By House of Smith
K Vintners 2020 K Klein Syrah

Vintage Notes
The 2020 vintage might be the best vintage that 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 Notes
100% Klein Vineyard. The vineyard is located at the southwestern end of the Walla Walla Valley. It's 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.

Technical Details
Variety: 100% Syrah
Appellation: Walla Walla Valley
Yield: 1.90 tons per acre
Fermentation: Native yeast, 100% whole-cluster fermentation in stainless steel, 53 days on skins
Aging: 21 months barrel-aged on lees in 40% new French oak puncheons
Alcohol: 14.50%
Residual Sugar: 0.00 g/L
TA: 6.30 g/L
pH: 3.94

Tasting Notes
Dark. Wild. Intense. Complex with orange peel, olive tapenade, black plum, and dried meat. Earth, dried cherries, black pepper, and tar are strong undertones. So much depth needs to be explored further here. Delicious.
[Information provided by House of Smith]

Wine: 2020 K Vintners Syrah Klein Vineyard
Score/Rating: 97
Suggested Drinking Window: 2023 - 2038
Review Date: 06/14/2023
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Notes: Another richer, powerful wine, the 2020 Syrah Klein Vineyard is all varietal from rocky, basalt soils in the Walla Walla Valley. Pure cassis, iron, ground pepper, bloody meat, and serious amounts of minerality all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, building tannins, and a terrific, salty character on the finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. This world-class Syrah will evolve for 10-15 years in cold cellars.

Wine: K Vintners 2020 Syrah Klein
Score/Rating: 96
Suggested Drinking Window: 2024 - 2030
Review Date: 10/2022
Reviewed By: Eric Guido
Tasting Notes: Darkly inward in the glass, the 2020 Syrah Klein takes coaxing to reveal its mentholated mix of dusty florals, scant black currants and incense. This washes across the palate with a dense wave of citrus-tinged blackberry complemented by a cascade of sage, flint and white pepper. The 2020 tapers off structured, as it continues to endlessly open the longer it spends in the glass, while nuances of plum sauce and dark chocolate slowly fade.

Wine: 2020 K Vintners Syrah Klein Vineyard
Score/Rating: 95
Suggested Drinking Window: 2023 - 2035
Review Date: 05/11/2023
Reviewed By: Anthony Mueller
Tasting Notes: Bold, juicy and accessible, the 2020 Syrah Klein Vineyard is open-knit and ready for action with beefy and floral aromas and succulent dark cherry and black plum notes that waft from the glass. Full-bodied, fresh and focused, a delightful umami expression sways with notes of hung meat, spiced herbs and dark red fruit flavors before a delicate mineral tension and succulent food-friendly tannins round out the finish. Made from 100% whole-cluster fruit, the wine rested on the lees for 21 months in 40% new French oak puncheons. It should be well-received when it's released later this year. Bravo!

Wine: K Vintners Syrah Walla Walla Valley Klein 2020
Score/Rating: 95
Review Date: 03/21/2023
Tasting Notes: Attractive cherries and red plums with crushed rosemary, dried sage, chocolate orange and moist earth. Citrus peel, too. Full and viscous palate with a broad, velvety tannin structure and a lingering, chalky finish. Plush and generous fruit character with tone and energy. [...].