April 06, 2010
Recognized as not only one of the great pioneers of Walla Walla and Washington State, but as one of the West Coast’s foremost wineries. L'Ecole #41 has a great reputation for being a top producer with textbook varietal character and plenty of Walla Walla class. I thought I'd send you some of their most recent accolades and pricing for a few of their beauties.
I do want to point out that Semillon is their white wine focus and although, Semillon can falsely be considered "inferior" or a "second tier" varietal to the more international white grapes, these folks are doing an outstanding job with it. I strongly recommend having a go at their Columbia Valley Semillon 2008, it is so tasty!
Semillon Columbia Valley 2008 - $13.00
WE 90
"It shows rich, ripe pear and melon fruit flavors, lightly spicy, with classic varietal grip and mid-palate richness. The impression of lanolin is unmistakable."
Seven Hills Estate "Luminesce" WW 2008 - $18.00
WE 91
"Toasty and precise, it offers a wonderful panoply of pears, orange peel, hints of banana and tropical fruits, with a luscious, creamy mid-palate. The finish lingers gracefully, adding details of spice." Semillon 70% and Sauvignon Blanc 30%
Chardonnay Columbia Valley 2008 - $19.00
WE 88
"A fine, easy-drinking, high-acid style of Chardonnay, this shows spiced apple and white peach flavors, quaffable and tart. It will taste best with some sort of creamy sauced poultry or seafood."
Merlot Columbia Valley 2006 - $24.00
W&S 89
"Bright plum scents lead with a topnote of white pepper and a hint of tobacco leaf. Its black cherry flavors are marked by a plum-skin bitterness, with a peppery acidity marking the finish."
Estate Merlot - Seven Hills Vyd. WW 2007 - $34.00
WE 92
"The blend includes 11% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc, seamlessly integrated into a smooth and compelling whole. Cedary and silky, supple and substantial, this powerful wine lets the muscular Merlot dominate, while the Cabs bring in nuances of herb and the vineyard’s minerality. Excellent length and aging potential."
Cabernet Columbia Valley 2006 - $28.00
WE 90
"This is 100% varietal, from an outstanding mix of vineyards, many with vines more than 30 years old. There is a sense of tension and balance, that the old vine fruit enhances, along with lightly herbal highlights to the tangy boysenberry fruit. Hints of dark chocolate and peppery spice fill out the palate, with drying tannins that call out for beef."
Cabernet Walla Walla Valley 2006 - $34.00
W&S 92
"This savory wine leades with scents of spiced plum and sun-dried tomato. The flavors have a smoked plum character, mineral tannins guiding the wine into a firm, long finish. It's drinking well right now. Give a ribeye a go."
"Apogee" Pepper Bridge Vineyard Red 2006 - $40.00
WA 94
"The 2006 Apogee Pepper Bridge Vineyard is 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 8% Malbec, and 4% Cabernet Franc. A saturated purple color, it has a brooding nose of sandalwood, pencil lead, spice box, and assorted black fruits. It is the most concentrated, complex, and intense of the L’Ecole reds with darker, layered fruit and greater aging potential. Drink this superb effort between 2015 and 2031." 46% Cabernet, 42% Merlot, 8% Malbec and 4% CF
"Perigee" Seven Hills Vineyard Red 2006 - $40.00
WA 93
"The 2006 Perigee Seven Hills Vineyard is 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. Dark, ruby/purple-colored, it has as alluring perfume of pain grille, pencil lead, mineral, violets, black currant, and blackberry liqueur. Elegant and seamless on the palate, it has superb depth, concentration, and incipient complexity. Give it 5-7 years and drink it from 2013 to 2016.
