Latah Creek Wine Cellars
Every year is a good year. Since 1982.
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Latah Creek Winery is proud to present our
Monarch Series Reserve Reds
Each Monarch release is unique; each wonderful.
Monarch Red: A spectacular red blend!
*Our first Monarch Red sold out very quickly. We increased our production for this second release so we can all enjoy it for some time to come.
2008 Monarch Zinfandel: Horse Heaven Hills AVA
105 cases bottled. Sold Out!
2008 Monarch Petite Sirah: Ancient Soils
125 cases bottled. Sold Out!
Coming soon:
2008 Monarch Petite Sirah #2: Horse Heaven Hills AVA
2009 Monarch Primitivo: Horse Heaven Hills AVA
2008 Monarch Natalie’s Nectar: a sweet Petite Sirah
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Sign up for our WineClubs through the WineShop!!
We just changed our WineClub Memberships. We now have 4 different WineClubs to choose from. Visit our WineShop to sign up.
As an added bonus, our WineClub Members recieve:
- 10% off 6+ bottles of wine everyday
- 20% off 12+ bottles of wine everyday
- additional 5% off current WineClub selections
- Invitations to WineClub Member only events
Join the Latah Creek WineClub Family now!
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Our Recent Award Winners
& Reviews from WinePress NW
Chardonnay
Recommended. Best Buy! Latah Creek Wine Cellars 2008 Conner Lee Vineyard Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $12. Mike Conway opened Latah Creek in the early 1980s, making it one of the oldest wineries in the Spokane area. He crafts wine that are equally delicious and affordable. This Chardonnay, which spent just two months in oak, uses grapes from one of the top vineyards in Washington’s Columbia Valley. The wine opens with aromas of apples, sweet spices, pineapples, vanilla and a bit of toast, followed by spritzy flavors of apricots, lemon zest and apples. It shows off a nice touch of tartness on the finish. This will pair with shellfish or lemon chicken. (828 cases, 12% alc.)
Pinot Gris
Outstanding! Best Buy! Latah Creek Wine Cellars 2010 Pinot Gris, Washington, $11. One of the Northwest’s most consumer friendly wineries continues to be Mike Conway’s in Spokane. This Pinot Gris is approachable for many reasons, starting with aromas that are loaded with pear and backed by lime, lychee, almomd, Mister Lincoln rose and slatiness. It’s far from cloying at 0.5% residual sugar and flashes flavors of Asian pear, Granny Smith apple, white peach, tangerine pith and peach pit. Enjoy with white fish or pasta in cream sauce. (699 cases, 12% alc.)
#5 out of 27 wines in Pinot Gris category, Ray’s Boathouse 25th Annual Retrospective of Northwest Wines
Riesling
Recommended. Best Buy! Latah Creek Wine Cellars 2010 Riesling, Washington, $9. Using grapes from Familigia Vineyards near the Columbia Basin town of George, Wash., this longtime Spokane winery has crafted a Riesling that is delicious and affordable. It opens with aromas of rose petals, apples and caramel, followed by flavors of pineapples, lemon-lime, grilled peaches, apples and slate. It’s on the sweeter side at 2.5% residual sugar but is nicely balanced. (1,170 cases, 10.5% alc.)
#5 out of 29 wines in Aromatic Single Varietal Whites category, Ray’s Boathouse 25th Annual Retrospective of Northwest Wines
Rosés
Recommended. Best Buy! Latah Creek Wine Cellars NV Huckleberry d’Latah, Washington, $10. A few folks in the Pacific Northwest incorporate huckleberry into their wine program, but no one is as devoted to its pursuit as Mike Conway in Spokane, Wash. He and his daughter Natalie use Riesling as the base, and it takes center stage with its tones of pear, apple pie, petrol and minerality. The influence of huckleberry stays in the background, and the residual sugar (2.5%) is whisked clean by lime and orange acidity. (6,000 cases, 10.5% alc.)
