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Fall 2008
Marty’s letter:
Led by veteran winemaker Mike Sharon, our eight
person harvest crew is clearly our best ever! The guys
have fermented up a spectacular quality vintage, and
not without challenges.
Our cool spring resulted in a late season
kickoff with first fruit picked on September 11th. A mid-October frost
and Halloween harvest on some of our cooler sites demanded fast action
and one mad sprint that saw more than 60 tons from 7 vineyards all
harvested in one day. Equipped with picking bins, fermenters, forklifts,
tanks and barrels, the distinctive mark in higher quality comes from
our team’s quick, experienced attention to detail that keeps us in front
of the curve. From yeast and nutrient selection, each lot is managed for
fermentation temperature and hydrometer reading, with a focus on cap
management for optimal flavor and phenolic extraction. The combined
experience of this year’s team has helped us micro-manage 90 different
vineyard lots from 30 vineyard sites for a whopping 575 tons. This seven
day per week 24/7 commitment to quality is what takes our wines to the
next level. Our full time production staff of four was augmented by some
exceptional help, all shown here on this page. Jeff Briggs spent this last spring
working harvest at Murray Street Vineyards in Australia. In return, Murray
Street’s Craig Viney spent a month with us sharing invaluable insights and
experiences. My role turns to the vineyards in the fall to monitor fruit
maturity and bring in the fruit at its optimum state;
all done in concert with each vineyard
manager. During the course of the season,
this means more than 1,000 samples are
pulled and analyzed for Brix, acidity, pH,
color extract and flavor development (and
10,000 miles on my car in six weeks!). Tired
and exhausted, the L’Ecole harvest team’s
significant contribution is the tipping point
for quality, making us one of the best wineries
in Washington State!
Holiday Gift Giving
Lovers of wine on your shopping list will be thrilled
to find a bottle of award winning L’Ecole No 41 awaiting
their glass. If you are thinking of sending a gift of wine to
friends, family and business associates this holiday season, we
are here to help. You will find many gift packs at
www.lecole.com or create your own.
Not sure which of our wines is their favorite? Consider
a L’Ecole No 41 Gift Card and let them choose!
Order wine by December 16th for Christmas delivery via ground
service to most parts of the U.S. Call for express shipping deadlines. Orders may be placed at
www.lecole.com, e-mail jaime@lecole.com or call Jaime at 509.525.0940.
Honor Roll Tour & Tasting
Friday afternoons, April – November (excluding Nov. 7)
2pm – 3pm
$25 per person/$10 wine club members
Limited to 15 people, reservations required
Begin with a tour of L’Ecole No 41’s production facilities and grounds,
followed by a one-of-a-kind private tasting in the cellar of the
Schoolhouse. Five wines (new releases, limited production, library and/or
reserve wines) will be showcased exclusively for Honor Roll attendees.
RSVP to Brooke Williams, Tasting Room Manager 509.525.0940 or Email
Awards & Reviews
93 points – 2005 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Apogee
92 points – 2005 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Perigee
91 points – 2005 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
91 points – 2006 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Semillon
91 points – 2006 Fries Vineyard Semillon
90 points – 2006 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Merlot
90 points – 2006 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Syrah
90 points – 2006 Columbia Valley Semillon
89 points – 2005 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
89 points – 2006 Columbia Valley Chardonnay
88 points – 2005 Columbia Valley Merlot
88 points – 2005 Columbia Valley Syrah
88 points – 2007 “Walla Voila” Chenin Blanc
New Wine Releases
2007 Columbia Valley Semillon
90% Semillon, 10% Sauvignon Blanc
4,680 cases
Remarkably brilliant with rich fruit and
balanced acidity, this wine shows fragrant
citrus blossom, tangerine and floral aromas,
with melon, fresh apple, pear, lychee nut and
key-lime flavors on a honeysuckle mineralrich
finish.
2007 Columbia Valley Chardonnay
100% Chardonnay
4,040 cases
Elegantly balanced, this Burgundian
style Chardonnay shows perfumed
blossom fruit, Fuji apple and Asian pear
with spicy tropical flavors and subtle
mineral nuances that gain complexity
on a long, robust finish.
L’Ecole has done especially well with two
often-neglected white wines – chenin blanc and semillon.
Partly because Clubb and his winemaking team care enough to find
excellent sources for these grapes, and partly because he is a tireless
marketer/advocate for the winery, the wine and the state,
L’Ecole has succeeded where few others have even tried.
– Paul Gregutt, The Seattle Times (8/6/08)
Introducing Luminesce
2007 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Walla Walla Valley
70% Semillon, 30% Sauvignon Blanc
520 cases
Luminesce captures the refreshing and illuminating aspect
of this classic Bordeaux blend. This Estate wine is anchored with
Semillon at its core, providing lush tones of melon, pear and
honeysuckle. The introduction of Sauvignon Blanc broadens the
flavor and texture, elevating the crisp, floral and mineral side of
the wine.
