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L'Ecole No. 41
www.lecole.com
Map location of L'Ecole No. 41
Marty Clubb
Marty Clubb


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L'Ecole Perigee/Apogee Info
Country of Origin: USA
Location: Walla Walla
People: Megan & Marty Clubb, Owners | Marty Clubb & Mike Sharon, Winemakers


L'Ecole No.41 has been producing premium handcrafted varietal wines in the Walla Walla Valley since 1983 within the cellars of the historic Frenchtown School in Lowden, Washington. A family-owned business, L'Ecole No. 41 was founded by Jean and Baker Ferguson. Today, the winery is owned and operated by their daughter and son-in-law, Megan and Martin Clubb. The winery was built in 1915, the schoolhouse is located in historic Frenchtown, a small community just west of Walla Walla. Frenchtown derived its name from the many French-Canadians who settled the valley during the early 1800's. Legend has it, these men of French descent were raising grapes and producing wine. By the 1860's, nurseries, vineyards and winemaking had become a part of the regions growing economy. The name - L'Ecole No 41 French for "the school" located in district number 41 - was chosen to salute these pioneer viticulture efforts.

L'Ecole No. 41 is known for producing superior quality wines that are rich, flavorful and full-bodied. Their dedication to making premium varietal wines begins by obtaining the highest quality fruit. Recent vineyard investments and long-standing relationships with some of the most distinguished growers in the regions have provided them with the viticultural management critical to fine winemaking. Instrumental to their success is their philosophy of traditional hands-on winemaking. Harvesting ripe fruit, use of a gravity fed crusher and gentle press operations limit the use of abusive pumps. Flavor and tannin extraction are further controlled by hand punchdowns during fermentation. In combination, these techniques allow limited or no red wine fining and filtration.

All L'Ecole wines are vegetarian. No egg whites or fish by-products are used in fining.

Rated Top 100 American Wineries of the Year by Wine & Spirits 11/30/2013
Rated Top 100 American Wineries of the Year by Wine & Spirits 10/15/2010
Rated Top 100 American Wineries of the Year by Wine & Spirits Winter 2011

Social Media
Twitter: @lecole41
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Items
L'Ecole No. 41 2012 'Luminesce' (Estate Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc), Walla Walla Valley Net Price Reviews —
L'Ecole No. 41 (375 ml) 2009 Semillon, Columbia Valley Net Price — Downloads
L'Ecole No. 41 2012 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley Net Price Reviews —
L'Ecole No. 41 2013 Chenin Blanc, Columbia Valley Net Price — — New!
L'Ecole No. 41 2012 Semillon, Columbia Valley Net Price Reviews —
L'Ecole No. 41 2010 'Apogee' Pepper Bridge Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley Net Price Reviews —
L'Ecole No. 41 2010 'Perigee,' Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley Net Price Reviews —
L'Ecole No. 41 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley Net Price — —
L'Ecole No. 41 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley Net Price Reviews —
L'Ecole No. 41 2010 Merlot, Columbia Valley Net Price Reviews —
L'Ecole No. 41 2011 Merlot, Columbia Valley Net Price — —
L'Ecole No. 41 2010 Syrah, Columbia Valley Net Price Reviews —
Reviews
L'Ecole No. 41 2010 'Apogee' Pepper Bridge Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley
Rating: 91(+?)

Saturated, bright ruby-red. Black raspberry, licorice and a full dose of oak on the nose. Fat, ripe and sweet, with excellent breadth to its dark fruit and chocolate flavors. But can't quite match the Perigee for definition of fruit or distinction. More closed today but still full of life. Finishes with serious, building tannins that call for at least three or four years of patience.

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2013)

L'Ecole No. 41 2010 'Apogee' Pepper Bridge Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley
Rating: 92

Broad and expressive, light-weight and expansive in the mouth, this offers loam and mineral accents to the dark plum and licorice flavors, stepping gently on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2020.

- The Wine Spectator (10/16/2013)

L'Ecole No. 41 2010 'Perigee,' Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley
Rating: 92(+?)

