Mark and Sarah Lathrop met in an MBA accounting class at Eastern Washington University and started dating. From that moment, most of their dates centered around wine. Dating eventually led to a wedding with a reception in a wine cellar. They both ended up in careers in finance helping to run small businesses.
Fast-forward to 2015, when the couple noticed that one of their favorite boutique wineries, Liberty Lake Wine Cellars, hadn’t participated in crush that year. “A simple email to ask what would happen to our beloved winery overlooking the lake led to discussions of a plan to purchase the winery and in January 2016 we were handed the keys,” says Sarah.
The enterprising young couple’s business plan included retaining the winery’s focus on big, bold reds from the Red Mountain AVA, but expanding beyond the current 500 case volume, adding white wines to the lineup, and moving the tasting room and production facility to a larger location.
With this goal in mind, they found a piece of land in the heart of Liberty Lake’s business district three miles from the old location. Here, they have built a 4,296-square-foot tasting room and production facility. They have enough space now to accommodate up to 3,000 cases a year.
Each of the red wines we sampled were head-turners—solidly built and powerful yet elegant.
Visit this newly energized winery at 23110 E Knox Ave, Liberty Lake; www.libertylakewinecellars.com
Here are 3 wines we recently reviewed:
Liberty Lake Wine Cellars 2012 Red Mountain Legacy Reserve, $35
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts
Suave and polished, this proprietary red wine gushes with dark red and black fruit flavors that gain traction from the firm, cedar-infused tannins and rich undertones of red currant, coconut shavings and tobacco leaf. Stays dense and complex through the long finish.
Liberty Lake Wine Cellars 2013 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, $33
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts.)
Aged 30 months in American oak, this version is smoothly structured, with top notes flavors and aromas of red currant and cherry balanced nicely with dark blackberry and underpinnings of pomegranate, coconut shavings and hints of dill. Expressive, approachable, and mouth-filling.
Liberty Lake Wine Cellars 2013 Red Mountain Tempranillo, $28
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts.)
Spice box, cocoa powder, violet and coconut flakes frame the core of rich, juicy black plum in this supple red wine, delivering solid structure and nice grip from the well-integrated tannins and crushed rock minerality that flow through the finish.