14/2024)
Vegetables gone bad, smoke, mild spice and dirt. A complete disaster in a bottle. Get your palate checked immediately if you think this is a good wine. (58 points) - 2020 Tobias Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Formation – USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County (12/7/2024)
Mr. Smoke Taint alert. Ripe fruit trying to mask this smoke taint. Some spice but just not a good wine. Really looking like a potential top 10 worst wines of the year. Insane this is $60 out of the winery as Haskell’s has it for $30 a bottle. (69 points) - 2020 K Vintners Syrah Powerline Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (10/30/2024)
Day 1: Not showing the normal fruit you would expect from this wine. Smoke taint for sure with plum, dirt, spice and tar. Short to medium finish. Concerns.
Day 2: Not as bad as the Creator but getting some smoke taint on this wine. Burnt toast, muted fruits, spices, dirt and olives. These wines are usually bursting with flavors but not seeing it on this wine. Very concerned about these 2020 wines from K. 80 points
Day 3: Charcoal, chalk, mild spice, light fruit and dirt. This wine is the 2nd purchased from WTSO that is clearly smoke tainted. Stay clear of the Powerline Vineyard wines.
Recommendation: Don’t buy no matter the discount. (80 points) - 2020 K Vintners The Creator – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (10/29/2024)
Day 1: From WTSO for under $46 so good deal. Pop and pour and concerns with smoke taint. I have found Washington in 2020 hit or miss so will allow some time on this one to make that clear determination. Smoke, earth, dirt, spice, muted fruit and gravel. Will sample later tonight but not a good showing on a pop and pour which many Walla Walla Wines have showed better. No Score.
Day 1.5: As one of the few honest critics this is clearly smoke taint. Fruit is muted and smoke taint very obvious. Trying to mask with wood. Will try on day 2 but smoke taint will be more present. A real shame a wine critic gave this 97.
Day 2: This is a bit better on day 2 but the smoke is overpowering the fruit on this one. Raspberries and sour cherry with smoke and smoke, spice and black pepper. A wine that so far is not even close to any of the other vintages of the Creator. 78 points
Day 3: A harsh, chalkiness to the wine which masks any fruit that is trying to emerge. I can tell they also oaked these wines probably more than usual to mask some of that smoke taint. All in all this wine is very poor in quality compared to any other vintages I have sampled.
Recommendation: There was a reason WTSO dumped these wines a week or so ago as no one from the tasting room was buying them. Buyer beware. (78 points) - 2020 Miro Cellars Cuvée Sasha Mendocino County – USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County (10/12/2024)
Sunfish Cellars Fall Grand Wine Tasting (Lilydale, MN): Smoke taint alert. One of the bigger critics of the 2020 wines when smoke is present. Some fruit and earth but not very good but since they made it accept my low review. (70 points) - 2020 Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot Indian Wells – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (10/5/2024)
Haskell’s Grand Tasting (Bloomington, MN): Smoke taint city. Some fruit hiding but this is not good at all. (63 points) - 2020 College Cellars of Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon Eritage Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (7/13/2024)
2024 Celebrate Cabernet Walla Walla Festival Grand Tasting (Marcus Witman Hotel, Walla Walla): This was not well made. Smoke taint and muted fruits. Easy pass. (78 points) - 2020 Januik Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain (7/9/2024)
Seattle/ Walla Walla Trip Day 1 (Seattle, Washington (Brother’s House)): Not a fan. Love Januik but the 2020 vintage for reds across the west coast is mostly miss. Smoke, earth and lacks pronounced fruit. Will try again on day 2.
Day 2: Not good. Will not rate it officially but mid 70s for sure.
Recommendation: I have had some 2020 reds that have been very good on the west coast but too many areas have smoke impact. - 2020 Precision Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon Method – USA, California, Napa Valley (4/6/2024)
Local Wine Shop Tasting (My average score for April went way down) (Bloomington, MN): Another smoked tainted 2020. I might be the only wine reviewer reporting all these disasters. Smoke and some sweet fruits trying to mask this smoke taint. (60 points) - 2020 Vina Robles Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (3/30/2024)
Smoke taint. Smoke and twigs. (70 points) - 2020 Baus Family Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve – USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley (3/9/2024)
Green wine with spice, unripe fruit but no smoke taint detected. Not a wine I want to sample again. (75 points) - 2020 Vina Robles Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (12/2/2023)
Another smoked tainted wine trying to hide under the sweet fruit, Smoke and earth. Normally find these drinkable but this is not. (74 points) - 2020 Cathedral Creek Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California (11/25/2023)
Ok the wine is for sure impacted by smoke taint. I was at a local shop and there were four people standing around trying for Cabs. I said which one features smoke. They were not sure. I said swish these around in your mouth and you will know and then they figured it out. Anyway this wine offer sweet fruits and smoke. Another terrible California Appellation wine. (63 points) - 2020 Januik Syrah Boushey – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (10/26/2023)
Day 1: Smoke taint again on a 2020 Januik wine. Smoke, muted fruit and dirt. While many who don’t apply the tasting process will find this drinkable it is not. 70 points (70 points) - 2020 Andrew Januik Cabernet Sauvignon Stone Cairn – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain (10/14/2023)
Day 1: This is not 91 points. I am one of the biggest names in the wine reviewing game and will put my palate against anyone. This is a terrible wine. Smoke taint for sure with earth and a lot of smoke. This wine should have never been made. Really angry against Januik and their family for producing this wine. 74 points
Day 2: Like a corked bottle it the smoke taint will be even more noticeable and this wine is barely drinkable. Smoke, burnt toast, muted fruit and damp earth. Short finish. No thanks.
