Marty Clubb and his excellent L’Ecole lineup are iconic in the Washington wine industry. L’Ecole 41 is one of the most honored wineries in the state, generating international accolades over the years for producing superior quality wines. For the last few years, passionate winemaker Marcus Rafanelli and his hard-working team have maintained and built on the tradition of standout wines. We recently tasted some current releases and new wines that are available this month. These five continue the trend of impressive wines from the historic schoolhouse in Walla Walla.
New and Current Releases
We tasted these five current releases and new wines available this month.
- 2023 Chardonnay, Stillwater Creek Vineyard, Royal Slope
- 2021 Apogee, Pepper Bridge Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley
- 2021 Perigee, Estate Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley
- 2021 Cabernet Franc-Merlot Estate, Walla Walla Valley
- 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley
L’Ecole Lineup: White
2023 Chardonnay, Stillwater Creek Vineyard, Royal Slope ($36)
We hadn’t tasted this Stillwater Creek Chardonnay before, although we’ve appreciated L’Ecole’s Sémillon from the same vineyard. Talented winemaker Marcus Rafanelli blended Dijon clones, “accentuating the grape’s fruitiness, texture, freshness and complexity.” In the glass, we found pears, apples, tropical fruit and citrus, along with graphite and lots of minerality. This crisp chardonnay pairs perfectly with my Halibut Parmesan dish, in addition to scallops, shrimp, and chicken.
L’Ecole Lineup: Red
2021 Apogee, Pepper Bridge Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley ($60)
Last year, Marcus poured us a tank sample of 2021 Apogee, telling us “This wine makes me happy.” We agreed then, and still do now. Its special richness and concentration of fruit quickly grabbed our attention. Apogee offers complexity and structure, combining Cabernet Sauvignon (54%), Merlot (31%), Malbec (12%) and Cabernet Franc (3%). Think juicy black fruit, mocha, spices, graphite and dark chocolate. Yum! L’Ecole has been producing this elegant wine since 1993.
2021 Perigee, Estate Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley ($60)
Perigee is the flagship Bordeaux-style blend in L’Ecole’s lineup. It epitomizes Seven Hill’s distinctive cedar and dark fruit aromas and flavors, framed by a structured elegance. Perigee 2021 blends Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (24%), Cabernet Franc (11%), Malbec (8%) and Petit Verdot (7%). As a result, the wine is textured, layered, harmonious, luxurious, powerful, gorgeous and simply spectacular. Above all, we have been big fans of Estate Perigee since our taste of the first 2002 vintage.
2021 Cab Franc-Merlot Estate, Walla Walla Valley ($45)
We always adore this delicious blend. In 2021, it splits 50/50 Cabernet Franc and Merlot from Seven Hills Estate Vineyard. Typically, this wine is also a 50/50 blend of fruit from Ferguson Vineyard and Seven Hills, but low yields in 2021 resulted in exclusively Seven Hills fruit in this vintage. Cabernet Franc is one of our favorite wines, and when combined equally with Merlot, the taste is magnificent. Aromas of strawberries, cherries and plums, along with herbs, chocolate and coffee, mirror the palate. This superb blend is rich with concentrated flavors, lovely texture and a refined structure. When we tasted a tank sample last year, we said this wine held the promise of its predecessors. Our prediction came true.
2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley ($44)
First, this wine is a beauty. We opened it at a family dinner and everyone pronounced it Wine of the Night. L’Ecole has been making Cabernet Sauvignon from Columbia Valley since 1969. Subsequently, in 1995, Cab Sauv sourced with Walla Walla Valley fruit joined the L’Ecole lineup. We’ve been drinking it since the 2001 vintage. As always, L’Ecole sources its grapes from prestigious vineyard sites, representing three unique soil types in the Walla Walla Valley. As a result, its old-world structure and dense dark fruit flavors showcase the best of the region. This 100% Cab Sauv is sophisticated and stylin’ with notes of blackberries, plums, dark chocolate, spices, and a thread of minerality.
Summary: L’Ecole Lineup
In conclusion, L’Ecole 41 crafts excellent wines, with dozens of varieties. The full list of their wines is available at their website.
A visit to Walla Walla isn’t complete without a stop at the historic schoolhouse to experience the staff’s wonderful hospitality as well as the stellar wines.
Meanwhile, find us on Instagram and Facebook. And certainly, here, at Write for Wine – It’s Wine O’Clock Somewhere.
Cheers!
Margot and Dave