2019 Charles Smith K Vintners 'Cattle King' Syrah Snipes Mountain Yakima Valley WA

Located at the base of the Blue Mountains in Walla Walla (Washington State), Charles Smith opened his first winery, K Vintners, in December of 2001. The first release,1999 K Syrah from Walla Walla Valley, initiated the style of winemaking that Charles continues today: small lots of single vineyard Syrahs and field blends of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Tempranillo, and Viognier, all of which are hand-picked, fermented with naturally occurring yeasts and basket pressed.

If you haven't tried these wines, would these accolades convince you?

Charles Smith is the only person to have received Winemaker of the Year distinctions by both Wine Enthusiast (2014) and Food & Wine (2009). In 2008, K Vintners was recognized by Wine & Spirits magazine as one of the “Best New Wineries of the Last Ten Years,” and as “Winery of the Year” in their annual buying guide. His wines continue to receive broad recognition from leading wine publications such as Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, and Wine & Spirits with 165 scores of 95 points and above, and 632 scores of 90 points and above.

100% Syrah. Black cherry, black olive, lavender, and forest floor release with unbelievably seamless tension into blueberry, wild berries, grilled bread, and uncanny length. Truly a legend!

Another full-bodied, rich, concentrated, powerful wine in the lineup, the 2019 Syrah Cattle King is all varietal and comes from the Upland Vineyard in the Snipes Mountain AVA. Not destemmed and aged in 50% new French oak, it offers a brilliant perfume of darker berry and cassis fruits as well as notes of ground pepper, chalky minerality, and graphite, which turns more floral and peppery with time in the glass. It's a classic Washington State Syrah with tons of charm. It's certainly approachable today yet will benefit from just a few years of bottle age and keep for over a decade. ~96 Jeb Dunnuck

The 2019 Syrah Cattle King is savory to the core, darkly floral and earthy with tart raspberry and sage aromas. This soothes with its elegantly ripe raspberry fruits and sweet confectionary spices, all energized by vibrant acidity. The Cattle King finishes with unexpected freshness yet is still quite tannic with a salty mineral tinge. This will be so incredibly pretty over time, yet patience is required. The Cattle King hails from the southern side of the Snipes Mountain AVA, planted in complex sandy soil and cobblestones of basalt rock. ~ 95 Vinous Media

Aromas of pine, black cherry and sage. Full-bodied with silky, peppered tannins. Chock full of peppercorn spice and bright, berry acidity. There is so much energy here. Balanced, with excellent intensity and length. Drink or hold. ~ 95 James Suckling

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