Excellent. Best Buy! Latah Creek Wine Cellars 2010 Spokane Blush of Sangiovese, Wahluke Slope, $9. You’d be mistaken to size up this rosé from Talcott Vineyards just by looking at its bright pinkish color and taking in the aromas of Juicy Fruit gum, strawberry fruit leather, pink grapefruit and banana peel. The drink provides a delightful surprise with its serious approach from red currant, sour cherry and cranberry flavors. Indeed, the residual sugar sits at just 0.5% and the pink grapefruit acidity easily balances that out into a finish of white strawberry, white peach and apricot. Enjoy with seared ahi tuni. (536 cases, 10.5% alc.)
Fruit wines
Outstanding! Best Buy! Latah Creek Wine Cellars NV Maywine, Washington, $9. This traditional German-style wine has a significant following around Spokane, Wash., thanks to Mike Conway. The long- time Washington winemaker takes Chenin Blanc then adds woodruff and strawberry concentrate to create a fun drink that pairs marvelously with holiday fare and curries. Its nose brings hints of sweet strawberry jam, apricot, banana, honey, patchuli and honey. Flavors include strawberry, raspberry, lemon chiffon, pineapple and clover. Granted, there’s considerable sugar (6%), yet its acid profile is reminiscent of an orange milkshake and enough to create balance. In Germany, it’s often unveiled on May Day — hence the name. (1573 cases, 10.5% alc.)
Sangiovese
Recommended. Best Buy! Latah Creek Wine Cellars 2009 Sangiovese, Washington, $11. Fox Vineyards on the Wahluke Slope provided the fruit for this brightly textured wine. Three months in oak treatment produced a nose of toast, black cherries, red currant, celery seed and potting soil. The barrel influences also come through on the palate, which leads with blackberry, red currants and dried cherry flavors. Its bright acidity and green olive finish make this a perfect wine to pair with puttanesca. (896 cases, 12.5% alc.)
Merlot
Bronze, #3 out of 31 wines in Merlot category, Ray’s Boathouse 25th Annual Retrospective of Northwest Wines
Excellent. Latah Creek Wine Cellars 2008 Pheasant Vineyard Merlot, Wahluke Slope, $16. Several family-owned wineries, include Mike Conway’s in Spokane, are helping to raise the profile of this vineyard just east of Mattawa, Wash. Welcoming aromas of Chukar Cherry, red currant, mint and malted milk balls translate deliciously between the lips. While it’s not an opulent wine, its medium body shows pleasing balance and lingering flavors of blackberry and blueberry. And the low level of alcohol should allow for aging. (842 cases, 12.5% alc.)
Red Blends
Recommended. Latah Creek Wine Cellars NV Monarch Red, Washington, $20. A bold and savory blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (45%), Syrah (45%) and Zinfandel, its offers notes of boysenberry, Marionberry, chocolate, licorice, Wheat Thins and cedar. (1,106 cases, 13.5% alc.)
Zinfandel
Excellent. Latah Creek Wine Cellars 2008 Coyote Canyon Vineyard Monarch Zinfandel, Horse Heaven Hills, $25. Spokane winemaker Mike Conway’s single-vineyard bottling from this emerging vineyard shows restraint that is not often seen in California Zins. The nose leans toward blackberry, cherry tomato and black pepper notes. Hints of strawberry freezer jam trickle out on the palate, accompanied by refreshing pomegranate acidity and anise. Those craving sweet and pruny Zinfandels should look elsewhere. (105 cases, 13.5% alc.)
Petite Sirah
Excellent. Latah Creek Wine Cellars 2008 Monarch Petite Sirah, Wahluke Slope, $30. Next year will be the 30th anniversary of this Spokane winery, and here is the debut of its reserve tier, designated on the label with a painting by Spokane artist Edward Gilmore. Here is a fitting example, starting with its dense nose of figs, dates and plums, backed by malted milk balls and cracked black pepper. The flavors feature black currant, Van cherry and bittersweet chocolate. And while the tannins are taut, they are not burdensome as the finish is reminiscent of fine espresso grounds. (129 cases, 13.5% alc.)
