By K Vintners
2020 The Klein

Tasting Notes by Winemaker Charles Smith
Dense and powerful. A real powerhouse of rock, fruit, and texture.

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!

Klein Vineyard
This vineyard is located at the southwestern end of the Walla Walla Valley. It's on volcanic rock with thin, wind-blown loess over basalt. The high elevation, 850 feet, means it doesn't freeze and is a fairly windy site. This vineyard produces low yields and powerful, unique wines.

Winemaking
Varietal Breakdown: 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Franc
Appellation: Walla Walla Valley
Production: 2.4 tons per acre, native yeast, 100% whole berry fermentation in French oak tanks, 47 days on skins
Aging: 22 months barrel aged on lees in 65% new French oak barriques

Wine Analysis
Alcohol: 14.50%
TA: 5.8 g/L
pH: 3.86
RS: No residual sugar
[Information provided by House of Smith]

Wine: 2020 K Vintners The Klein
Score/Rating: 97
Suggested Drinking Window: 2024 - 2044
Review Date: 07/10/2024
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Notes: The 2020 The Klein is based on 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 27% Cabernet Franc, and it's another absolutely brilliant wine from this team. All from a site in the southern part of the Walla Walla Valley, [...] it has a smorgasbord-like array of red and black fruits, leather, smoked tobacco, graphite, and savory herbs. These carry to a full-bodied red with a rich, powerful mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's a complex, savory, nuanced beauty that will evolve for two decades.

Wine: K Vintners Walla Walla Valley The Klein Blend 2020
Score/Rating: 96
Suggested Drinking Window: Best from 2030
Review Date: 02/14/2024
Reviewed By: Jim Gordon, Executive Editor
Tasting Notes: A Bordeaux-style blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 27% Cabernet Franc, the wine enters elegantly and then builds massive tannins in the texture that will hold it steady for years if not decades. Bright red cherries, dried black cherries, cranberries, cedar and oak spices make a wonderful mix. Best from 2030.

Wine: 2020 The Klein Bx [sic]
Score/Rating: 92
Suggested Drinking Window: 2026 - 2036
Review Date: 10/2023
Reviewed By: Eric Guido
Tasting Notes: The 2020 The Klein Bx [sic] is youthfully restrained, leading off with crushed rocks and dried red and black fruits. It's soft textured and nearly creamy in feel, with an elegant wave of ripe red and blue fruits accentuated by sweet spices and hints of sage. It finishes long and staining yet only lightly structured, leaving a tinge of sour orange that provides lovely freshness.