K Vintners Royal City Syrah 2021

An immediate umami rises with a beacon to the silky wine waiting in the glass. Seaweed, oyster shell, game, soy, all resting on a bed of stone. A wine of majestic blood.

Appellation: Royal Slope

Stoneridge Vineyard (100%)
Alluvial fan gravel bed, the site rests above the flood plain 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.

The 2021 was one of the warmest vintages to date in Washington. It started with an early bud break due to nice weather and moderate temperatures. June was one of the warmest in recorded history, resulting in very small berries. Veraison and the beginning of the ripening season were nice and even, creating a beautiful, extended ripening season that led to excellent fruit with incredible concentration. Overall, 2021 is a distinct and lovely vintage and produced fantastic wines to enjoy now and into the future.

2.3 tons per acre, native yeast, 100% whole cluster fermentation in stainless steel Rules, 53 days on skins | 26 months barrel-aged on lees in 60% new French oak puncheons

Charles Smith’s explosion onto the world wine scene has been nothing less than phenomenal. Winemaker Charles Smith managed Rock & Roll bands in Europe for 11 years before moving to Walla Walla and starting K Vintners on a shoestring. While Charles’ wines radiate the excitement of his Rock & Roll roots, they are grounded in serious quality and value. Charles bottles his brands under several labels. Charles Smith Wines are made for the way that most wines are being consumed today - the day that they are purchased - and are equal parts accessible, affordable and top quality. Charles also produces some of the most interesting and highly rated Syrah in America under his original K Vintners label. K Vintners’ wines are made in very small quantities and are crafted to appeal to the most discriminating connoisseurs. In the past 10 years Charles Smith Wines and K Vintners have garnered 66 scores of 95 points and above and over 300 scores of 90 points and above from the leading U.S. wine publications : Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, and Wine Enthusiast.