Latah Creek Winery Chardonnay

Read Tasting Notes

Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley

BACKGROUND
Father/daughter winemaking team, Mike and Natalie, love this vineyard source for their Chardonnay. The northern location gives way to cool nights, which allow sugars to mature and acid levels to stay intact. They enjoy offering an approachable, often fruity, Chardonnay, with just a hint of oak.

SOURCING
Familigia Vineyards, 100% Chardonnay

WINEMAKING
The 2016 growing season was really hot throughout the summer. Many of our early ripening grapes were harvested in late August/early September. But then the weather cooled down significantly, which allowed the later ripening varietals the chance to hang on the vine a little longer and obtain more fruit characteristics. The latter was the case for our 2016 Chardonnay. The additional hang-time gave this wine an extra burst of fruit flavor, making it one of the best Chardonnays we’ve produced in several years. The wine was fermented in stainless steel at cooler temperatures, to retain its forward fruit characteristics. A Malolactic bacterium was added to cause a partial secondary fermentation, softening the acids and smoothing out the wine. 3 months in 100% new French and American oak rounded the finish.

ANALYSIS
Harvest Data: October 1, 2016 Brix: 24.0 TA: 0.64 pH: 3.34 Alc.: 13.0% RS: 0.1 %
Bottled: June 22, 2017 | 726 cases | Released: June 2018

WINEMAKERS
Mike Conway and Natalie Conway-Barnes

TASTING NOTES
This wine opens up with aromas of apricot mingled with lemon bar. Flavors of crisp apple and creamy butter with a hint of banana and lemon curd envelop your mouth A partial malolactic fermentation and 3 months in oak lends to a smooth, creamy, and lightly toasted finish.

FOOD PAIRING
Enjoy this wine with Fish, Seafood, Cream Sauces, Salads, Pork, and Lighter Beef Meals. Try Ellena’s Red Onion Chardonnay Soup recipe, Ellena’s Fettuccine Alfredo recipe, or Lemon Pepper Chicken Tenders recipe, all published in her latest cookbook, available for sale at the winery.