L'Ecole No. 41 is known as a top producer of excellent Merlot in Washington State, and this wine has great structure, color and balanced acidity.
This Heritage Collection Merlot is made from 60% estate-grown grapes.
A complex mix of raspberry, plum and black cherry accented with crushed rose flowers, pencil shavings and smoky cedar, this full-bodied, powerful Merlot offers flavors of pickled berries, coffee and kirsch.
This wine is charming and ripe, leading to a satisfying finish.
- Despite an overall warm growing season and challenging harvest, this resulted in a high quality vintage for L'Ecole.
- Due to low temperatures and snowfall in February and March, pruning in the fields was delayed, and buds sprouted 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.
Over 36 years of meticulous vineyard management and winemaking experience are the foundation of our wines' quality and outstanding reputation.
We are involved in every step of the growing and vinification of our own wines.
Each lot was hand-picked at ideal ripeness, gently crushed and placed into 1.5 ton and 5 ton stainless steel fermenters.
Gentle handling of the fruit is carried out throughout the winemaking process using manual punchdowns and gravity assisted fermentation.
The wine was racked in small oak barrels and then barrel aged for 16 months in 20% new barrels.
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.