Latta Malbec Northridge Vineyard 2011
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Robert
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Rock star stuff, especially in the vintage, the 2011 Malbec Northridge Vineyard gives up classic blackberry, pepper and assorted flowers and spice aromas and flavors to go with a full-bodied, seamless and elegant feel on the palate. Gaining more than one “awesome” in my notes, this should not be missed by any Washington State wine lover.
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Wine Enthusiast
Fermented with native yeast with a nearly 40-day maceration, this deep-purple-colored wine offers a complex, compelling assortment of aromas including mulberry, lavender, dried herbs, plum and incense. Over time it ramps up in intensity with rich, flavorful yet still deft dark blue-fruit flavors, showing freshness and vibrancy with mouthwatering acids that captivate the senses.
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2012-
Robert
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Wine
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Latta Wines was founded in 2011 by winemaker and owner Andrew Latta. The product of 10 years of sweat equity as a cellar hand who worked his way to winemaker at a notable Washington winery, Andrew is proud to release his personal wines to you. Born and raised in Kentucky, the restaurant world was his path to wine. A similar trajectory up from the basement as a busser to a Sommelier working in Thailand exposed him to the wines of world. While developing award-winning wine programs, Washington State stood out among all the emerging and traditional wine-growing regions. So, sight unseen, more than a decade ago he jumped into his first harvest in Walla Walla and year after year Washington keeps delivering.
Celebrated for its bold flavors and supple texture, Malbec has enjoyed runaway success in Argentina since the late 20th century. The grape originated in Bordeaux, France, where it historically contributed color and tannin to blends. A French agronomist, who saw great potential for the variety in Mendoza’s hot, high-altitude landscape, brought Malbec to Argentina in 1868. Somm Secret—If you’re trying to please a crowd, Malbec is generally a safe bet with its combination of dense fruit and soft tannins.
Distinguished by a broad, south-exposed, uniform slope and landlocked by the Columbia River to its south and Saddle Mountains to its north, the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington holds 15% of the total vine acreage of the state and takes its name from the Native American word for “watering place.”
Incidentally the Wahluke Slope AVA has one of the hottest and driest climates of the state so irrigation is not only essential, but also allows complete grower control of vine vigor. On top of its arid and warm environment, strong summer winds blow across this broad slope and ensure both smaller leaf size and grape clusters. The result is top quality wines with great concentration, phenolic ripeness, body and depth of flavor.
Vineyards cover the AVA from 425 to 1,480 feet along the slope. Its deep soils of wind-blown alluvium and sand with a depth, on average, of more than 5 feet along the continuous grade allow optimal drainage for the vines.
Thriving varieties include Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc.
Merlots are rich in sweet, ripe cherry, red currant, raspberry and cocoa. Syrahs tend to express black and blue fruit along with savory notes. Wahluke Cabernets are rich in stewed red and black berries.