676 cs. made.  $35/btl.

93 pts. Wine Enthusiast | 93 pts. Vinous 

57% Grenache, 26% Mourvedre, 17% Syrah from Upland, Lawrence, and Freewater Rocks vineyards with 55% whole cluster/45% whole berry. Garnet hued blend with aromatics of black cherry macerated with black pepper, gun metal, sanguine. Crackling palate with solid acid and polished tannin. Grenache gives the red fruited framework and garrigue, Syrah the gamey depth and expansive mouthfeel, Mourvedre holds down the bottom with bloodied blackberry and spice. 

Fermented on native yeast and punched down by hand for an average 28 days before pressing. This blend is aged in neutral 500L and 228L barrels for 22 months before bottling. 

214 cs. made. $55/btl.

93 pts. Owen Bargreen

Another new addition to the portfolio! This blend is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Syrah from Freewater Rocks Vineyard in Walla Walla. We co-fermented these grapes with the Syrah whole cluster and the Cabernet Sauvignon destemmed over the top. We have the framework and structure of Cab complimented by the flesh and funk of Rocks Syrah. A dark nose driven by graphite and black fruit peppered with a funky depth. The polished but firm tannin in the palate asks for venison.

Our Cab/Syrah is inspired by the illicit blending of Bordeaux and Rhone varieties that has been quietly going on for centuries. Arguably the most famous of these unholy unions (and certainly the most inspirational to us) are the wines of Eloi Dürrbach at Domaine Trevallon. When new rules sought to limit the inclusion of Cabernet Sauvignon within their certified growing area they simply walked away from the certification and kept making their wine their way. We applaud their wines and resolve and we hope to echo Eloi’s magic in our new blend. Cheers!

158 cs. made. $45/btl.

93 pts. Wine Enthusiast | 93 pts. Owen Bargreen

The Grenache starts with a generous bouquet followed by notes of ripe raspberry, cherry, white pepper and herb. Soft, sultry flavors follow. There's a wonderful textural feel in this wine that heightens the appeal, with the candied raspberry flavors and intense purity. A lengthy maceration with 50% stems and 50% whole berries lends wildness to the aromatics and length to the finish. This 100% Grenache is aged in neutral 500L puncheons for 25 months before bottling.

Upland Vineyard is a rolling extremely sloped site located in the Snipes Mountain AVA. Snipes Mountain was named for Ben Snipes, an early Yakima County pioneer who built a house at the base of a mountain in the 1850s. The area was first planted in 1917 by Washington State wine pioneer William B. Bridgman. The vineyard on Snipes Mountain was one of the first to plant Vitis vinifera in Washington. Snipes Mountain is a seven-mile-long anticline ridge created by fault activity. The "peak" is 1,290 feet high, rising from the floor of the Yakima Valley with unique, rocky soils.  Soil deposits below the area are composed of gravels and sediments left by ancient riverbeds, deposits range in size from a fist to a football. A truly unique site in Washington and a standout for Grenache.

145 cs. made. $45/btl.

92 pts. Wine Enthusiast | 93 pts. Vinous 

100% Malbec, picked October 10^th, 2017. We fermented this wine whole berry without any crushing. Punched down by hand for 33 days on the skins then basket pressed to 80% new 500L puncheons for 25 months of aging. The nose is full of notes of Damson plum, tar and spice. The wine's rich palate is intensely flavorful but still brings a sense of freshness and elegance into a savory and lengthy finish.

Weinbau Vineyard is in the Wahluke Slope AVA, just outside of Mattawa, WA. Weinbau was planted in the late 70s, a truly historic and pioneering vineyard for the area. These malbec vines were planted in 1990 amid a modest expansion. We could not make this standout wine without the involvement of Miguel Rodriguez, the grower who has guided Weinbau from its very first days to its celebrated place among the great vineyards of Washington. It’s an honor to walk the rows with Miguel, now in his 43^rd vintage at Weinbau. 

163 cs. made. $45/btl.

100% Mourvèdre fermented with 70% whole cluster and 30% whole berry. Aged for 25 months in 500L puncheon and 228L barrique, 10% new French oak from Allier. Pure, complex scents of blackberry, blueberry, mountain herbs, licorice, lilac and violet, plus a hint of an iodiney bloody steak. Juicy, firm and youthful with dark berry and mineral flavors. This wine is deeply savory with a balancing berry intensity. The tannins are beginning to integrate nicely, a crushed berry character and lightly saline minerality push through the finish.

