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Winter 2006
Dear Friends of the Winery,
Ferguson Commemorative Reserve
We are proud and excited to pay tribute to our founders, Megan’s parents, Baker and Jean Ferguson, by dedicating the 2004 Ferguson Commemorative Reserve in their memory. Baker and Jean were venerable pioneers of the nascent Washington State wine industry when they founded L’Ecole No 41 in 1983. It was the Fergusons’ vision that transformed the turn-of-the century Frenchtown schoolhouse into the winery that operates today. Their prescient understanding of our unique terroir helped forge relationships with some of the oldest and best Washington State vineyards, the foundation of this special reserve wine (approximately a one-third mix of Klipsun, Bacchus & Dionysus, and Weinbau fruit). Flat out delicious today, this special commemorative reserve was designed for long-term aging. For those of us old enough, it will spark many great Baker and Jean memories.
1983 winery founded and produced first vintage of Merlot
1984 first vintage of Semillon produced
1986 1983 WA Merlot receives only Gold Medal from Pacific Northwest Enological Society
1987 first vintage of “Walla Voila” Chenin Blanc
1989 Marty Clubb becomes winemaker and winery ownership transfers to Marty and Megan
Walla Wally Valley Barrel Tasting Open House -- Dec. 1, 2, 3
Visit the Schoolhouse with its shimmering lights and festive greens and enjoy our December wine releases. Wines will be paired with exquisite cheeses selected by Chef Cristiana Fagioli. As always, enjoy Raphael’s celebrated salmon mousse. Barrel taste in the cellar and preview the 2005 vintages of Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Perigee and Pepper Bridge Vineyard Apogee. We are pleased to announce that barrel tasting has been added to our Friday open house. In the spirit of giving, fill L’Ecole No 41 library shelves with a children’s book or make a donation to benefit local reading programs. The winery will match your generous donation and send you home with a L’Ecole No 41 bookmark. For those who have attended in the past, L’Ecole No 41 will not charge a tasting fee during this holiday event weekend. The Backstage Pass program, sponsored by the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance, has been discontinued. New event information is available at wallawallawine.com.
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. Order by December 14 for Christmas delivery via ground service to most parts of the U.S. Call for air service deadlines. Orders may be placed at www.lecole.com, email Jamie Chalk or call Jaime at (509) 525-0940.
2006 Harvest Update
With the end of October in site, we still have a third of our Cabernet Sauvignon hanging but anticipate harvest to be complete by Halloween. Unquestionably, these are the smallest yields we have ever seen, with some of our older blocks at Seven Hills Vineyard and Pepper Bridge falling under two tons per acre. True to adage, low yields are translating into fabulous quality, with deep color and phenolic extraction in the reds. This was a bit of a roller coaster year. We saw a late, cool spring, warm May, cool weather during fruit set, intensely hot July, then cooler August during veraison. All these ups and downs contributed to the low yields. Harvest kicked off early, hard and fast, with numerous small lots, and then meandered along in its typical lingering cool, ripe finish. This will be one more in a string of great vintages for Washington, The Perfect Climate for Wine!
December Wine Releases
2004 FERGUSON Commemorative Reserve
This densely extracted, mature and dark fruited wine shows lots of spice, blackberry, plum and earthy tobacco on a firmly structured, viscous finish. A blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, this special commemorative reserve was designed for long-term aging.
2004 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
100% Cabernet Sauvignon. With a classic Cabernet varietal profile, this richly structured wine shows blackberry, cassis and herbal leather aromas with flavors of ripe plum, black cherry and currants on an earthy, spicy finish.
2004 Columbia Valley Syrah
98% Syrah, 2% Grenache. This Syrah shows minty blueberry and plum fruit with brambly flavors of raspberry and cranberry. It features a complex panoply of mocha, leather, spice and pepper intermixed on the elegant, richly structured finish.
2005 Fries Vineyard Semillon
100% Semillon from the Wahluke Slope. This crisp, delicate aromatic gem shows its marvelous dried pear and apricot flavors, with spicy floral and honeysuckle aromas hints of fresh fig, kiwi and apple on a clean, zesty finish.
2005 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Semillon - Ice Wine
100% Semillon. While Ice Wine conditions (below 17 degrees F) do not always present themselves, we have been fortunate (for two years running) to produce a limited bottling of Ice Wine. In 2005, temperatures at Seven Hills Vineyard plummeted to around 15 °F in the early morning hours of December 7, and a few short hours later the fruit was harvested and on its way to the winery. This luscious, golden nectar shows intense floral aromas of orange blossom, pineapple and honeysuckle, with ripe peach and pear flavors on a viscous spicy, mineral finish.
2005 recess red
42% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Syrah, 11% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Carmenère. A fun, drink-me now table wine with fruity aromas of cherry, cranberry, plum and spice. The earthy tobacco flavors and soft tannins of this great food wine will have you reaching for a second glass. You’re never too old for recess!
Awards & Reviews
Regional Winery of the Year
L’Ecole No 41 was recently named by Wine & Spirits Magazine as one of their Regional Wineries of the Year, an honor bestowed on the winery for five consecutive years. In addition, our 2004 Columbia Valley “Barrel Fermented” Semillon was chosen as one of the 100 Best Values of 2006. Read about it in W&S Winter 2006 issue.
Wine & Spirits
- Regional Winery of the Year 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002
- 93 points – 2003 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Apogee
- 92 points – 2004 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Syrah
- 91 points – 2003 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Perigee
- 91 points – 2003 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
- 90 points – 2003 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
- 90 points – 2004 Columbia Valley Merlot
Wine Spectator
- 92 points – 2003 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Apogee
- 91 points – 2003 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Merlot
- 90 points – 2003 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Perigee
Wine Enthusiast
- 91 points – 2004 Columbia Valley Semillon Best Buy
- 91 points – 2003 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
- 90 points – 2003 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Perigee
- 90 points – 2003 Pepper Bridge Vineayrd Apogee
- 90 points – 2004 Columbia Valley Merlot
Calendar of Events
2007 Wine Releases
Spring/Summer
- 2004 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2005 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Merlot
- 2005 Columbia Valley Merlot
- 2005 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Syrah
- 2006 “Walla Voila” Chenin Blanc
- 2006 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Semillon
- 2006 Columbia Valley Semillon
- 2006 Columbia Valley Chardonnay
Fall/Winter
- 2005 Columbia Valley Syrah
- 2005 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2005 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Apogee
- 2005 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Perigee
- 2006 recess red
- 2006 Fries Vineyard Semillon
- 2006 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Late Harvest Semillon
Vins de L’Ecole (wines of the school)
We are excited to present our November Wine Club shipment, a sneak preview of select wines from our December wine releases, to be sent from the winery on November 13:
Vin Rouge (2 wines)
- 2004 FERGUSON Commemorative Reserve
- 2004 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Vin Select (3 wines)
- 2004 FERGUSON Commemorative Reserve
- 2004 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2005 Seven Hills Vineyard Semillon - Ice Wine
Interested in Vins de L’Ecole?
Wine club members receive advance shipments of new releases three times per year and discounts on purchases of wine, merchandise as well as invitations to special events. You may enroll on our website at Wine Clubs or email Jamie.
Martin and Megan Clubb, and the staff of L'Ecole Nº 41
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