Every time I visit L’Ecole No. 41 I get very nostalgic. I fondly recall my first visit back in 2002 while I was a senior at Whitman College. While I might have been a novice wine drinker then, I knew that they had a great range of wines. Nw winemaker Marcus Rafanelli has been on board for over a year and I sat down with him and founder Marty Clubb last summer to taste through some of their new wines.
I adored the new 2021 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Old Vines’ Chenin Blanc (OB, 92) which at 18 dollars retail is a total steal. The same is true for the incredible new 2021 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Rose (OB, 92) which is fresh and beautifully textured with delicate red fruits. Don’t miss out on the 2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Ferguson Vineyard’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which is an incredible achievement in this cooler vintage, showing very stony tones with some serious aging potential. Learn more about this outstanding winery at http://lecole.com/ Here are the great new wines by L’Ecole No. 41.
2022 Summer/Fall Releases
2021 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Old Vines’ Chenin Blanc- Very few Washington producers continue to make wine from this varietal, and the 2021 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Old Vines’ is about as good as it gets, particularly when you consider price. Sourced from the Willard Frams, Upland and Phil Church Vineyards, this offers a light effervescence and drinks considerably better at a warmer temperature. Shades of baking spice dusted marzipan, Bartlett pear and honeydew melon with stony undertones all collide in unison. Gorgeous to consume now, enjoy over the next five plus years. Drink 2022-2027- 92
2021 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Rose- Sourced from Grenache vines planted this seep, south-facing site in the Horse Heaven Hills, the 2019 L’Ecole No. 41 Rose saw 12 hours of skin contact after a soft pressing. A very pretty salmon hue, this opens with red rose water and orange blossom aromas that mingle with cranberry and unripe green melon notes. The palate is brilliantly textured, as this displays formidable weight and plenty of bright acidity to back it up. As a caveat, once opened this will be exceedingly difficult to put down. Drink 2022-2028- 92
2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot- The 2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot has a large portion of Cabernet Franc (13%) blended in. It comes off very soft on the mouth with garrigue and coffee ground undercurrents alongside a silky core of red fruit flavors. Medium-bodied, this is a delicious, well-priced bottling that is best enjoyed over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 91
2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah- Not 100% varietal, the 2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah has 16% Grenache and a splash of Mourvedre blended in. Aged for eighteen months in mostly neutral oak barrels, this reveals exotic spices and black currant tones alongside tar and black licorice on the nose. The palate is very generous and rich with refined tannins that frame a generous core of black fruits, with milk chocolate and sagebrush accents. Drink 2022-2030- 92
2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows plenty of stuffing in this cooler vintage in the Columbia Valley. Once on the nose this takes on layer of dried herbs and scorched earth accents alongside chocolate covered espresso bean aromas. The palate is soft and inviting upon entry, as gentle tannins brilliantly frame the core of rich dark fruits, with creosote and shades of beef drippings. Delicious to consume now, this is outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon that will drink well for another decade. Drink 2022-2032- 92
2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Merlot- The delicious 2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Merlot comes for the Seven Hills and Ferguson Vineyards. Just like the Columbia Valley bottling, a large portion (12%) of Cabernet Franc has seen its way into the blend. Beautiful red florals from the Cabernet Franc explode out of the glass, alongside Bing cherry compote, cigar box and freshly tilled stony soils. The palate is very refined, as silky tannins frame rich red currants, anise, wild blackberry flavors, with salty and stony undertones. Delicious to consume now, be sure to give this at least an hour in the decanter if enjoy in its heady youth. Drink 2023-2040- 93
2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah- The 2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah was sourced from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley. 100% varietal, this spent eighteen months in 40% new French oak before bottling. Very soft and inviting on the attack, this delivers white peppered brisket, loganberry syrup, red currant jelly and shades of black licorice on the palate, with black olive and loamy soil undercurrents. Full-bodied, this is a wonderful achievement from this vintage. Drink 2022-2033- 93
2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The very refined, 100% varietal 2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from a range of vineyards and soil types that span the Walla Walla Valley. Very dark once in the glass, this revels in black currant and anise aromas alongside sandalwood and graphite notes that all meld in the glass. The palate is fresh, vibrant and refined, with silky tannins and a seamless texture. Showing great persistence, with no rough edges, this outstanding new cabernet Sauvignon will provide drinking enjoyment over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2023-2040- 94
2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Ferguson Vineyard’ Red Wine- The terroir-driven 2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Ferguson Vineyard’ Red Wine is a stunning new wine by winemaker Marcus Rafanelli. A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon with 25% Merlot and small parts Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, this was stored in 50% new French oak for 22 months before bottling. Very flinty on the nose, this opens with boysenberry and allspice aromas alongside pencil lead and creme de cassis notes. This is deep and concentrated once on the mouth and glides effortlessly across the mid-palate. Finishing long with rich dark fruits and stony tones, the 2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Ferguson Vineyard’ Red Wine will live on for another twenty years — and possibly more. Give this at least two hours in the decanter if enjoying now. Drink 2024-2044- 95