Every year, talented winemakers Marty Clubb, Marcus Rafanelli and their team produce L’Ecole stars. From refreshing whites to luscious reds, L’Ecole wines move to the front of the class. These five fall releases continue the trend of impressive wines from the historic schoolhouse in Walla Walla — especially the magnificent 2020 Cellar Selection Cabernet Sauvignon (which honors L’Ecole’s 40th anniversary). L’Ecole is one of the most honored wineries in WA, and has generated national and international accolades for superior quality wines. Read on for more about these five stars.
Tag Archives: Washington wine
Washington Wine
August is Washington Wine Month, and as this 31-day celebration winds down, we wanted to look back on some of the bottles of splendid juice we’ve enjoyed in the last month or so. Most importantly, we celebrate Washington wine every month. But during August, there are even more reasons to rejoice. For example, many wineries, restaurants, bars and wine shops are holding “WAugust” promotions and discounts. Find details at the list of WA Wine events for this last week in August. Meanwhile, here are 12 excellent WA wines we’ve recently tasted.
Va Piano Wines
Va Piano Vineyards celebrates its 20th anniversary this fall, and we’re proud to have been drinking Va Piano wines for 13 of those years. We always visit excellent winemaker/owner Justin Wiley, his dog Murphy and his winery whenever we travel to Walla Walla. And we always have a memorable tasting experience, whether outside or in the friendly tasting room. Most recently, we spent a relaxing afternoon with Justin in his scenic, beautifully landscaped outdoor area, with stunning views of the Blue Mountains and surrounding vineyards.
Canvasback Cabernet and Syrah
In a word, Canvasback Cabernet and Syrah are exemplary. We adored six current releases. Different words describe them – from sophisticated to hedonistic, from appealing to killer, from polished to luscious, and much more. This is not surprising because Brian Rudin, Canvasback’s very talented winemaker, is known for making terroir-driven, structured wines with an unmistakable sense of place. Duckhorn pioneers Dan and Margaret Duckhorn founded the winery in 2012, and named it after the Canvasback duck, native to the Pacific Flyway. Read on for details.