Variety: 75% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc
This wine is a blend of two distinguished Walla Walla Valley vineyards: 86%
Seven Hills Vineyard (Merlot 61%, Cabernet Sauvignon 19%, Cabernet Franc
6%) and 14% Pepper Bridge Vineyard Merlot.
Winemaker
Comments: “This Walla Walla Valley wine allowed us to blend the soft texture and finesse
of Seven Hills Vineyard, with the bright fruit and complexity of Pepper Bridge.
A touch of Cabernet Franc adds a heightened array floral aromatic notes to the
wine.”
Harvest: A mild warm spring led into a beautiful summer with higher than normal heat
unit accumulation, culminating in an early veraison. As hoped, fall brought
cooler weather slowing fruit maturity and allowing for extended hang time into
October. The 2000 vintage has delivered outstanding wines with excellent
color and fruit extraction and well-balanced flavors and acidity.
Technical: The components of this wine were hand-harvested as follows:
Pepper Bridge Merlot 9/28/00 25.0% Brix, 3.60 pH, 0.59 g/100 ml
Seven Hills Merlot (avg.) 9/20/00 24.4% Brix, 3.28 pH, 0.63 g/100 ml
Seven Hills Cabernet (avg.)10/6/00 23.4% Brix, 3.28 pH, 0.59 g/100 ml
Seven Hills Cab Franc 9/28/00 24.4% Brix, 3.43 pH, 0.56 g/100 ml
Bottled 764 cases February 26th, 2002; pH 3.70, acid 0.58 g/100ml, 13.9%
alcohol by volume, <0.2% residual sugar.
Description: Cascading aromas of spicy cinnamon, nutmeg, orange peel and cranberry meld flawlessly with
the intense bright fruit flavors of black cherry, plum and smoky notes on a long balanced
finish.
Vinification: Each lot was harvested ripe and gently crushed into one-ton stainless steel
fermenters. The must was inoculated with yeast and punched down by hand
during fermentation to maximize fruit extraction. When fermentation was
complete or we were otherwise satisfied with the level of tannin and flavor
extract the must was gently pressed. After settling, the wine was racked to
oak barrels (50% new). The wine was barrel-aged 17 months with five
rackings and the final blend was bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve its
natural flavors.
L'Ecole Nº 41 has been producing premium, handcrafted varietal wines in the Walla Walla Valley since 1983 in the historic Frenchtown School in Lowden, Washington. Within this web site you will discover: Our rich history and longevity in making wines in the Walla Walla Valley Our dedication to making premium varietal wines from some of Washington's finest vineyard sites Our commi... Read more
L'Ecole Nº 41 has been producing premium, handcrafted varietal wines in the Walla Walla Valley since 1983 in the historic Frenchtown School in Lowden, Washington. Within this web site you will discover: Our rich history and longevity in making wines in the Walla Walla Valley Our dedication to making premium varietal wines from some of Washington's finest vineyard sites Our commitment to superior vineyard management and environmentally sustainable vineyard practices Our desire to provide our valuable customers with a unique, quality experience year after year Thank you for the opportunity to share our story. Read less
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Member Reviews for L'Ecole 41 Walla Walla Valley Merlot
The wine is a nice garnet color in the glass with a bit of brown along the edges. The nose presents lovely aromas of leather, basalt, blackberry and prune, sort of the classic aroma of a mature Bordeaux. The taste is surprisingly mellow and pleasant, with a rush of cherry cola up front that transitions to some notes of white pepper and mint midpalate. The finish is very smooth and bone dry, though the tannins were quite mellow.
See the full review on my blog here: http://allaloneonaplanetfullofpeople.blogspot.com/2016/02/2000-l-no-41-walla-walla-valley-merlot.html
Drank in 2007. Open, forward. Wonder black fruits with a touch of earth - this wine expressed the terrior of Walla Walla. Full bodied and went the distance.
Variety: 75% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc
This wine is a blend of two distinguished Walla Walla Valley vineyards: 86%
Seven Hills Vineyard (Merlot 61%, Cabernet Sauvignon 19%, Cabernet Franc
6%) and 14% Pepper Bridge Vineyard Merlot.
Winemaker
Comments: “This Walla Walla Valley wine allowed us to blend the soft texture and finesse
of Seven Hills Vineyard, with the bright fruit and complexity of Pepper Bridge.
A touch of Cabernet Franc adds a heightened array floral aromatic notes to the
wine.”
Harvest: A mild warm spring led into a beautiful summer with higher than normal heat
unit accumulation, culminating in an early veraison. As hoped, fall brought
cooler weather slowing fruit maturity and allowing for extended hang time into
October. The 2000 vintage has delivered outstanding wines with excellent
color and fruit extraction and well-balanced flavors and acidity.
Technical: The components of this wine were hand-harvested as follows:
Pepper Bridge Merlot 9/28/00 25.0% Brix, 3.60 pH, 0.59 g/100 ml
Seven Hills Merlot (avg.) 9/20/00 24.4% Brix, 3.28 pH, 0.63 g/100 ml
Seven Hills Cabernet (avg.)10/6/00 23.4% Brix, 3.28 pH, 0.59 g/100 ml
Seven Hills Cab Franc 9/28/00 24.4% Brix, 3.43 pH, 0.56 g/100 ml
Bottled 764 cases February 26th, 2002; pH 3.70, acid 0.58 g/100ml, 13.9%
alcohol by volume, <0.2% residual sugar.
Description: Cascading aromas of spicy cinnamon, nutmeg, orange peel and cranberry meld flawlessly with
the intense bright fruit flavors of black cherry, plum and smoky notes on a long balanced
finish.
Vinification: Each lot was harvested ripe and gently crushed into one-ton stainless steel
fermenters. The must was inoculated with yeast and punched down by hand
during fermentation to maximize fruit extraction. When fermentation was
complete or we were otherwise satisfied with the level of tannin and flavor
extract the must was gently pressed. After settling, the wine was racked to
oak barrels (50% new). The wine was barrel-aged 17 months with five
rackings and the final blend was bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve its
natural flavors.
L'Ecole No 41:
Lucente Toscana 2013
Ferrari Perle 2007
