One of the outstanding places in Walla Walla to taste wine, I fondly recall rolling through the double doors of L’Ecole No. 41 for the first time. walking through their big set of double doors and tasting their beautiful range of wines. For several years now winemaker Marcus Rafanelli has been crafting a beautiful range of wines. Last summer I had a chance to taste with him and GM Marty Clubb who shared some really cool older wines. The wines are very well balanced and show remarkably consistency across the lineup. I regularly recommend to people that they will likely really love the range of wines that L’Ecole producers, whether they are a white or red wine lover.
I love the new wines by L’Ecole. Don’t miss out on the 2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Evergreen Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which has plenty of freshness and mouth-watering acidity. The best wine I tasted and one of the finest I have ever had from L’Ecole is their 2020 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Cellar Selection Ferguson Vineyard’ Red Wine (OB, 96) which is a complete stunner and shows massive cellaring potential with its very stony profile. I am really excited where this winery is headed. Learn more about this outstanding winery at http://lecole.com/ Here are the great new wines by L’Ecole No. 41.
2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay- Consistently one of the great value Chardonnays of the Pacific Northwest, the 2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay was sourced from the Schmitt, Evergreen, Stillwater Creek, Coyote Canyon, and Oasis Vineyards. Ripe and fat on the mouth, this delivers heady banana, Pink Lady apple and starfruit flavors alongside baking spices and a bright sense of tension. Really good now, enjoy this sensational value over the next five to seven years to come. Drink 2023-2029- 92
2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Evergreen Vineyard’ Chardonnay- For years the Evergreen Vineyard in the Ancient Lakes AVA has been one of the premier sites for Chardonnay in the state. This version is chalk-filled with finesse, as green apple, papaya and stony minerals all greet you on the palate, with a seamless mouthfeel. Really good now, this has both the tension and weight to cellar well for another seven plus years. Drink 2023-2030- 93
2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Semillon- The seriously good 2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Semillon was stored in mostly neural oak barrels and was given constant battonage before bottling. The wine is beautifully textured, with good weight and bright underlying acidity. Beeswax and cantaloupe flavors combine with shades of green papaya and juicy pear on the palate. Stony undercurrents add to the intrigue as this is best enjoyed now and over the next few years. Drink 2023-2027- 92
2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Old Vines Upland Vineyard’ Chenin Blanc- Coming from vines planted in the late 1970s Upland Vineyards is farmed by the Newhouse family. This edition of this wine is very rich and viscous with great underlying finesse. Honey and rich melon flavors combine with Pazzaz apple, white peach and stony undertones. Enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next seven years to come. Drink 2023-2030- 93
2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Luminesce Seven Hills Vineyard’ White Wine- The 2022 ‘Luminesce’ combines Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc from the acclaimed Seven Hills Vineyards, set on the foothills of the Bluewood Mountains. Stored in only 15% new oak barrels, this offers a soft texture with layers of Granny Smith apple, mango and honeysuckle water alongside banana, baking spices and suggestions of shortbread on the palate. Complex and delicious to consume now, this beauty has some solid aging potential. Drink 2023-2030- 92
2020 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Red Wine- The ‘Apogee’ has been made by L’Ecole since 1993. This edition combines 56% Cabernet Sauvignon with 28% Merlot and smaller parts Malbec and Cabernet Franc.Stored in 40% new French oak for 22 months, this offers tar, tobacco leaf and red bell pepper notes on the nose with blackberry pie. The palate is fresh and lithe with a polished texture. Showing good weight, this offers nice pencil lead and espresso ground flavors alongside a dense core of dark fruits. A beautiful wine made in a tough vintage, savor this now and over the next seven years to come. Give this an hour or two in the decanter if enjoy in its youth. Drink 2023-2030- 95
2020 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Perigee’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Perigee’ was entirely sourced from the Seven Hills Vineyard. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (54%) with 24% Merlot and the remainder Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Malbec, this was stored in 40% new French oak barrels before bottling. Sandalwood notes combine with Asian spice and rich dark currants with dark chocolate shavings on the nose. The palate is fresh and rich with great tension and flavor density. Just like the 2020 ‘Apogee’ this beautiful Bordeaux style wine really needs about two hours in the decanter to fully get going. Drink 2023-2030- 95
2020 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Cellar Selection Ferguson Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- 2020 marked the 40th anniversary for L’Ecole No. 41, as this head-turning Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from the Estate Ferguson Vineyard, named after winery founders Baker and Jean Ferguson. The vineyard is one of the great sites in Washington with 30 planted acres, having vines uniquely set on broken basalt rock (from 15 million year old lava flows) with a thin layer of loess soil on top. This commemorative wine is arguably the finest wine I have ever tasted from this estate. Stored in 40% new French oak barrels for 22 months before bottling, the wine comes off initially very wound up and nervy, as this really needs about two hours in the decanter to fully evolve. Crushed wet rock combines with violets, tar, anise and shades of creme de cassis all brilliantly meld together on the nose. The palate is rich and vicious with a sensational sense of tension, weight, length and rocky undertones. The terroir here is nothing short of world-class. Like all wines I taste from this challenging vintage, I recommend drinking over the next five to seven years. Give this beauty at least an hour in the decanter if savoring in its heady youth. Kudos to head winemaker Marcus Rafanelli on this crowning achievement. Drink 2023-2031- 96