L’Ecole No. 41

It was a warm summer day as I walked over to one of the famed wineries of the Pacific Northwest, L’Ecole No. 41. As the sun gleamed in the bright blue sky, I entered the historic schoolhouse building as I had many times before. L’Ecole No. 41 was one of the first wineries that I ever set foot in. My first visit was in 2002 while I was a senior at Whitman College and I fondly recall the casual atmosphere where such a great range of wines were poured. That hot summer day would be a bit more serious as I embarked on a fantastic voyage back into time to revisit some older vintages of the wines. 

It is no surprise that L’Ecole has produced another wonderful set of releases, ranging from crisp Chardonnay to rich Merlot. Marty Clubb serves as managing winemaker and oversees all vineyard management. Winemaker Marcus Rafanelli has recently taken over for Mike Sharon, having some large shoes to fill. L’Ecole makes a ton of different wines as both Marty and Marcus oversee over 90 lots of wine each year.

I was hugely impressed with the new 2018 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Luminesce’ White Wine (WWB, 91) which is an incredible value and has a great combination of poise and richness. L’Ecole has built a very strong reputation for their Chardonnay over the years. L’Ecole has been improving their Rose program and their 2019 L’Ecole No. 41 Rose (WWB, 91) is downright awesome with its silky texture and pretty red fruits. Even better is their gorgeous 2017 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Ferguson Vineyard’ Red Wine (WWB, 94) which has massive tension and a great core of dark fruits, with lovely stony undertones from this famed vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley. Learn more about this outstanding winery at http://lecole.com/ Here are the great new wines by L’Ecole No. 41.

2018 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Luminesce’ White Wine- The 2018 ‘Luminesce’ is a compelling blend of 55% Sauvignon Blanc with the remainder Semillon which was sourced from the esteemed Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA. On the nose this takes on bright Bosc pear and shades of kumquat rind that mingle with the baking spices undertones. The freshness and texture imparted is lovely, as lively acidity and a faint salinity runs through the core of the wine. Bright melon and lemon curd flavors collide with the copious minerals. Fantastic now, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next five to seven years. Drink 2020-2025- 91

2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Yakima Valley’ Chenin Blanc- Bright pear and starfruit with nutmeg infused Challah bread tones mark this expressive nose. The palate has marvelous verve and tension, with a light dusting of salinity that runs through the core of orchard fruit flavors. Drink 2020-2025- 91

2018 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Stillwater Creek Vineyard’ Semillon- The ‘Stillwater Creek Vineyard’ is a cooler climate site in the Columbia Valley AVA. On the nose this shows off buttered brioche and starfruit aromas that connect with shades of nutmeg that all mingle together in the glass. The palate has great freshness and intensity with medium-bodied Pazzaz apple, honeydew melon and nectarine flavors that mingle with the bright sense of minerality. Enjoy this beautiful wine in its youth while the freshness remains. Drink 2019-2025- 91

2018 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Semillon- Perennially one of the outstanding value Washington white wine, the 2018 Semillon by L’Ecole No. 41 opens with buttered bread and nutmeg with salted macadamia nut aromas that meld in the glass. Jucy, with a soft texture, this unveils layers of melon flavors that combine with the wonderfully bright acidity and good viscosity of the wine. Seriously good now, this needs a warm summer day and a patio overlooking the water. Drink 2020-2025- 91

2019 L’Ecole No. 41 Rose- This pale colored Grenache Rose was sourced from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Fresh and vibrant with a great combination of tension and viscosity, this reveals pretty rose water and watermelon flavors with shades of cantaloupe and sourdough bread on the palate. Seriously good now,  enjoy this beautiful bottling over the next several years. Drink 2020-2025- 91

2018 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay follows the excellent long line of releases by L’Ecole. Nutmeg infused sourdough bread and shades of ripe pear that round out the beautiful aromatics in the wine. The soft texture greets you as the wine shows a seamless quality that runs through the wine on the palate. Seriously good right now, this will age well for a decade, picking up tertiary notes as it develops. Drink 2020-2026- 92

2018 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Evergreen Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Located in the Ancient Lakes AVA, the ‘Evergreen Vineyard’ has gained a sterling reputation for high-toned Chardonnay over the past decade. The brightness is apparent on the palate as the wine shows gobs of minerals that collide with the melon and lemon cream flavors. This is fantastic stuff that will evolve well over the next seven plus years. Drink 2020-2025- 91