Our Mourvèdre is all Upland Vineyard as well, albeit a very different block from the Grenache. One of the most exposed parcels on Snipes Mountain, our Mourvèdre block soaks up the sun on thin rocky soil. This block requires the most attention of any we farm from Andrew and Todd Newhouse, our grower partner here. Notoriously finicky, Mourvèdre requires just the right combination of carrot and stick to get to its sweet spot for harvest. Many long hours have been spent staring at the canopy while climbing the extreme slopes of Upland trying to divine what these vines need next. We hope the wine delivers as much mystery and depth as it provides us throughout the season.

195 cs. made. $45/btl.

94 pts. Owen Bargreen

96 cs. made. $45/btl.

100% Syrah sourced from Lawrence Vineyard in the Royal Slope AVA. All native, loads of whole cluster, hand punched down, and basket pressed; this wine carries classic Rhone aromatics coupled with Washington intensity. The nose opens with olive and smoked meat moving to macerated blackberry, rosemary, and cracked pepper that continues on the palate. This wine reflects the excellent vintage we were given in 2018. 

Lawrence vineyard is a cool site overlooking the Royal Slope and the Saddle Mountains to the south. The Syrah block sits at 1375 feet of elevation in Taunton silt loam soils that give way to broken basalt. The sloped elevation of Lawrence gives it protection from frost that wreaks havoc in vineyard sites lower on the slope. The long season at Lawrence gives us intense flavor and color while retaining freshness and vitality. 

*NEW WINE!* 83 cs. made. $55/btl.

The inaugural vintage for a tiny new Latta offering from a block that’s an old friend. Andrew began working with Todd Newhouse and Upland Vineyard twelve years ago with Grenache for us and Syrah for another winery. These blocks are highly desired and never change hands. We finally talked Todd into a small section of the old Syrah block in 2018 and now the wine is finally here! Deep, dark color and matching brooding aromatics are the first impression. It continues with dark berries, sage, and grilled rare ribeye. This is serious broad-shouldered red wine, tannin and supporting freshness are firm and this wine has a long future ahead of it. 2.8 tons/acre from the near perfect 2018 vintage. A lengthy maceration with 65% stems and 35% whole berries lend depth to the aromatics and a savory note to the finish. This 100% Syrah is aged in second-fill 500L puncheons for 22 months before bottling.

Upland Vineyard is a rolling extremely sloped site located in the Snipes Mountain AVA.  Snipes Mountain was named for Ben Snipes, an early Yakima County pioneer who built a house at the base of a mountain in the 1850s. The area was first planted in 1917 by Washington State wine pioneer William B. Bridgman, twice elected Mayor of Sunnyside. The vineyard on Snipes Mountain was the first to plant Vitis vinifera commercially in Washington. Snipes Mountain is a seven-mile-long anticline ridge created by fault activity. The "peak" is 1,290 feet high, rising from the floor of the Yakima Valley with unique, rocky alluvial deposits then forming aridisols on the hill. These rocky deposits are composed of gravels and sediments left by ancient river beds, the ubiquitous rocks range in size from a fist to a football.

333 cs. made.  $30/btl. 

Bright yellow gold white wine, with meyer lemon, notes of hay, pronounced salinity, and petrichor. We sprawled the west side of the vine rows to keep sunburn out and freshness in. A cropload of 3.6 tons/acre kept acid and sugar in balance with Lawrence vineyard’s trademark intensity. The Roussanne was whole cluster pressed and fermented native in barrel, a mix of barriques and puncheons with 15% new French oak from Jupille. The wine rested in barrel for 16 months until bottling.

Lawrence vineyard is a cool site overlooking the Royal Slope and the Saddle Mountains to the south. The Roussanne block sits at 1450 feet of elevation in Taunton silt loam soils that give way to broken basalt. The sloped elevation of Lawrence gives it protection from frost that wreaks havoc in vineyard sites lower on the slope. The long cool growing season is ideal for serious white wine such as this Roussanne.

586 cs. made. $17/btl.

74% Aquilini & Freewater Rocks Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Weinbau Vineyard Malbec, and 12% Freewater Rocks Vineyard Syrah

Blending is nothing if not an excercise in change, creating a new sum. The parts here are three varietals from outstanding vineyard sites to produce this robust Washington red. Cabernet vines grown in the basalt derived gravel of Red Mountain give excellent depth of fruit and ample structure, with a touch of earthy Freewater Rocks. Weinbau Malbec brings concentration, spice notes, and fruity volume to the palate. Funky Freewater Syrah layers on dark-fruited intrigue and breadth to the finish. Label artwork is by Kris Chau, based on a work titled, "Alter of Labor + Love."

We're inspired by taking the name KIND STRANGER quite literally and turning toward others around us. We've seen our national landscape shift over the last few years and we feel it's as important as ever to be a real kind stranger in the world. Proceeds from this wine benefit Mary’s Place at the local level here in Seattle and the International Rescue Committee on a broader scale, please click the links to see the important work they do. Cheers!