K Vintners Syrah 'Pheasant Vineyards' 2007

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. It’s the same iconic and unforgettable black “K” that is used on our wine bottles today.

K Vintners is about small lots of single-vineyard Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Tempranillo, Sangiovese and field blends of those grapes, all of which are hand-picked, fermented with naturally occurring yeasts and basket pressed. 100% Hand-Made. 100% Washington Wine.

Pheasant Vineyards are owned and farmed by Butch and Jerry Milbrandt, well-known and respected growers that literally put the Waluke Slope appellation on the map. It’s one of the warmest and driest growing regions in Washington and well-known for large areas of well-drained, sandy, gravelly soils deposited by ancient glacial floods. Pheasant, planted in 2000 is known for its gravelly, rocky soil.

Washington Wine Report:   'Red licorice and rose petals mark the nose. Thick with grainy tannins on a wine that hasn’t come together completely. Tart and pleasing. Needs time but will be a powerhouse of a wine for the money.

90 Points - Wine Enthusiast    This is also a Milbrandt vineyard, but quite different flavors emerge from the other Milbrandt wines. Plenty of black cherry fruit, with a minerality that suggests iron ore. Penetrating, ripe and potent (15% alcohol), yet well balanced and complex, with wild herbs lurking in the background.