Today we once again present one of the Washington mainstays of the Walla Walla Valley. One of Washington’s oldest wineries, L’Ecole No. 41 is set at a historic schoolhouse outside the town of Walla Walla. Winemaker Marcus Rafanelli has been crafting a beautiful range of wines. The wines he crafts are very poised and focused. They need time in the cellar, particularly their top bottlings.
The new wines I tasted are undoubtedly the best yet. I continue to adore the entry level wines from this home. I think I have tasted every vintage of the ‘Columbia Valley’ spanning over 20 years. The 2025 ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) is another fantastic edition of this wine. It is drinking marvelously now with its great texture and core of juicy fruits. I think the finest wine I have ever had from L’Ecole is now released. This wine is somehow priced under 100 bucks, the 2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Cellar Selection Estate Ferguson Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 98) is a head-turning wine that has so much flavor density and complexity. I am really enamored by this stony site that literally screams terroir. Learn more about this outstanding winery at http://lecole.com/ Here are the great new wines by L’Ecole No. 41.
2024 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Royal Slope’ Chardonnay- Coming from the famed Stillwater Creek vineyards opens with Bosc pair, brioche and shades of salty minerals on the nose. The pallet is medium, bodied and fresh showing good tension and salinity enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025 to 2030.- 92
2024 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay- The seriously good 2024 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay delivers hay, starfruit and juicy pear flavors alongside good tension and mineral reality. This is fat and rich on the mouth as it is best consumed now and over the next five years. Drink 2025-2030- 92
2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Perigee’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Perigee’ is primary composed of Cabernet Sauvignon (51%) with the remainder, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. The wine was sourced from old vines in the Seven Hills vineyard, which is set on marine rich soils. This opens with a beautiful black floral and cocoa powder, nose, alongside shades of espresso, bean, and cloves. The pallet is lush and rich with a great viscosity and underlining, salty tension. This comes off full boded and viscous showing a refined mouthfeel and a good sense of weight considering the coolness of the vintage. Enjoy this beauty now and over the 15 to 20 years. Be sure to give it at least an hour into the decanter if it’s enjoyed now Drink 2025-2042- 95
2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Apogee’ is sourced from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard, which was first planted back in 1993. Comprised of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with 20% Merlot with the remainder of Malbec and Cabernet Franc, like the ‘22 Perigee, the ‘22 Apogee really needs about an hour in the decanter and to get going. Once aroused this blossoms with a deep core of dark fruits alongside guitar and licorice notes and plenty of stony minerals that create a mouthwatering effect on the tongue. Medium to full bodied with terrific weight and tension enjoy now and over the next 15 to 20 years. Drink 2025-2042- 95
2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a range of sites, including the estate Ferguson Vineyard, and the Pepper Bridge Vineyard with a small portion coming from the Yellow Jacket vineyard in the Rocks District. The wine was stored in a combination of neutral and new French oak barrels (35%) for 22 months prior to bottling. Dense dark fruit parade with arabica bean and cocoa powder on the palate. This is an insane value for under 50 bucks. Drink 2025-2040- 94
2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Cellar Selection Estate Ferguson Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Quite arguably the finest wine I have ever had from this estate, the ebullient 2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Cellar Selection Estate Ferguson Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is an otherworldly effort from this vineyard that has magical flavor density and intensity. On the pallet that takes on a concentrated melange of black and blue fruits alongside shades of Turkish, coffee, tar scorched, earth, and sweet pipe, tobacco that all seamlessly meld together in the mouth. A stunning wine that is built to age, enjoy now and over the next 20 years. Try to resist this beauty for at least another year. Drink 2027-2050- 98
