By K Vintners
2020 K Royal City Syrah

Tasting Notes by Winemaker Charles Smith
Majestic aromas arise from the glass. Suede, black tea, coal. Making way for a regal layering of black plum, tar, damp earth, and umami that tease on the royal velvet palate.

Vintage Notes
The 2020 vintage might be the best we have ever had in Washington state history. We had an incredible growing season that was long and temperate, allowing the fruit to ripen evenly. The wines are focused, rich, complex, and lively. The reds are restrained and elegant yet powerful, with incredible tension and balance. Our white and rose wines are wonderfully rich on the palate but balanced with enough acid to make the wines complete. We are excited to see how these wines evolve!

Vineyard
Stoneridge Vineyard (100%). Alluvial fan gravel bed. The site rests above the floodplain of the Columbia River. Under the topsoil is a layer of caliche and basalt 6-12" deep, creating a calcium and iron-rich media that forces roots to struggle.

Winemaking
Varietal Breakdown: 100% Syrah
Production: 1.8 tons per acre, native yeast, 100% whole cluster fermentation in stainless steel, 49 days on skins
Aging: 24 months barrel-aged on lees in 60% new French oak puncheons

Wine Analysis
Titratable Acidity: 5.7 g/L
pH: 3.93
Alcohol: 14.50%
Residual Sugar: No residual sugar
[Information provided by House of Smith]

K Vintners Syrah Washington State Royal City 2020
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Score: 98
Color: Red
Country: United States
Region: Washington
Vintage: 2020
Perfumed notes of cracked pepper, incense, rosemary stems, blackberries, white ash, graphite, black olives and mocha all leap out of the glass. Wow. What intensity, building to a crescendo on the palate. Firm, tight-grained tannins here. Full-bodied with incredible structure and depth. Try in 2026.

2020 K Vintners Syrah Royal City
Rating: 98
Producer: K Vintners
Wine Region: USA, Washington
Variety: Syrah
Color / Type / Sweetness: Red / Table / Dry
Reviewed By: Anthony Mueller
Release Price: $150
Drink Date: 2026 - 2045
The 2020 Syrah Royal City is still tight and firm but is instantly impressive with power, precision and finesse as seductive and juicy tones of black cherry, spiced blackberry jus and elegant floral notions waft with soft savory and spicy aromas. Full-bodied, generously layered and complex, the wine will have no problem shedding its baby fat and will be a juggernaut upon release in the fall later this year. This expressive, layered, succulent Syrah will remain food-friendly for decades; just be patient. Made 100% whole clusters, the wine saw two years of barrel aging in French oak, 60% new. It's an absolute pleasure and will age beautifully over the next two decades.
Published: May 11, 2023

2020 K Vintners Syrah Royal City
Producer: K Vintners
Location: USA, Washington, [...]
Color: Red
Price: $150
Rating: 97+
Tasting Date: 6/14/2023
Maturity: 2023 - 2043
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck
Source: Washington State’s 2020s
One of the true gems in the vintage is the 2020 Syrah Royal City, which comes from the Stoneridge Vineyard in the Royal Slope region of the state. All Syrah from tiny yields of 1.8 tons per acre [...] in 60% new French oak, it has an incredible array of red and black fruits, cured meats, toasted nuts, ground pepper, and savory flowers. Full-bodied, deep, pure, and incredibly layered, this sensationally complex, seamless Syrah is a tour de force that needs to be tasted to be believed. It’s one of the wines of the vintage and will have 15-20 years of overall longevity. Surprisingly, I think it’s better than the 2019.

2020 Syrah Royal City
Producer: K Vintners
Place of Origin: United States, Washington State
Color: Red
Grape/Blend: Syrah
Rating: 95
Drinking Window: 2026 - 2036
From: Rhones on the Rise: Washington State Takes the Lead (Aug 2023)
A spicy blend of dusty lavender and violet complements blackberry and a whiff of spiced orange as the 2020 Syrah Royal City evolves in the glass. This is deeply textural with a chalky concentration that settles in quickly as a wave of mineral-tinged black fruits saturates. A coating of fine tannins defines the finish, leaving balsamic nuances and clove hints to linger as the 2020 tapers off with tremendous length and potency. Winemaker Brennon Leighton did a fantastic job with this majestic 2020 Syrah. The Royal City was fermented with 100% whole cluster fruit and refined in 60% new French oak puncheons.
By: Eric Guido on May 2023

K Syrah Washington Royal City Stoneridge Vineyard 2020
Score: 94
Price: $150
Wine Type and Color: Red Still
Reviewed By: Tim Fish
Drinkability: Drink now through 2032
Primary Grape: Syrah / Shiraz
Issue: November 15, 2024
Region: Washington
Impeccably structured and generous, with polished flavors of blackberry and raspberry laced with bittersweet chocolate, grilled herb and pepper notes. Finishes with big but refined tannins. Drink now through 2032.