One of the boutique wineries from Red Mountain, Liberty Lake has been producing some excellent wines since 2007. Mark and Sarah Lathrop took over the operation in January 2016 with the intent of focusing on full-bodied red wines. They did a really good job in the highly challenging 2020 vintage.
The owners met back in 2005 at Eastern Washington University’s MBA program and they both found a love of wine together. The new wines were very consistent. I really enjoy the 2022 Liberty Lake Cellars Petit Verdot (OB, 91) which has some really nice flavor density and weight. Learn more about this exciting winery at http://www.libertylakewinecellars.com Here are the new wines by Liberty Lake.
2024 Tahija Chardonnay- Coming from Red Mountain, this 2024 Chardonnay offers sweet peach and buttercream notes, missing some mid-palate depth. Drink 2025-2029- 89
2023 Liberty Lake Gewurtztraminer- This 2023 Gewurtz is leaner, mineral-laden stuff with peach and pear notes. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2028- 88
2022 Tahija Sangiovese- Sourced from Candy Mountain Vineyard, this 2022 Sangiovese offers light juicy red fruits that mingle well with refined tannins and damp earth tones on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2029- 89
2022 Liberty Lake Merlot- The 2022 Liberty Lake Merlot was sourced from Red Mountain and stored in 50% French-American hybrid barrels before bottling. It comes off soft and appealing on the mouth with a smooth texture. Medium bodied red fruits mingle with fresh sage and chocolate on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 90
2022 Liberty Lake Tempranillo- Also coming from Red Mountain (Red Haven Vineyard) this 2022 Tempranillo delivers dusty soils on the palate with good earthy notes alongside red currants and shades of cassis. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 90
2022 Liberty Lake Zinfandel- The 2022 Zinfandel comes from the Red Haven Vineyard on Red Mountain. Lighter bodied red fruits mingle well with herbal accents on the palate. Drink 2025-2030- 89
2022 Liberty Lake Carmenere- The 2022 Carmenere comes from the acclaimed Heart of the Hill Vineyard, managed by Kiona. Dusty tannins mingle well with green herbs, black currants and shades of blackberry compote on the palate. This is delicious stuff that will impress over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 91
2022 Liberty Lake Cabernet Franc- The 2022 Liberty Lake Cabernet Franc offers red bell pepper alongside medium bodied red fruits and dusty soils on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 90
2022 Liberty Lake Petit Verdot- A unique bottling and inky in the glass, this 2022 Petit Verdot delivers good concentration with pencil lead and anise notes alongside dark chocolate shavings and blackberry compote on the palate. Drink 2025-2033- 91
2022 Liberty Lake Malbec- The 2022 Malbec comes off juicy with bright acidity on the mouth. Black and blue fruits combine with suggestions of chocolate pie on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91
2022 Liberty Lake ‘Heritage’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Heritage’ is soft and approachable on the mouth. Medium bodied red and dark fruits parade with chocolate and sagebrush accents on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91
2022 Liberty Lake ‘Reserve’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Reserve’ Syrah has nice smoky accents on the nose with sage and dark fruits. The palate is forward and approachable with black fruits and a smooth mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2030- 90
2022 Liberty Lake ‘Reserve’ Touriga Nacional- A unique wine from Red Mountain, the 2022 Liberty Lake ‘Reserve’ Touriga Nacional was stored in mainly new American-French hybrid barrels before bottling. This is soft and approachable on the mouth, brimming with juicy red and dark fruits on the palate alongside chocolate and green herbs. Drink 2025-2031- 91
2022 Liberty Lake ‘Path of the Gods Reserve’ Red Wine- Coming from the Yakima Valley, the 2022 Liberty Lake ‘Path of the Gods Reserve’ Red Wine offers tobacco leaf with dark currents and shades of milk chocolate on the nose. This comes off a touch lean and angular with lighter black fruits. Drink 2025-2030- 89
2022 Liberty Lake ‘Somm Select Reserve’ Red Wine- Sourced from Red Mountain, the 2022 Liberty Lake ‘Somm Select Reserve’ Red Wine is soft on the mouth. Milk chocolate, sagebrush and dark cherry notes combine with shades of scorched earth on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next six plus years. Drink 2025-2031- 91
2022 Liberty Lake ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Liberty Lake ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes off approachable on the tongue with good freshness. Red and dark fruits collide with dusty tannins and a chocolate edge on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 91