Full, deep ruby-red. Enticing high-toned aromas of currant, blackberry, dark cherry, coffee, mocha and subtle spices. Sweet, spicy and concentrated on the palate, offering lovely tension to the dark fruit and mocha flavors. Impressive density and medicinal reserve here for aging. Suave, balanced and deep, finishing with noble building tannins and terrific length. Very classy wine: an outstanding vintage for this bottling.

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2013)

L'Ecole No. 41 2010 'Perigee,' Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley
Rating: 94

(Cellar Selection) A five-grape Bordeaux-style blend from the estate vineyard, this has lovely aromatics, as well as firm yet supple tannins. The black fruits are dotted with details of licorice, black tea and coffee. It’s smooth and balanced through the lengthy finish, and continues to improve overnight, suggesting it also has serious aging potential.

- The Wine Enthusiast (9/1/2013)

L'Ecole No. 41 2010 'Perigee,' Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley
Rating: 92

Rich and expressive, this offers a dense, multilayered mouthful of tarry blackberry, roasted fig, licorice and spice flavors that persist. Fine-grained tannins wrap the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Best from 2015 through 2020.

- The Wine Spectator (7/24/2013)

L'Ecole No. 41 2010 'Perigee,' Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley
Rating: 93

One of the estate-s single vineyard releases that focuses on the Seven Hills Vineyard that-s located in the southwestern part of the Walla Walla Valley, the 2010 Perigee Estate Seven Hills Vineyard is comprised of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot. Spending 22 months in 50% new French oak, it-s a knockout effort that has full-bodied richness and depth as well as beautifully complex aromas and flavors of black cherries, raspberry, spice box, underbrush and toast. Concentrated, layered and with plenty of ripe tannin, it needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will drink beautifully through 2025. Drink 2016-2025.

- The Wine Advocate (6/1/2013)

L'Ecole No. 41 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley
Rating: 91(+?)

Bright, deep ruby-red. Cassis, licorice and enticing oak scents on the nose. Concentrated, rich and savory, with red and dark berry flavors complicated by smoky and saline nuances. Less easygoing and pliant today than the Columbia Valley cabernet, but there's good sweetness here as well, in spite of the wine's medicinal reserve. Finishes firmly tannic and long, with dark berry and violet notes. Good serious cabernet.

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2013)

L'Ecole No. 41 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley
Rating: 92

L’Ecole’s Walla Walla Cabernet has a soft-focus silkiness, an almost gauzy character. Behind that film is a wine tasting of wild berries, Bing cherries and fresh herbs, with light streaks of coffee and moist earth. Give this one plenty of decanting and the scrim lifts away and reveals a firm, beautifully balanced and nuanced wine.

- The Wine Enthusiast (9/1/2013)

L'Ecole No. 41 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley
Rating: 90

Dense, richly textured and focused, layering the ripe cherry and spice flavors into a polished package that extends pleasantly onto the smooth finish. Best from 2014 through 2018.

- The Wine Spectator (7/10/2013)

L'Ecole No. 41 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley
Rating: 91

Showing more depth, richness and structure, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley is a medium to full-bodied, concentrated 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that comes from a number of vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley. Black cherry, black currant, tobacco, earth, asphalt and crushed stone-like aromas all emerge from the glass, and on the palate, it has a dense, chewy mouthfeel and ample tannin. In need of 2-3 years of bottle age, it will drink nicely for upwards of 10-15 years. Drink 2015-2025.

- The Wine Advocate (6/1/2013)

L'Ecole No. 41 2010 Merlot, Columbia Valley
Rating: 89

Good medium red. Inviting aromas of cherry, raspberry, mocha and brown spices. Ripe, broad and dry, showing very good balance and cut to its fresh berry fruit. The finish relies more on slightly edgy acidity than on tannins for structure.

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2013)

L'Ecole No. 41 2010 Merlot, Columbia Valley
Rating: 89

On the lighter side, with fine tannins surrounding the flowing raspberry and floral flavors, picking up spicy, cedary notes on the finish. Drink now through 2016.

