A passion for the sport of horse racing and love of world-class red wines is Terry and Kriss Wells’ inspiration for the winery. It has been a decade since they worked on their inaugural vintage, locating their winery in the Woodinville Warehouse Winery District. Not unlike breeding thoroughbred race horses, their “slow and steady wins the race” approach to winemaking continues to be a winning factor in their latest releases—both wines spent significant time slowly aging in oak cooperage and the results are medal worthy.
Here are several releases we recently reviewed:
Love That Red Winery 2017 Winning Colors Red Blend
94 pts.
Aged 46 months in new and neutral French and American oak, this Left Bank styled red is named in honor of the three fillies that won the Kentucky Derby. Broad and textural, this leads with Cabernet Sauvignon (87%) and supportive doses of Petit Verdot and Syrah. The pillowy structure is ethereal, offering uplifting appeal and finely-chiseled tannins cloaked with a blanket of black cherry, cassis, fig and cigar box, ending with persistent inflections of spice, mineral and loam that show finesse and duration. $55
Vineyards: Les Collines, Quintessence, StoneTree
Love That Red Winery 2017 Malbec “Maiden Race”
93 pts.
Velvety rich in texture from aging four years in neutral French oak cooperage, this full-flavored, two-vineyard red blend ripples with concentrated blackberry and dark cherry fruit balanced with poised acidity and fine tannins. There’s a dusting of purple fruit, tobacco and spice toward the midpalate, mingling with harmonious notes of espresso, coconut shavings and currants that roll through the long finish. $45
Vineyards: Northridge and Quintessence
Love That Red Winery 2017 Merlot “Muddy Track”
93 pts.
An unadulterated version, filled with sultry undertones of tobacco, juniper berry, clove and cocoa powder that flow profusely through a core of concentrated black cherry. Complex, with a powerful structure loaded with ample spice on the ultra-smooth finish. Aged four years in French and American oak. $50
Vineyard: Les Collines