In 1998, 3.3 acres of Semillon were planted at our Estate
Seven Hills Vineyard and soon after we began producing a small
quantity of Estate Semillon. 2.7 acres of Sauvignon Blanc were
planted in 2004 with the idea of one day creating a distinctive
white Bordeaux blend. Our 2007 Estate Luminesce is the
culmination of this vineyard journey. Like our red Bordeaux
blend Perigee, Luminesce exemplifies the distinct, signature
characteristics of our Estate Seven Hills Vineyard.
Calendar of Events 2008
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| October 10 | Entwine 2008 – A Walla Walla Community Partnership of Wine, Education and Art
Marcus Whitman Hotel and Conference Center ~ Call (509) 527-4253 for more information |
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| October 14 | Wine & Spirits Top 100 Tasting, San Francisco, CA |
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| October 23 | L’Ecole No 41 wines featured at Wine Alley, Renton, WA |
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| November 7-8 | L’Ecole No 41 Fall Wine Club Pick-up Party
10am to 5pm both days, jaime@lecole.com or 509.525.0940 x110
Contact Jaime if you plan to pick-up your Nov. selection this weekend |
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| November 7 | L’Ecole No 41 Wine Club Estate Vineyards Field Trip
Noon & 2:30pm RSVP to jaime@lecole.com or 509.525.0940 x110 • Space limited |
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| November 7 | Planned Parenthood Walla Walla Valley Wine Tasting and Auction
Call Tessa Weigand at 509.529.4050 |
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| December 4 | Winemakers’ Fête, Marcus Whitman Hotel and Conference Center, Walla Walla |
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| December 5,6,7 | Walla Walla Valley Holiday Barrel Tasting |
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Mark your calendars now!
Fall Wine Club Pick Up Party
Friday, November 7 & Saturday, November 8, 10:00am – 5:00pm
Vins de L’Ecole members are invited to escape the crowds and join
us in the Schoolhouse Cellar to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and our
December releases:
2006 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Perigee
2006 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Apogee
2006 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 Fries Vineyard Semillon
2007 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Late Harvest Semillon
A special barrel sample of our 2007 Walla Walla
Valley Malbec will also be offered. Only six barrels of
this Malbec are being made and released only to club
members in Spring 2009.
December release wines will be available for purchase by Vins de L’Ecole members at this event. Guests welcome. Members
may also pick up their November Wine Club Selection. Please let Jaime know ahead of time if you would like to do so.
Estate Vineyards Field Trip
Friday, November 7 • Noon & 2:30pm
This is your chance to join Marty on a field trip to our two Estate vineyards — Seven Hills Vineyard and
Ferguson Ridge! The field trip will commence at the winery where you will board a coach that will transport you
to the vineyards to see first-hand exactly what sets these sites apart. This isn’t like any other school field trip you
may remember!
Details- Each Field Trip is by reservation only and is limited to 30 people. Space is first come, first served. Cost: $10/person for Wine Club
Members & $20/person for guests. To reserve your spot, call or e-mail jaime@lecole.com with your preferred time slot. Each Field Trip will
be approximately 2 hours in length.
Vins de L’Ecole September Selections
Vin Select:
2006 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Syrah – WW Valley
2006 Columbia Valley Syrah
2007 Seven Hills Viney
Vin Rouge
2006 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Syrah – WW Valley
2006 Columbia Valley Syrah
Vin Blanc
2007 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Luminesce – WW Valley
2007 Columbia Valley Semillon
2007 Columbia Valley Chardonnay
Wine Club Programs
Want to make the most of your wine club discounts and
spread out the shipping costs? Consider changing your
membership level to Gold or Platinum. Call or email Jaime
to learn more.
Vin Select:
2 red & 1 white wine selections per shipment
3 shipments/year (Apr, Sept, & Nov)
Argent (Silver) ~ One bottle of each selection per shipment
$75-110/shipment + tax & shipping
Or (Gold) ~ One case split equally among selections
per shipment
$300-400/shipment + tax & shipping
Platine (Platinum) ~ One case of each selection per shipment
$775-1125/shipment + tax & shipping
Vin Rouge:
2 red wine selections per shipment
3 shipments/year (Apr, Sept, & Nov)
Argent (Silver) ~ One bottle of each selection per shipment
$54-90/shipment + tax & shipping
Or (Gold) ~ One case split equally among selections per shipment
$300-500/shipment + tax & shipping
Platine (Platinum) ~ One case of each selection per shipment
$600-950/shipment + tax & shipping
Vin Blanc:
2-3 white wine selections per shipment
2 shipments/year (Apr & Sept)
Argent (Silver) ~ One bottle of each selection per shipment
$30-50/shipment + tax & shipping
Or (Gold) ~ One case split equally among selections
per shipment
$160-170/shipment + tax & shipping
Platine (Platinum) ~ One case of each selection per shipment
$320-510/shipment + tax & shipping
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