L'Ecole No. 41: An ambassador in a bottle (WWSR 2010)

What follows is a section of my 2010 Walla Walla Spring Release Report. The report will be published in its entirety in .pdf form after the last entry is posted to the blog. See previous posts here.

L’Ecole No. 41 is located in Lowden, Washington, a short distance from Walla Walla. The winery was founded in 1983 by Jean and Baker Ferguson as the third winery in the Walla Walla Valley. L’Ecole is now owned by the Ferguson’s daughter and son-in-law, Megan and Martin Clubb, with Martin serving as the winemaker.

L’Ecole is located in an iconic, 1915 schoolhouse whose image adorns the winery’s labels. L’Ecole is relatively large compared to many Washington wineries, making approximately 30,000 cases annually. While many wineries may lose focus, quality, or both at this level, L’Ecole has excelled. The winery produces consistently high quality wines across a range of styles and price points. Winemaker Marty Clubb attributes this to a continued focus on vineyards, viticulture, and an artisan approach to winemaking.

In a consistently high quality lineup, L’Ecole’s Walla Walla Valley-designated wines are particularly dazzling. The 2007 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful expression of valley fruit from an exceptional vintage. The Apogee and Perigee, from Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills vineyards respectively, are appropriately named wines that showcase two of the valley's best vineyards. In contrast to many of their peers, these two Bordeaux-style blends are more about elegance than power and promise to only improve with years in the cellar. The 2007 Seven Hills Vineyard Syrah comes from three distinct blocks from this esteemed vineyard and is another example of why people are so excited about Washington Syrah.

In additional to these red wines, L’Ecole also boasts an impressive lineup of white wines. Among them is a series of Sémillon and Sémillon/Sauvignon Blanc blends. L’Ecole has been making Sémillon since 1984. The winery currently produces four Sémillon dominated wines – a Columbia Valley ‘Barrel Fermented’ Sémillon (first vintage 1984); a Fries Vineyard Sémillon (first vintage 1996); a Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Sémillon/Sauvignon Blanc (first vintage 1999); and a Seven Hills Vineyard Late Harvest Sémillon (first vintage 2001). These wines have all become signature wines for L’Ecole. Winemaker Marty Clubb says of Sémillon, “It’s given us a unique niche that, in the wine business, is hard to create.”

Starting with the 2007 vintage L’Ecole began blending the Seven Hills Vineyard Sémillon with a significant percentage of Sauvignon Blanc and rebranded the wine as ‘Luminesce’. In adding Sauvignon Blanc to this estate wine Clubb says, “In a warm site (such as Seven Hills), the difference in styles between sémillon and sauvignon blanc is so interesting. It creates a really unique blend.” L’Ecole has slowly increased its production of the Luminesce to over seven hundred cases annually. This has allowed the wine to enter national distribution channels while also providing an interesting counterpoint to Columbia Valley Sémillon. The national distribution is significant as there are few other Walla Walla Valley-designated white wines that receive wide national distribution.

L'Ecole's wide reach may stand among the winery's biggest contributions to the Washington wine industry. The wines receive wide distribution, are instantly recognizable on the shelves, and live up to expectations in the glass. Every bottle is an ambassador for Washington wine.

L’Ecole No. 41 Chenin Blanc ‘Walla Voila!’ Columbia Valley 2009 $14
Rating: * (Excellent) Light lemon yellow in color. A very pretty, aromatic nose with honeysuckle, mineral, straw, and floral notes. The palate brings a lot of fruit while remaining very crisp with a slight citric tinge and a touch of sweetness toward the finish. 100% Chenin Blanc. Willard Family Farms, Rattlesnake Hills. 13.5% alcohol. 1% Residual Sugar. 2,536 cases produced.

L’Ecole No. 41 Luminesce Seven Hills Vineyard Walla Walla Valley 2008 $19
Rating: + (Good) Very pale lemon yellow. An appealing nose with toasted notes, mineral, and sweet spices. Crisp on the palate with a touch of tropical fruit accent by mineral notes. Oak shows through at times. 70% Sémillon, 30% Sauvignon Blanc. Seven Hills Vineyard. Aged in neutral French oak barrels with 30% malolactic fermentation. 14.2% alcohol. 789 cases produced.

L’Ecole No. 41 Sémillon Fries Vineyard Wahluke Slope 2008 $19
Rating: + (Good) Pale in color. A moderately aromatic nose with honeysuckle, mineral, and spice. A very even, well balanced palate, although shows a bit of alcohol at times. 100% Sémillon. Fries Desert Wind Vineyard. Aged in 20% new French oak for 4 months with partial malolactic fermentation. 14.2% alcohol. 360 cases produced.

L’Ecole No. 41 Merlot Seven Hills Vineyard Walla Walla Valley 2007 $36
Rating: + (Good) Fairly light in color. A nose that announces that this wine is from Seven Hills Vineyard with earth, spice, bittersweet chocolate, and sweet oak spices. Tart and puckering with cherry fruit on the palate with a silky layer of oak in the background. 81% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc. Seven Hills Vineyard. Aged 18 months in oak (40% new). 14.5% alcohol. 1,326 cases produced.

L’Ecole No. 41 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley 2007 $39
Rating: * (Excellent) Fairly light in color. Beautiful aromatics with cedar, earth, pepper, red fruit and black fruit, and milk chocolate. Plush and soft on the palate with rich fruit flavors. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Estate Seven Hills, Loess, Va Piano, Pepper Bridge, and Yellow Jacket vineyards. Aged 22 months in small oak barrels (40% new). 14.5% alcohol. 2,327 cases produced.

L’Ecole No. 41 Perigee Seven Hills Vineyard Walla Walla Valley 2006 $49
Rating: * (Excellent) An appealing, aromatic nose with red currant, cherries, raspberries, and red vines along with a touch of earth. Nicely put together on an elegantly structured palate. 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. Seven Hills Vineyard. Aged 22 months in small oak barrels (50% new). 14.4% alcohol. 1,627 cases produced.

L’Ecole No. 41 Apogee Pepper Bridge Vineyard Walla Walla Valley 2006 $49
Rating: * (Excellent) A nose that pulls you in to the glass with spice, currant, black cherry, anise, and mint. A polished, even wine that flows seamlessly across the palate. 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc. Pepper Bridge Vineyard. Aged 22 months in small oak barrels (50% new). 14.3% alcohol. 1,748 cases produced.

L’Ecole No. 41 Apogee Walla Walla Valley 2007
Rating: * (Excellent) Prototypic Walla Walla aromas of earth, spice, herbal notes, and high-toned cherry along with a touch of milk chocolate. Elegant on the palate with soft tannins and restrained oak influence. Finish goes on and on. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc. Give two years. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc. Aged 22 months in small oak barrels (approximately 50% new). 14.5% alcohol. 1,630 cases produced.

L’Ecole No. 41 Syrah Seven Hills Vineyard Walla Walla Valley 2007 $36
Rating: * (Excellent) An enjoyable nose with blueberry syrup, smoke, and a touch of smoked meat. A pleasurable palate with a lot of fruit and excellent balance. 100% Syrah. Aged 18 months in small oak barrels (30% new). 14.8% alcohol. 1,013 cases produced.