L'ECOLE NO. 41
Cabernet Sauvignon
2012
Country
United States
Regulated designation
American Viticultural Areas (AVA)
Region
Washington
Subregion
Columbia Valley
Varietal(s)
Cabernet Sauvignon
100 %
Alcohol percentage
14.5%
Colour
Red
Sugar
Dry
Aging vessel type
100% oak barrels
Length of aging
22 months
Producer's website
About this winery
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. Built in 1915, the schoolhouse is located in historic Frenchtown, a small community just west of Walla Walla, Washington. Frenchtown derived its name from the many French-Canadians who settled the valley during the early 1800s. Legend has it, these men of French descent were raising grapes and producing wine. By the...
See the L'ECOLE NO. 41 detail page for more information on this brand
Product notes
A relatively mild winter set the stage for a nice rebound from the lighter crops of the 2010 and 2011 cooler vintages. Warm, sunny days with cool nights during September brought near perfect ripening weather. Harvest started about mid-September and finished the third week of October, with excellent color development and balance of acidity and structure.
Production notes
Each lot was hand harvested ripe and gently crushed into 1.5 and 5 ton stainless steel fermenters. Gentle handling of the fruit through hand punch downs and gravity assisted movements were utilized throughout the entire winemaking process. The wine was cleanly racked to 100% small oak barrels, 33% new, with five rackings over 22 months.
Tasting notes
With its classic varietal Cabernet profile, this focused and integrated wine shows layers of dark fruit, coffee, earth and baking spice. Flavors of plum, blackberry and cassis mingle with dusty fine tannins through a long, expressive finish.
Press reviews
- 93 points -
Owen Bargreen , (Vintage 2018)A glorious 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, you are immediately struck by the rich sagebrush and anise tones on the nose, with a great wall of dark fruits holding everything in place. The palate is very smooth with refined tannins that mingle with black raspberry cordial, cigar box, blackcurrants and chocolate covered espresso bean flavours. The long finish lingers.
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- 92 points -
Sean Sullivan , (Vintage 2018)Barrel aromas are at the fore initially, with notes of roasted coffee bean, vanilla, chocolate and char in front of plum and cherry. Plump, juicy fruit and barrel flavors follow, with the tannins providing a pleasing squeeze. Give it additional time in the bottle or decant to see it at its best. Best after 2024.
- 91 points -
(Vintage 2019)The aromas bring notes of dark chocolate, plum, herb and cherry, along with a sprinkling of spices. The palate shows polish and intensity. There's structural heft behind it all, both acid and tannin. Decant if drinking in the near term.
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- 91 points -
(Vintage 2019)A handsome red, multilayered and expressive, showing lively blackberry, tobacco and crushed stone accents that finish with well-framed tannins. Drink now through 2030. 6,890 cases made.
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- 91 points -
Jeb Dunnuck, (Vintage 2020)All varietal and brought up in 25% new oak, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley offers lots of typicity in its ripe blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, chocolate, and violet-tinged aromas and flavors. With medium-bodied richness, wonderful purity of fruit, no hard edges, and a clean, classy, elegant style, it’s well worth seeking out and I suspect will keep for 10-12 years.
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- 88 points -
Sean P. Sullivan, (Vintage 2016)Bittersweet chocolate, spicy dried herb, barrel spice and cherry aromas lead to elegant, juicy, well-balanced fruit flavors that carry on the finish. Grippy tannins back it up. Pair it with food to see it at its best.
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