2018 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘GSM Stone Tree Vineyard’ Red Wine- The ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ has gained a great reputation for Rhone varietals over the past decade as this wine is near equal parts Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. Thew smoky and damp earth tones really entice, as a core of black fruits and bacon fat open up aromatically. The palate is dense and chewy with a massive core of dark fruits that surround smoked brisket, wet stone and orange rind tones. The combination of freshness and weight is sensational. Drink 2020-2028- 93

2017 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah- A smoky whiff takes over the wine as ripe dark fruits and chocolate fill the nose. The palate has great freshness and verve with rich roasted figs, smoked pork shoulder and mocha flavor with shades of tar. Drink 2020-2026- 91

2017 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Syrah- The famed ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ is one of the jewels in Walla Walla, producing high quality Syrah and Bordeaux varietals. Fresh sage and damp earthy tones combine with silt, dark fruits and potpourri on this exotic nose. The palate is silky smooth with a bright acidity and deep core of blackberry cobbler, mocha and tar, with smoky undertones. A complete wine, the 2017 ‘Seven Hills Vineyarfd’ Syrah will have another decade or more ahead of it. Drink 2020-2030- 93

2016 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon by L’Ecole No. 41 is a gorgeous new effort from this warm vintage. Intense sandalwood aromas with creme de cassis, mocha and shades of blueberry pie all mingle together in the glass. The palate has a great combination of power and elegance as blackberry pie, black tea, exotic spices and shades of dark chocolate all come together in the glass. Fantastic in its youth, this beautiful wine will have at least a decade ahead of it. Drink 2020-2029- 92

2017 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced equally from the ‘Ferguson Vineyard’ and the ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ the 2016 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon opens with layers of blackberry and tar that mingle with the lighter sagebrush and wet stone tones on the nose. The stony character to the wine really enhances the deep layers of dark fruits and chocolate tones on the palate. Gorgeous to enjoy right now, the ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon will cellar well for decades to come. Be sure to give this at least an hour decant if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2020-2035- 93

2017 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot- The 2017 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot is an awesome value from this famed Walla Walla estate. Toasty oak connects with cassis and dark chocolate covered cherry aromatics, with faint sagebrush tones that mingle in the glass. The palate is soft and elegant, giving a good combination of power and verve. Rich black fruits dance with minerals and damp earthy tones on the palate. This is seriously good stuff for the price. Drink 2020-2027- 92

2017 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Almost as good as the ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot, the 2017 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows off a silky texture and plush mouthfeel. Soft tannins line the core of cassis, mocha and tar flavors, with blue fruit undertones. Fantastic to enjoy in its youth, this outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon will cellar well over the next seven to ten years. Drink 2020-2027- 91

2017 L’Ecole No. 41’Walla Walla Valley’ Merlot- Sourced from both the Seven Hills and Ferguson Vineyards, the 2017 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Merlot opens with bright red fruits that connect with sagebrush and a light dusting of cocoa powder on this expressive nose. The palate is highly Bordelaise with wonderful structure and a strong vein of tension that runs through the core of dark fruits, wet stone, sagebrush and Black Forest cake flavors. Give this elegant wine a two hour decant if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2022-2035- 92

2017 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Merlot/Cabernet Franc- A really unique wine, the 2017 Merlot/Cabernet Franc was sourced from both the Ferguson and Seven Hills Vineyards. Needing a two hour decant to get going, the wine slowly unveils red bell pepper and anise aromatics that mingle with blackberry cobbler and shades of creosote that all take shape in the glass. The palate is beautifully structured, with serious length and a light blue fruit undertone that melds with the copious minerality and deep dark fruit flavors of the wine. Gorgeous to enjoy in its youth (following a long decant), this beautiful wine will cellar well for decades to come. Drink 2022-2040- 93

2017 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Ferguson Vineyard’ Red Wine- One of the unique sites in the Walla Walla Valley, the ‘Ferguson Vineyard’ is a high elevation site that is set atop a ridge of ancient lava flows. Needing a two hour decant to fully be aroused, the wine awakens with lavender and rich black fruits that meld with dark chocolate shavings and graphite on this expressive bouquet. The palate has great freshness and viscosity, with a silky texture. While obviously a big wine, the elegance provides a seamless factor that is hard to describe. Moderately tannic at this juncture, this finishes very long with silty earth, dark fruits and minerals. Sensational even this young, try to give this beautiful wine at least two more years before enjoying. Drink 2022-2040- 94