K Vintners Syrah "Rockgarden Vineyard" 2019
(Walla Walla Valley, Washington) - [JD 95] [JS 94]

About The Winery:

Located at the base of the Blue Mountains in Walla Walla Washington, K Vintners opened its doors to the public on December 3rd, 2001. The property at 820 Mill Creek Road where the winery sits was homesteaded in 1853 with the adjacent farmhouse built in 1872. The winery grounds with Titus Creek flowing through the lawn and the old pioneer planted trees, is a little slice of heartland Americana. Charles Smith, proprietor and winemaker, comes to Walla Walla after 11 years in Scandanavia. Originally from northern California, he has been involved with wine personally and professionally his whole life.

K Vintners is producing wines from 2 distinctive viticultural zones: Wahluke Slope and Walla Walla Valley. Each of these areas are unique and awesome for Syrah and the Field Blends produced. In April '02 two seperate blocks of vineyards were planted to Syrah adjacent to the winery in the rocky dry creek beds that run through K Vintners property.

The vineyards we work with are farmed using the most up to date sustainable practices.

The Rockgarden Vineyard was planted in 2006 in the cobblestones of the rocks in Walla Walla and Freewater with very cobble loam soil. With high density planting at six by four feet, both Phelps and Tablas Creek clones are planted in the ten-acre site. This is a beautiful spot that produces very distinctive wines.

About the Vintage:

The 2019 vintage was on the cooler side as it started slow with later-than-usual bud
break and continued on to be fairly moderate throughout the year. Some vineyards had
issues with an October freeze a bit earlier than usual, but our high-elevation vineyards
have great air drainage which allows us to extend the growing season late into October
without freeze. This yielded fantastic ripening and some awesome wines with incredible
balance and character. Overall, we are excited about the wine produced in 2019, which
has brought us more finesse, incredible flavors and lovely balance.

Some Notes About the Winemaking:

~2.3 tons per acre                                                                                                            ~100% whole cluster fermentation on native yeast                                                          ~54 day maceration on skins                                                                                          ~40% new French oak puncheons                                                                                    ~22 months barrel-aging on the lees                                                                                   
~5.3 g/L titratable acidity & 3.91 pH, with no residual sugar                                                ~14% alcohol                                                                                                                        ~547 cases produced

Ratings & Reviews:

95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:                                                                                                    "Iron, black olives, peppery herbs, and both red and black fruits all emerge from the 2019 Syrah Rockgarden Vineyard, a balanced, deep, medium to full-bodied beauty with fine tannins and just about flawless balance. Coming all from the Rockgarden Vineyard in the Rocks region of the Walla Walla Valley and 100% Syrah that was not destemmed and was brought up in 40% new barrel, it's drinking brilliantly today and will cruise in cold cellars for a decade. 2022 - 2032" ~Jeb Dunnuck, 9 July 2022

94 Points - James Suckling:                                                                                                "An alluring nose. Aromas of dried flowers, grated nutmeg, baked cherries and pine cone. Full bodied with silky tannins. Linear, nuanced and charming. The floral character takes center stage, complimented by paprika and cardamom. Cocoa, too. Soft, gentle finish."