2016 K Vintners 'The Beautiful' Syrah

K is the beginning. K is my Rhone-centric winery that was started by making single-vineyard Syrahs back in 1999. K was the opportunity. K was the moment. K is ground zero. 'X' marks the spot for my wine world and my emotional world in wine, which begins in Walla Walla, Washington.  Winemaker, Charles Smith Winemaker Charles Smith opened the doors to his first winery, K Vintners, in December 2001. His first vintage was 330 cases of 1999 K Syrah, which he sold out of the back of his 1987 Chevy Astro van. The ’99 K Syrah immediately revealed that he could not only make extraordinary wine but he could make wine that people would remember. On the label was stamped a simple, giant, black on white letter “K,” big enough for anyone to spot across the room.

The 2016 vintage started early and warm in Washington State. When summer arrived, the season saw cooler evenings that helped retain acidity, extended the growing and ripening period into September and October. This allowed the fruit to gain more complexity and deeper charm without sacrificing the acid or producing higher alcohol content. The vintage has created deeply rich and focused wines that we will be able to enjoy for a long time to come.