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Frenchtown
2019
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
The 2016 vintage looks like another spectacular and large harvest for Washington State; it started early with a mild winter, hot spring, and early bud break, suggesting another warm year was on the way. While cool mid-June, weather was ideal for bloom and fruit set. July temperatures were lower than normal, allowing for healthy berry and cluster growth. Continued mild weather through August and September stretched the growing season allowing the fruit to ripen gradually and evenly, with lower sugars and higher acidity. The longer hang-time produced fantastic balance of flavor and structure in both the white and red varieties. The wine was aged 9 months in primarily neutral French and American oak barrels, then bottle aged 6 additional months prior to release
The wine was aged 9 months in primarily neutral French and American oak barrels, then bottle aged 6 additional months prior to release
An excellent Frenchtown vintage showing bright fruit aromatics, from wild berries and black cherry to dark plum framed on a medium-bodied structure. An easy-drinking wine, its fruit-forward profile is accented by violets and savory thyme. Vivid flavors carry through to a delicious finish.
The aromas aren’t fully ready to reveal their charms, with notes of spice, plum and cherry. The flavors are plump, ripe, and show pleasing purity and depth, with the mouthfeel upping the appeal. It’s a lot of wine for the money. Give it a short decant.
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A new wine (at least for me), the 2019 Frenchtown is an interesting blend of 45% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, and 6% Petit Verdot, with the remaining 29% made up of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre. Brought up in neutral oak, it has a juicy, red and black berry-scented nose with lots of peppery herbs, tobacco, and cedar aromas and flavors. At least at this young stage, the Rhône varieties seem to dominate, and it’s a juicy, medium-bodied, beautifully textured red that should offer loads of pleasure over the coming 4-6 years (and probably longer).
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A harmonious red, elegant yet zesty, with lively currant, espresso and stony mineral accents that build tension toward medium-grained tannins. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2026.
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