Winemaker Notes
A fairytale of a wine that takes you to another place. Fresh, dark blossoms, earth and spice. A story unfolding one step at a time.
Blend: 50% Mourvedre, 26% Grenache, 9% Syrah, 8% Counoise, 5% Picpoul,
1% Grenache Blanc, 1% Cinsaut
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Based mostly on Mourvèdre and Grenache, the 2021 Charlotte is smoking good, offering darker cherry and blackberry fruits, some smoky, violet, and loamy earth nuances, medium to full body, and fine tannins. It's a beautifully balanced, layered, impressive blend to drink over the coming decade or so.
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James Suckling
White pepper, tapenade, sour cherries and potpourri on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with beautiful freshness and finesse, and silky yet present tannins that give the wine tension. Lovely mouthfeel, and so long. 50% mourvedre, 26% grenache, 9% syrah, 8% counoise, 5% picpoul, 1% grenache blanc, and 1% cinsaut. 100% whole cluster. Drink or hold.
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Vinous
The 2021 Charlotte is spicy from the first tilt of the glass, wafting up with peppery florals, wild strawberries and wet stones. It sweeps across the palate, fresh and lifted in style, with crisp wild berry fruits and a saline tinge that adds complexity toward the close. This leaves a spicy resonance and hints of lavender to linger on, tapering off long and gently tannic. The Charlotte is a co-fermented blend of 50% Mourvèdre, 26% Grenache, 9% Syrah, 8% Counoise, 5% Picpoul, 1% Grenache Blanc and 1% Cinsault.
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.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Responsible for some of Washington’s most highly acclaimed wines, the Walla Walla Valley has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years and is home to both historic wineries and younger, up-and-coming producers.
The Walla Walla Valley, a Native American name meaning “many waters,” is located in southeastern Washington; part of the appellation actually extends into Oregon. Soils here are well-drained, sandy loess over Missoula Flood deposits and fractured basalt.
It is a region perfectly suited to Rhône-inspired Syrahs, distinguished by savory notes of red berry, black olive, smoke and fresh earth. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot create a range of styles from smooth and supple to robust and well-structured. White varieties are rare but some producers blend Sauvignon Blanc with Sémillon, resulting in a rich and round style, and plantings of Viognier, while minimal, are often quite successful.
Of note within Walla Walla, is one new and very peculiar appellation, called the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. This is the only AVA in the U.S. whose boundaries are totally defined by the soil type. Soils here look a bit like those in the acclaimed Rhône region of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, but are large, ancient, basalt cobblestones. These stones work in the same way as they do in Chateauneuf, absorbing and then radiating the sun's heat up to enhance the ripening of grape clusters. The Rocks District is within the part of Walla Walla that spills over into Oregon and naturally excels in the production of Rhône varieties like Syrah, as well as the Bordeaux varieties.