Dear Friends of the Winery,

Harvest Report Card

With verasion underway, it is shaping up to be another quality harvest for this coming fall.
A mild, gentle winter led into a cool, wet spring followed by a warm, sunny catch-up summer. Drip irrigation is utilized to properly manage vineyard stress levels, and at this time we are on track for a normal harvest of mid-September. Seven Hills Vineyard has never looked better. Our Vinea sustainability program is piling up evidence of healthier soil and vines. We have been adding organic composts and earth tea for several years to regenerate soil health and the vines are responding with more natural resistance to pest and disease pressures.

Great wines take great teamwork.
While I have carried the banner of Winemaker since 1989, my role has evolved more into vineyard over-site and management, and providing direction to our winemaking team. After 10 years of dedicated, passionate, quality winemaking at L’Ecole No 41, I want to acknowledge the important role Mike Sharon has played as my partner in building the quality of our wines by naming him Winemaker. During harvest, Mike oversees crush pad operations, including all fermentations, and I spend virtually 100% of my time in the vineyards, doing my best to make sure we have dialed in our yields and monitoring fruit maturation to bring in the best quality fruit possible. During the rest of the year, I may drop in my two bits, but Mike is the guy making sure all the right steps are in place to make our wines screaming good. Of course, we could not do this alone, and want to thank our great team, Jeff Briggs and Bill Mansker, both Associate Winemakers, and Joel Fitts, Cellar Master and long-time harvest Buddha.

“Semillon is a very odd grape indeed. It is grown, often extensively, all over the world. In most of these vineyards it sits around sullenly like an overweight schoolgirl, showing awkward fatness or just plain dullness in the wines it produces. In odd places though, it can be transformed into a raving beauty.”
– Jancis Robinson

I love this classic quote by Jancis Robinson, mostly because our schoolgirls are raving beauties. Washington State is one of those places that allow us to achieve physiological ripeness in Semillon, with rich tones of melon, pear and honeysuckle flavors buoyed by crisp acidity. This delicate climatological balance is largely achieved in Washington State due to our extended long harvests, with warm sunny days and cool acid preserving nights.

L’Ecole No 41 has had a long history of producing Semillon, to the point where we are identified and tagged as “one of the best producers of Semillon in America,” so said Robert Parker in 1993. That still holds true, since Robert Parker Online named our 2004 Columbia Valley Semillon (89) as “Wine of the Day” June 28th, 2006. Other wine media agree:

• Wine Enthusiast – 2004 Columbia Valley Semillon 91 Best Buy; two Semillons named in their Top 100 Wines of the Year (1999 Seven Hills Estate Semillon, 2003 Fries Vineyard Semillon)
• Wine & Spirits – 2006 Hot Picks – 2004 Columbia Valley Semillon

Having started with Jancis, we can end with her as well. “L’Ecole is one of the few wineries in the entire world to persist with a really well made Semillon. Surely that grape’s time will come… It has the body of Chardonnay and the aroma of Sauvignon Blanc – surely a recipe for success?” www.jancisrobinson.com July 4th, 2006

Vins de L’Ecole (wines of the school)

Jaime Chalk, L’Ecole No 41 Wine Club Manager, is excited to announce our Fall Wine Club Shipment.

Vin Rouge 2003

• Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2 wines 2004 Columbia Valley Syrah

Vin Select 2005

• Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Semillon
• 3 wines 2003 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2004 Columbia Valley Syrah

Library Tasting
Friday, November 3, 2-4:30 PM Jaime will open the library to Vins de L’Ecole members on November 3. We know many of you have our wines in your cellars and this is a great opportunity to learn about the aging process. Jaime will present two library wines for tasting. Library wine tasting is complimentary for 2 people per membership. Additional guests: $10/each.

Ferguson Release Party
Look forward to a new December wine release – FERGUSON – a commemorative reserve wine in honor of our founders Jean & Baker Ferguson. Vins de L’Ecole members will receive an email invitation to a private, Ferguson Release Party scheduled Friday, Dec. 1. Save this date, details to follow!

On The Chalkboard:

Sara Matthews WASHINGTON: THE STATE OF WINE
For two decades, Sara Matthews has brought her considerable artistic skills to the world of wine photography, becoming one of the world’s most eminent and respected photographers of vineyards, vintners and wine. Her latest book focuses on the beauty of our great Washington State wine region. L’Ecole No 41 is honored to be included. A celebration of the book’s release was held at L’Ecole on August 13. We lifted our glasses to Washington wines and Sara’s captivating talent. This stunning coffeetable book is available for sale in our tasting room.

Walla Walla Valley Now Over 100 Wineries!
Even we are stunned at the growth of the number of wineries in the Walla Walla Valley. Put in perspective, L’Ecole is the valley’s third oldest winery (behind Leonetti Cellar and Woodward Canyon Winery) opening our doors in 1983. Just 24 years later there are 108 wineries licensed to make wine in Walla Walla. Now that’s an amazing number!

Entwine 2006
Friday, October 13 Marcus Whitman Hotel
This gala dinner and auction will feature more than 50 award-winning wineries and 20 distinguished artists. Sponsored by the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance, the Walla Walla Community College Foundation and ArtWalla proceeds will support education, the arts and the wine industry. For tickets, call (509) 527-4253.

Holiday Barrel Tasting
December 1 – 3 New This Year at L’Ecole No 41

• Barrel tasting Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
• No dinners scheduled Friday and Saturday. Our Seattle chef, Cristiana will be celebrating the holidays with a brand new baby! These popular dinners resume Spring Release Weekend on May 4 & 5. Reservations accepted at the winery starting Feb. 1. Contact Cindy at (509) 525-0940 or cindy@lecole.com.
• No tasting fee at L’Ecole No 41. For those who have attended in the past, the Backstage Pass program sponsored by the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance has been discontinued. New event information available at wallawallawine.com.
• More details to follow in our winter newsletter!

Summer 2006 Wine Releases:

2005 Columbia Valley Semillon
86% Semillon and 14% Sauvignon Blanc. Remarkably brilliant with vibrant crisp acidity, this wine shows fragrant citrus and orange blossom aromas, with apricot, peach, lychee nut, and lemon honeysuckle flavors on a mineral-rich finish.

2005 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Semillon
100% Semillon from our Estate Seven Hills Vineyard, this wine is packed with complex fruity flavors of peach and melon, with floral mint and orange blossom aromas. Rich and nutty flavors of crème brulée unfold gracefully and linger on a satisfying finish.

2005 Columbia Valley Chardonnay
100% Chardonnay. Elegantly balanced, this Burgundian style Chardonnay shows crisp Fuji apple, Asian pear and lively tropical melon flavors with subtle mineral and spice that gain complexity on a long, robust finish.

2006/2007 Wine Releases

Fall/Winter

• 2004 Columbia Valley Syrah
• 2004 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2004 Ferguson Commemorative Reserve
• 2005 recess red
• 2005 Fries Vineyard Semillon
• 2005 Seven Hills Vineyard Semillon Ice Wine

Spring/Summer

• 2004 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2005 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Syrah
• 2005 Columbia Valley Merlot
• 2006 “Walla Voila” Chenin Blanc
• 2006 Columbia Valley Semillon
• 2006 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Semillon
• 2006 Columbia Valley Chardonnay

Martin and Megan Clubb, and the staff of L'Ecole Nº 41