L'Ecole No. 41 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley

L’Ecole N° 41 is a third-generation family-owned, artisan winery located in the historic Frenchtown School depicted on the wine label. Founded in 1983, it was the third winery established in the Walla Walla Valley. L’Ecole is one of the most honored wineries in Washington State and has garnered national and international accolades over the years including being recognized by Wine & Spirits Magazine as a Top 100 Winery of the Year fifteen times.

For over 30 years, L’Ecole has built long term partnerships with the oldest and most proven vineyards, providing access to some of the best fruit in the Columbia Valley, with average vine age of more than 20 years. Each lot was hand harvested ripe and gently crushed into 1.5 and 5 ton stainless steel fermenters. After fermentation the wine was racked to small oak barrels, 25% new, with four rackings over 22 months.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine awarded this an Editors' Choice and scored it 91 points saying "The aromas offer notes of black cherry, plum, spice, coffee and herbs. Well-balanced coffee, chocolate and cherry flavors follow. The structure and balance are impressive, with the acidity upping the interest. It delivers a whole lot of quality and value."

Jeb Dunnuck scored this 91 points saying "Plenty of cassis, damp earth, lead pencil, and leafy, tobacco-laced herbal notes emerge from the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley, which is medium to full-bodied and has beautiful purity, fine tannins, and a great finish. It’s another Bordeaux style Cabernet Sauvignon from this estate that can be drunk today or cellared for over a decade. The Columbia Valley release is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was brought up all in French oak, 25% being new. There are a whopping 5,600 cases produced, and it’s a smoking wine."