Latah Creek Whites & Blushes
Latah Creek
Chenin Blanc 2023
In the 1980s, Chenin Blanc was our second production. Now from a single vineyard, we’ve released a limited wine with intense tropical flavors, ideal for seafood and spicy dishes.
Latah Creek Chenin Blanc 2023
For Latah Creek’s inaugural vintage in 1982, Mike crafted five varietals: two Chardonnays, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Chenin Blanc won a Best of Show Award at its first competition, catapulting Latah Creek into the spotlight for producing bright, well-balanced, and truly delightful wines, particularly whites. Over time, Chenin Blanc became their second most produced wine, following Johannisberg Riesling (now known simply as Riesling). The Chenin Blanc vines thrived, yielding an abundant harvest of exceptional fruit that could compete with the French Vouvray. Sadly, as tastes shifted, most growers replaced their Chenin Blanc vines with more popular varieties. However, Mike and Natalie were fortunate that one grower maintained his vineyard, allowing them to source Chenin Blanc grapes consistently over the years. While much of the Chenin Blanc was typically blended away, Natalie persuaded Mike to bottle a small quantity for the winery’s 37th Anniversary, and the response was overwhelmingly positive! Now, they allocate a limited amount of this wine for a varietal label, while the remainder is blended with their Riesling to create the base for their Huckleberry d’Latah. The tropical fruit and grassy notes beautifully enhance the huckleberry flavors.
Tasting Notes
I craft this special edition wine as a tribute to my father’s 1982 Chenin Blanc, which received a Best of Show Award at his first competition ever entered. We initially bottled a limited quantity, simply hoping it would be well-received, but to our delight, people absolutely LOVED it! Each year, my dad and I continue to reserve a small portion of our batch for a varietal-labeled wine, which consistently sells out in under a year. I love this varietal and especially this particular vintage because it captures the essence of tropical fruit in a bottle! It opens with delightful aromas of persimmon and lemon verbena, and the flavors of key lime, passion fruit, and peach dance on your palate, complemented by a hint of chamomile and a zesty finish.
Food Pairing
Enjoy this wine with fresh seafood dishes, spicy foods, salads, and light and creamy pasta dishes such as Ellena’s Spring Greens Pasta recipe available online or in her latest cookbook.
Winemakers
Mike Conway & Natalie Conway-Barnes
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Wine Profile
Vintage
2023
Varietal Composition
100% Chenin Blanc
Appellation
Columbia Valley
Vineyard
Areté vineyard
Harvest Date
October 2, 2023
Residual Sugar
2.0%
Alcohol
10.5%
Bottling Date
April 9, 2024
Cases Produced
168