- The Wine Spectator (10/15/2013)

L'Ecole No. 41 2010 Merlot, Columbia Valley
Rating: 92

(Editors' Choice) This generous, Bordeaux-style, Merlot-dominated blend incorporates some old block fruit from a mix of first-class vineyards scattered across the Columbia Valley. Lovely floral and clover notes arise, with bright berry and cassis fruit just behind. Sleek, detailed and long, this is a terrific value as well.

- The Wine Enthusiast (9/1/2013)

L'Ecole No. 41 2010 Merlot, Columbia Valley
Rating: 88

Moving on to the reds, a good to very good wine, the 2010 Merlot (82% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec) delivers pretty plum, cherry, underbrush and licorice characteristics as well as medium-bodied, lively palate feel. Overall, a delicious, easy drinking effort, it finishes well and has solid purity of fruit and good acidity. Enjoy it over the coming 3-4 years. Drink now-2017.

- The Wine Advocate (6/1/2013)

L'Ecole No. 41 2010 Syrah, Columbia Valley
Rating: 91

Dark, bright red-ruby. Black raspberry and exotic nutty oak on the nose. Plush, dense and generous, with creamy-sweet black raspberry fruit showing no rough edges. But there's good medicinal reserve here for all of the wine's lushness of texture. Finishes with sweet, easy tannins and lingering berry flavors.

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2013)

L'Ecole No. 41 2010 Syrah, Columbia Valley
Rating: 91

Grippy tannins give way to fleshy plum and currant fruit, shaded with hints of fennel and peach fuzz, lingering well. Best after 2014.

- The Wine Spectator (11/30/2013)

L'Ecole No. 41 2010 Syrah, Columbia Valley
Rating: 90

With the addition of 20% Grenache, this pushes the rich fruit flavors front and center. Ripe blueberries are in the foreground, cutting through some astringent tannins. There is little evidence of the herbal character that many Washington Syrahs evoke, but it's a bold, fruit-driven wine that is immediately enjoyable.

- The Wine Enthusiast (9/1/2013)

L'Ecole No. 41 2012 'Luminesce' (Estate Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc), Walla Walla Valley
Rating: 89

Pale, bright yellow. Lemon and mineral scents along with vanilla, ginger and mace. Juicy and shapely, with ripe, harmonious acidity and good spicy lift to the citrus fruit flavors. Nicely balanced and persistent on the back end, showing a youthful lemon edge.

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2013)

L'Ecole No. 41 2012 'Luminesce' (Estate Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc), Walla Walla Valley
Rating: 88

Tight, focused and distinctive with onion-scented lemon curd and spice flavors. Finishes with flair.

- The Wine Spectator (11/30/2013)

L'Ecole No. 41 2012 'Luminesce' (Estate Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc), Walla Walla Valley
Rating: (89-91)

A step up and a rough blend of 60% Semillon and 40% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2012 Luminesce Estate Seven Hills Vineyard has great lemon grass, mineral and honeysuckle blossom-like aromas and flavors as well as an elegant, medium-bodied texture that stays fresh and focused through the finish. There-s solid extract here and this should have an interesting evolution over the coming 4-5 years; still, my recommendation is to drink up. Drink now-2015.

- The Wine Advocate (6/1/2013)

L'Ecole No. 41 2012 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley
Rating: 88

Pale straw-yellow. Subtly complex aromas of peach, honey, jasmine, acacia flower and spices, plus a hint of vanilla. Then tactile, saline and spicy in the mouth, showing good intensity and texture. A malic edge and the wine's oak element give the finish a slightly phenolic quality.

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2013)

L'Ecole No. 41 2012 Semillon, Columbia Valley
Rating: 89

Straw-yellow. Aromas of candied pineapple, lemon peel and lanolin. Juicy, smooth and nicely concentrated, with well-integrated acidity giving shape to the lemon and honey flavors. Tactile and persistent semillon, finishing dry and lemony but not harsh.

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2013)