Day 3: Even worse. Any wine critic reviewing this and giving a good score is on the payroll. I love Januik and top 5 Washington Winery for me but this wine is terrible.
Recommendation: Buy another vintage as this is a great wine. (74 points) - 2020 Januik Syrah Ciel du Cheval Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain (10/14/2023)
Day 1: The nice thing about not being on the pay roll is you can give the most accurate and honest opinions on wine. This is terrible. Smoke taint city. Any critic above 85 on this should stop reviewing wines. In a normal vintage this is 90 plus but not 2020. SMOKE, along with some spice, earth and dirt. Short finish. This wine should have never been made. 72 points
Day 2: Almost coughing from drinking this wine. My reviews in the past for this wine are as follows:
2019 93 points
2018 92-94 points
2017 92 and 93 points
2013 91 points
When there is no fruit showing through on a younger wine like this that has expressed great fruit in the past that means it is for sure impacted by smoke taint. There might be a reason no one is reviewing this particular wine.
Day 2.5: This is even worst. SMOKE and it tastes like when you get coffee grounds in the cup of coffee. Again a complete bomb and whether Suckling just gave the 92 on the same wine I am drinking is remarkable. 60 points
Day 3: Gritty wine with smoke, dirt and no fruit showing at this time. Call this an easy pass.
Recommendation: Going ahead and try it for yourself and see if you agree with James Suckling. (72 points) - 2020 Kevin White Winery Syrah En Hommage – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley (10/7/2023)
Day 1: A bit thin for a Kevin White wine and the initial day 1 review is not favorable on this wine and why independent wine critics are more important than the “Pros” Not balanced with smoke, muted fruits, spice and some dried flowers. This is the worst Kevin White wine I have tasted and could have had some smoke taint issues as this bottle surely does. 78 points
Day 2: This is why you never give up on a wine. This will never reach 90 points but is certainly way more drinkable on day 2. The smoke impact is present as just tasted a 2021 from the same shipment which was outstanding. Smoke, underbrush, muted fruits, spices and earth. Finish is a bit disjointed and maybe should have been put into the base bottling for this vintage. 85 points
Day 3: Again better than day 1 but can’t get past that smoke. The fruit is hidden and offers underbrush, dried flowers, spice and earth. Easy pass. 85 points
Recommendation: Buy any vintage other than this as this wine is always 93 points or higher for myself. (85 points) - 2020 Wiens Family Cellars Artist Series Crowded – USA, California, South Coast, Temecula Valley (7/29/2023)
20 People Bring a Bottle (Good, The Bad & The Ugly) (Edina, MN): Just looking at the lineup would have had this in the bottom 5 due to it being from Temecula. Honestly better than most of the mess that was the sweet red wines at this tasting. Dry in style with forest floor, spice, red currants and smoke. Drinkable. (84 points) - 2020 Boisset Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Old Winery Road – USA, California, North Coast, Napa County (7/29/2023)
20 People Bring a Bottle (Good, The Bad & The Ugly) (Edina, MN): Again another wine coming to light as was the Paso Cab. Boisset collection which makes sense. SWEET with some heat. This lacks all what I like about Cabernet Sauvignon. Wear is the balance? (74 points) - 2020 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah California – USA, California (4/8/2023)
Day 1: This is a terrible wine and for sure smoke issues. Light is an understatement with this wine almost watered down. Smoke, dried twigs and light fruits. The minute you smell this wine you get that smoke taint and you really get it on the palate. For $25.00 Result of a Crush, crushes this wine probably even on a good vintage. AVOID! 70 points
Day 1.5: This is not any better and trust me this is a terrible wine. Simple is an understatement. As one of the only uncompressed professional wine reviewers I take pride in my work. This is not a good wine. 70 points
Day 2: Even worse. Muted fruit, smoke and iodine. While I love Bedrock this is an easy pass. 68 points
Day 2.5: This is again why you never give up on a wine. While this is not a wine I would ever buy again it is much better than the previous 3 glasses. Pepper, spice, muted fruit, smoke, sour cherries and mild funk. It is trying to come together but thin overall. We will see what day 3 reveals. 85 points
Day 3: While again more concentrated then day 1 to early day 2 still get some smoke taint. Again drinkable but this will not be a wine I would rush out to. The 2021 Tensely Santa Barbara is cheaper in my area and much better. Band aide, muted fruits, smoke, pepper and charcoal.
Recommendation: Try a bottle for yourself and see what you think. (85 points) - 2020 Verdon Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve No. 5 – USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford (4/8/2023)
Ok this is a smoked taint wine. Smoke, some red currants, earth and a short finish. Should cost about $15.00. (82 points)