K Vintners Motor City Kitty Syrah 2017
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Blend: 100% Syrah
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Coming from the Oldfield and Boushey Vineyards (basically the same vineyard), the 2017 Syrah Motor City Kitty Oldfield-Boushey Vineyard is slightly darker colored and, as with all the Rhones here, wasn't destemmed and was brought up in mostly neutral puncheons. Blackberries, smoked earth, game, chocolate, and chalky minerality all emerge from this beauty, and it's a powerful, full-bodied, concentrated effort that will evolve positively for 2-4 years and keep for a decade.
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James Suckling
This is deep and flavorful with spice, meat, wet earth and a light, greenish note. It’s medium-to full-bodied, lively and flavor-focused.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Opening with a nose of dark fruits, black peppercorn and crushed rock, the 2017 MCK Syrah has black raspberries and lavender elements in the glass. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is expressive with tones of grilled sausage, blackcurrants and chocolate-covered blueberries, ending with a lingering finish that grips with mineral tension.
Other Vintages
2020-
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Suckling -
Robert
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Wine
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Jeb
Dunnuck
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James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck
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James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck
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James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Robert
Parker
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Wine
Spectator -
Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Wine
Spectator
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Robert
Parker
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Wine
Spectator
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Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator
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.”
As the first recognized wine-growing region in the Pacific Northwest, Yakima Valley is centrally located within Washington’s vast Columbia Valley. The region also includes Washington’s oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines, Otis Vineyard, planted in 1957, and Harrison Hill Vineyard, planted in 1963. Yakima Valley contains three smaller sub-regions: Rattlesnake Hills, Red Mountain, and Snipes Mountain and is ideal for both red and white wine production. In fact, Yakima Valley is Washington’s most diverse region, boasting more than 40 different grape varieties over about one hundred miles.
The cooler parts of the valley are home to almost half of the Chardonnay and Riesling produced in the state! Both are made in a wide range of styles depending on the conditions of the vineyard site.
But its warmer locations yield a large proportion of Washington’s best Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. The finest Yakima Valley reds are jam-packed full of red cherry, currant, raspberry or blackberry fruit, as well as cocoa, herb, spice and savory notes, and exhibit a supple texture, great body, focus and length.