Winemaker Notes
This one rides the range with notes of grilled meat, dried herbs, wild sarsaparilla, white pepper and a whisper of menthol. Dusty, taunting and moody. Baked rock, earthy licorice, black cherry compote, with a lightness of being. Lively, dense and enticing. It goes the distance.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2020 Syrah Cattle King is spicy and floral in the glass, with masses of crushed violets and black raspberry offset by smoky sage, rosemary and cocoa. This flows across the palate with a wave of ripe red and blue-toned berries offset by brisk acidity and a hint of sour citrus, adding contrast toward the close. It tapers off with a black hole of structure, seeming to fold in upon itself while tugging at the cheeks, as purple-toned inner florals and salted licorice resonate throughout. Wow. Bury your bottles deep, and then reap the rewards.
Range: 95-97 -
James Suckling
This shows earthy character, together with purple fruit, violets, anisette, crushed rosemary and cured meat. Full and chewy with firm and tight tannins that last for minutes. A deep core of dark fruit underneath and a velvety, chocolatey finish. Try from 2026.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Dense, dark and brooding, the 2020 Syrah Cattle King is firmly layered with dusty notions of spicy blackberry skin and resinous purple flowers with hints of savory herbs. Full-bodied, fresh and food-friendly, the wine features a delightful tart black cherry note across the palate with succulent acidity and fine-grained tannins that will either need time in bottle or food in youth. Enjoy young with barbecue, or allow it to rest in the cellar until 2026. The wine rested for 21 months on the lees in 50% new French oak.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2020 Syrah Cattle King is another firm, focused, almost austere 2020 that has terrific dark fruits, some iron and some earthy, mineral nuances, medium to full body, ripe yet building tannins, and outstanding length. Coming from the Upland Vineyard in the Snipes Mountain AVA and brought up in 50% new French oak, give bottles 2-4 years, at which point it will be easier to see where this is going.
Rating:94+
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. The Winemaker: He loves to drink wine! 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. And did we forget to mention... he loves to drink wine! The Vineyards: 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.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
A seven-mile long anticline ridge with a peak at nearly 1,300 feet, the Snipes Mountain AVA has rocky soils and is home to about 30 different grape varieties. It was also one of the first regions in Washington State to plant Semillon and Pinot Noir.