Our Estate Perigee captures the rich, noble, seductive and earthy composition that characterises Seven Hills Vineyards.
L'Ecole has been making wine from Seven Hills Vineyards since 1993, and we hand select only the oldest and finest blocks of grapes to create this magnificent flagship wine.
Perigee is the point in orbit of the Moon or an artificial satellite that is closest to the Earth.
It means perigee.
Perigee is a classic example of Seven Hills Vineyards' signature cedar and dark fruit aromas framed by a refined structure.
The aroma spreads with spicy blackberry, boysenberry, tobacco, and licorice, with floral nuances of violets and herbs of Provence.
It has a velvety mouthfeel and a complex, silky finish.
L'Ecole is the owner-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."
- Despite an overall warm growing season and challenging harvest, this resulted in a high quality vintage for L'Ecole.
- Cold and snowy weather in February and March delayed pruning of the fields, and bud break occurred in late April to early May.
A warm May then accelerated canopy growth and flowering.
- Due to the low temperatures in July, the accumulated temperature was low, and the fruit coloring period was 7 to 10 days later than average.
August was a warm month for the year, with temperatures only reaching above 38°C a few times.
Warm weather continued in early September and harvest began at an average rate, but some rain and cool temperatures delayed harvest.
A light frost at the end of September and further freeze were forecasted, so harvesting was rushed and 60% of the fruit was harvested in the first two weeks of October, with the freeze bringing the season to an end in the second week of October.
-The result is a beautiful, elegant wine with natural acidity and impressive structure.
Nearly 40 years of meticulous vineyard management and winemaking experience are the foundation of our wines' quality and reputation for excellence.
We are involved in every step of the growing and vinification of our own wines.
For each lot, fully ripe grapes are hand-picked and gently pressed, then fermented in 1.5-ton and 5-ton stainless steel tanks.
Throughout the winemaking process, the fruit is handled gently using gravity rather than manual punchdowns or machinery.
The wine was transferred to small French barrels, 40% of which were new, and racked four times over a 22-month period.
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.