Pulsating with energy. The heart of darkness is here. Black olive, black currant, black plum and black earth. You know...BLACK. Bacon fat, crushed rock and dried mountain herb assembled in the best possible way. – Winemaker Charles Smith
“From a basalt outbreak in the southwest portion of Walla Walla, not destemmed and brought up in new puncheons, the 2017 Syrah Klein Vineyard sports a deep ruby/plum color to go with stunning notes of blackcurrants, chocolate, loamy soil, and spiced meats. It’s powerful and full-bodied, yet stays light and graceful on the palate, with no sensation of weight or heaviness. It’s a stunning, Hermitage look-alike to enjoy over the coming 20 years.”
“This is a chewy red with crushed-stone and blackberry character. It’s rich and layered, yet not overbearing. Flavorful and very intense. It goes on for minutes. Drink or hold.”
Walla Walla Valley, Washington State Red Wine (100% Syrah, 15.0% Alcohol)
This vineyard is located at the Southwestern end of the Walla Walla Valley. It’s volcanic rock, with thin, wind-blown loess over basalt. The high elevation, 850 feet, means it doesn’t freeze and is a fairly windy site. This vineyard produces low yields and powerful, unique wines.
2017 was a fantastic year for making wine with a cool spring and a fair amount of rain. Washington had an ideal spring for healthy vines. The moderate temperatures during summer were perfect for small clusters and yet delayed veraison into the fall where we had a consistent ripening season that allowed us to hang the fruit for perfect tannin and flavor without losing acidity or acquiring too much alcohol. Overall it was a vintage to remember.