Latta Wines

A man with some great pedigree, Andrew Latta is a fun-loving winemaker with a great SoDo roof. At Charles Smith Andrew Latta had an incredible wine education, as he helped craft some of the best wines made in Washington. Andrew Latta has now been applying his craft for many years. Originally from Kentucky, Latta learned about wine through fine dining jobs in the Cincinnati area. Before being hired by Charles Smith, Latta completed the enology and viticulture program at Walla Walla Community College and worked for Dunham Cellars, under eminent winemaker Eric Dunham. In 2011 Latta Wines was born. 

I recently chatted with Andrew about his wines. He has some incredible terroir-driven red and white wines. I love that he is a champion for Roussanne. I adored his 2017 Latta Wines ‘Lawrence Vineyard’ Roussanne (OB, 93) which is seamless and soft, showing seriously good range. Just as good was the 2017 Latta Wines ‘Upland Vineyard’ Grenache (OB, 94) which shows very pretty red fruits and a silky texture. Learn more about these great wines at lattawines.com Here are the great new releases by Latta Wines. 

2019 Kind Stranger Rose-This pale colored, highly novel Washington Rose shows off melon, kumquat and wet stones on the nose. The palate is vibrant and fresh with a great sense of acidity. Lighter in terms of delicate red fruit and citrus flavors, this would pair so brilliantly with Kushii oysters. Drink 2021-2025- 91

2018 Kind Stranger Chardonnay- The 2019 Kind Stranger Chardonnay shows a soft mouthfeel delivering starfruit, baking spices and shades of banana on the palate. Enjoy this outstanding value in its youth. Drink 2021-2025- 90

2019 Latta Wines ‘C-B’ Roussanne- C-B is made in a Savoie style that is truly unique. Sourced from this high elevation site, this serves as a striking contrast to the ‘Lawrence Vineyard’ Roussanne. Fermented in stainless steel,  this shows off pretty white peach and gooseberry tones with starfruit and great minerality. This has a great sense of texture. Drink 2021-2026- 91

2017 Latta Wines ‘Lawrence Vineyard’ Roussanne- Rich and layered, the 2017 Latta Wines ‘Lawrence Vineyard’ Roussanne is a sensational effort from this warm vintage in the Columbia Valley. Polished, with a great sense of mouthfeel, this delivers plenty of ripe starfruit and Pink Lady apple tones alongside baking spice infused Challah bread on the palate. The long finish lingers. This is serious stuff that will provide drinking enjoyment for a long time to come. Drink 2021-2028- 93

2018 Kind Stranger ‘Alter’ Red Wine- A blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Malbec and intriguingly enough Grenache, this shows off good richness and mid-palate density with rich black fruits that parade with minerals and chocolate tones. This is singing now at the three year mark, so pop that screw cap open! Drink 2021-2026- 91

2018 Kind Stranger Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 Kind Stranger Cabernet Sauvignon revels in its core of blackberry and black cherry tones, showing tar and tobacco leaf flavors with a good sense of minerality. Tasty now, this has another eight years to go. Drink 2021-2029- 91

2017 Latta Wines ‘Upland Vineyard’ Grenache- Andrew Latta has been one of the great champions of Upland Vineyard Grenache for many years. This 2017 edition shows off really good aromatic range from red rose petals to orange rind and smoky undertones with a core of ripe red fruits. The palate is downright delicious and offers a silky texture. Ripe pomegranate, Yakima cherry and red raspberry flavors collide with minerals, damp earth and stony undertones. This is sensational stuff that has both weightlessness and verve. Drink 2021-2024- 94

2017 Latta Wines ‘Latta Latta’ Red WIne- This outstanding GSM style wine showcases a beautiful core of red fruits alongside tobacco leaf, orange zest, damp earth and smoky as well as stony undertones on the palate. Fresh and vibrant, as this glides throughout the drinking experience, this beautifully textured wine is really right at its peak now and will deliver draining enjoyment over the next eight plus years. Drink 2021-2028- 92

2017 Latta Wines ‘Upland Vineyard’ Mourvedre- This outstanding new Mourvedre shows off smoked brisket and bright red cherry tones alongside shades of Umami and charcuterie on this exotic bouquet. The palate is fresh, vibrant and beautifully textured. Silky tannins line the core of bright red fruits with orange rind and tar tones.  Delicious now, enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2017 Latta Wines ‘Lawrence Vineyard’ Syrah- Sourced from this newly crowned Royal Slope AVA, the 2017 Latta Wines ‘Lawrence Vineyard’ Syrah opens with smoky and stony tones on the nose, with shades of iodine and bulls blood that offer plenty of intrigue. The palate is plush, novelty and utterly sensational in terms of texture and range. Red and dark fruits collide with smoked pork shoulder, blood orange zest, scorched earth and menthol tones. Quite simply, this Syrah screams terroir. Sensational to savor now, this has another eight to ten years ahead of it. Drink 2021-2029- 94

2017 Latta Wines ‘Dana Dibble’ Syrah- Sourced from the ‘Freewater Rocks Vineyard’ this Syrah shows off great aromatic range from red currants and Hoisin sauce to damp earth and stony undertones that all meld in the glass. The palate is vibrant with a brilliant purity of red fruit. Layered with a silky texture, with wonderful finesse, this outstanding wine will deliver drinking enjoyment for another eight plus years. Drink 2021-2029- 94

2017 Latta Wines ‘Gants de Suede’ Red Wine- A silky blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon with 32% Malbec all spruced from the ‘Lawrence Vineyard’ this reveals beautiful dark florals alongside cassis and leather tones that all take shape in the glass. The palate is fresh and beautifully textured. I love the terroir here with tilled soils and scorched earth, as the blackberry and coffee ground tones meld with suggestions of milk chocolate. Delightful to savor now, this has at least another decade to go. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2017 Latta Wines ‘Weinbau Vineyard’ Malbec- This outstanding Malbec by Andrew Latta shows off violets, blueberry compote and a dense layers of dark fruits alongside chocolate tones on the nose. The palate is refined and beautifully textured. Rich anise and creme de cassis tones mingle with creosote and dark chocolate shavings on the palate. Damp earthy tones add to the complexity here. Sensational now to enjoy, this has a long way to go. Drink 2021-2033- 93