2021 Latta Lawrence Vineyard Roussanne

Grape Varietal: Roussanne

Country: USA

Region: Columbia Valley, Washington

The Wine: Latta Wines, the project of Andrew Latta based in Woodinville, Washington, is a Rhône-focused producer drawing from singular high-elevation sites across the Columbia Valley, working with native fermentations and minimal intervention to coax site character over winemaker imprint. The Lawrence Vineyard Roussanne is grown at 1,450 feet on Taunton silt loam transitioning to broken basalt, overlooking the Royal Slope on a cool, frost-protected slope that extends the growing season well into fall. For the 2021, fruit was whole-cluster pressed and fermented native in a mix of barriques and puncheons with 15% new French oak from Jupille, then rested in barrel for 16 months before bottling.

The 2021 Lawrence Vineyard Roussanne is a structured, mineral-driven expression of high-desert Washington white wine country. It opens with aromas of Meyer lemon, dried hay, and beeswax, lifted by a note of petrichor and wet stone. On the palate, it is full-bodied but taut, with bright citrus acidity, a pronounced saline current, and textural richness from extended barrel age, finishing long with honeyed depth and a flinty mineral pull.

Pairing: Roast halibut with brown butter and capers, a gratin of leeks and Gruyère, herb-marinated white bean crostini, or a late-summer dinner of cold poached salmon eaten outside with good bread and nowhere to be.