2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Ferguson Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The stunning 2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Ferguson Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this location high above the wall wall Valley that is set on ancient law of flows with a thin layer of wind blown loess soils. Stored in 40% new Oak for 22 months. This opens with a beautiful bouquet of dark florals along sides, sweet pipe, tobacco, Anis and fresh sage. The pallet is filled with tension and great stony character that is only reminiscent of the site, wet granite and dark currents combine with low soils And shades of Cuban cigar on the palate. This is frankly a totally dazzling wine that has serious aging potential. Make sure and give us at least an hour in the decanter before consuming. Drink 2027-2048- 96
2023 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Frenchtown’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Frenchtown’ Red Wine is a blend of mainly Merlot (46%) with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and a splash of Malbec and Petit Verdot as well as 15% Rhone varietals. It is rich and ripe on the mouth, offering roasted fig flavors alongside chocolate and shades of black licorice. Medium-bodied and well-poised, enjoy now and over the next few years. 7,000 cases made. Drink 2025-2031- 91
2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot- Coming from a range of Columbia Valley vineyards, this 2022 merlot has 13% Cabernet Franc and small parts Malbec and Petit Verdot blended in. It is well-structured, showing copious minerals that mingle well with medium-bodied kirsch and dark raspberry notes alongside shades of chocolate cake. Drink 2025-2031- 91
2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Estate’ Merlot- The 2022 ‘Estate’ Merlot is a fabulous effort coming from the Ferguson and Seven Hills Vineyards. The wine has 15% Cabernet Franc blended in, as this offers alluring dark florals on the nose alongside blackberry compote, crushed wet rock and shades of dark licorice. The palate is beautifully balanced, showing excellent poise from this slightly cooler vintage. Refined, sleek and elegant, enjoy now and over the next twelve years. Drink 2025-2037- 93
2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah- At under 30 dollars SRP, the 2022 ‘Columbia Syrah is an outstanding value. The wine has a large amount of Grenache (18%) blended in, as well as a dash of Mourvedre. This comes off very fresh and beautifully textured, showing high-toned bright red fruits from the Grenache, as well as a solid core of black currants, tobacco leaf and damp rock on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next six plus years. Drink 2025-2032- 92
2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Estate Seven Hills Vineyard’ Syrah- The famed Seven Hills Vineyard is set on wind-blown loess and has some of the oldest Syrah plantings in the Walla Walla Valley. This 2022 ‘Estate’ Syrah comes off neatly textured delivering stony and smoky tones on the nose with beef drippings, dark florals and rich pipe tobacco leaf notes. Medium to full-bodied and smooth throughout the drinking experience, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 93
2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Estate Seven Hills Vineyard GSM’ Red Wine- The outstanding 2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Estate Seven Hills Vineyard GSM’ Red Wine combines 50% Syrah with equal parts Mourvedre and Grenache. Red rose petals, cranberry and anise all mark the nose alongside suggestions of smoked pork shoulder and wintergreen accents. The palate is soft and elegant, showing good push-pull in terms of weight and underlying finesse. 1200 cases produced of this beauty. Drink 2025-2035- 93
2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Malbec- The really good 2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Malbec was sourced from three separate vineyards throughout this region. 100% varietal, this delivers violet rose petals and smoked brisket notes on the nose alongside graphite and shades of dark currant cordial. The palate is fresh and elegant, with a smooth texture, offering good concentration and weight despite the coolness of the vintage. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2037- 93
2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Cabernet Franc-Merlot Estate’ Red Wine- The 2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Cabernet Franc-Merlot Estate’ Red Wine comes from equal parts Ferguson and Seven Hills Vineyards. Red florals and blueberry compote mark the nose alongside fresh thyme and shades of sandalwood. The palate is lush, round and generous, as this glides throughout the drinking experience. Medium to full-bodied, with mouth-watering acidity, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 94
2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Yellow Jacket Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This outstanding 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon comes form the Yellow Jacket Vineyard in the Rocks District AVA. Stored in only 30% new French oak, this offers wet gravel, umami, black cherry compote and shades of charcuterie on the palate, with black olives and mouth-watering acidity. Beautifully poised, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94