Lumines is a Bordeaux blended white wine that perfectly balances the rich fruitiness of Semillon with the refreshing floral and mineral aromas of Sauvignon Blanc.
This wine is made exclusively from grapes from L'Ecole's own Seven Hills Vineyard, making it very special for the brand.
Bright and mouth-filling, Estate Lumines offers expressive aromas of stone fruit, citrus blossom, key lime and gooseberry with subtle spice accents.
On the palate, flavors of fresh peach, honeydew melon and lemon tart combine with exotic jasmine and minerals leading to a fresh, persistent finish.
Vineyards Seven Hills Vineyards L'Ecole is owner and partner of the multi award winning Seven Hills Vineyard (69ha).
The soils are geologically young, mineral-rich loess (wind-blown alluvial soil).
Planted in 1981, the vineyard is certified sustainable and salmon-safe and has been named one of Wine & Spirits magazine's "Top 10 Vineyards in the World."
A cooler than average growing season resulted in a later than normal harvest, resulting in above average yields and wines of outstanding quality with naturally high acidity, low sugar levels, great balance and beautiful fruit expression.
- As a result of the warm winter, the early varieties sprouted from late March to early April.
Bud budding for the late-maturing varieties was delayed due to April being so cold and snowy that we had to keep the fans running, and the following May was also cool and rainy.
The weather was favourable during flowering, which occurred two weeks later than usual, resulting in excellent fruit set.
July and August were hot and the spring humidity encouraged significant canopy growth.
Mold was prevalent and problems arose in isolated fields.
The extreme heat caused the canopy to close, inhibiting excessive fruit growth.
Véraison was two weeks later than average, with warm autumn and cool nights providing perfect late-autumn ripening conditions, with the majority of the harvest taking place in October.
- The long hang time provided ideal fruit balance and flavors that developed before the sugar, raising expectations for a great 2022 vintage wine.
Despite the problems we encountered during the growing season, the dice were all in our favor.
Nearly 40 years of meticulous vineyard management and winemaking experience are the foundation of the quality and reputation of our wines.
The grapes were harvested early in the morning and quickly transported to the winery where they were whole-cluster pressed to preserve the fruit aromas.
The juice is allowed to settle overnight, then racked into French oak barrels (15% new) and fermented slowly at low temperature.
No malolactic fermentation is carried out.
Aging for six months with biweekly stirring of the lees gave it weight and complexity.
Before bottling, the wine was gently clarified and filtered.
L'Ecole No. 41 means school at number 41 in French.
The label depicts a school of historical value from that time, and the name comes from the fact that the area was Frenchtown, where many French Canadians lived.
This school has been the winery since it was founded.
L'Ecole No. 41 is the third oldest winery in Walla Walla and is one of the most highly regarded and well-known handcrafted wineries in Washington State.
The winery has received numerous awards around the world, including being named one of Wine Enthusiast magazine's top 100 wineries in the world 15 times, and in 2014 Estate Ferguson won the World Bordeaux Blend Award.
Recently, owner Marty Crabb was named one of the Most Influential People in the Wine Industry for 2021/22.
The award recognizes Marty's leadership, innovation, inspiration and positive impact on American wine culture.
While L'Ecole has built long-standing, friendly relationships with the great historic vineyards of Washington State, it is also renowned for continually investing in Seven Hills Vineyard, the oldest in Walla Walla, and for continuing to improve the quality of its wines to international standards.
Owner Marty Crabb has been named one of the most influential people in the wine industry.