L'Ecole No. 41 was the third winery to open in Walla Walla Valley in Washington State. The winery, housed in the historic Frenchtown School, remains one of the state's most important - for its history, its vineyards, its forward thinking owners and most of all, its wines. A family owned business, L'Ecole No 41 was founded in 1983 by Jean and Baker Ferguson. Today it is owned and operated by their daughter and son-in-law, Megan and Martin Clubb. The winery maintains its original focus on Merlot and Semillon and also produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc. The estate fruit is grown at the acclaimed Seven Hills Vineyard, co-owned with Leonetti Cellar and Pepper Bridge Winery. Established relationships with proven Columbia Valley vineyards such as Klipsun, Bacchus, Dionysus, Milbrandt, Portteus, Fair Acre Farms, Wahluke Slope Vineyards and Willard Farms provide the rest of the fruit. Many of these vineyards were planted in the 1970's or early 1980's. The Semillon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon are all barrel aged. A recently built concrete tilt barrel storage facility accommodates inventory of over 2,000 French and American oak barrels. Wine & Spirits named L'Ecole No. 41 Winery of the Year in its 2010 Annual Buying Guide. L'Ecole has received this honor eight consecutive times, placing them in Wine & Spirits Hall of Fame.

Tasting notes

Boldly aromatic, with aromas of cinnamon and nutmeg, earthy hints of sweet tobacco and leather, and smoky dark fruit packed with chocolate, mint and cherry fruit on a richly balanced and integrated finish.

Technical notes

(60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc). Planted on the terraced remnants of ice age flood deposits. Hand-picked, gently crushed and destemmed into one-ton stainless steel fermentors. The must was fermented with Pasteur Red and Cepage Cabernet yeast and gently punched down by hand 2-3 times daily. Aged 22 months in oak (50% new). The wine was racked five times, then bottled unfined and lightly filtered.