L'Ecole No. 41 Sémillon Columbia Valley 2009

A family-owned winery (the proprietors are Martin and Megan Clubb), l'Ecole No. 41 produces 30,000 cases of wine annually. There are 4,000 cases of the 2004 Semillon Barrel Fermented, an excellent value. It sports aromas as well as flavors of spices, honey, and pears. Medium-bodied and expressive, this well-balanced effort is silky-textured, spicy, and fruity. Drink it over the next 1 to 2 years.

Good bright straw. Aromas of orange, white peach, lemon drop, lanolin and lichee. Broad and silky but quite dry, with a lush texture but a light touch. Enticing fruit flavors from start to lingering finish. Excellent value.

Lively, generous and bright, with a lemony edge to the creamy pear flavors, finishing with a refreshing lift. Contains 13 percent Sauvignon Blanc. Drink now.

L'Ecole's other two Semillons are 100%, but this budget bottling smartly blends in just the right amount (13%) of Sauvignon Blanc, filling in the tart kiwi-flavored fruit and light herbs with hints of creamy, spicy oak.

This features a lovely transparency to the pear and herb flavors, which float nicely through the finish. Drink now.

There are almost 3,000 cases of the 2002 Semillon Barrel Fermented (it contains 12% Sauvignon Blanc), an excellent value. Loads of spices, melon and honeyed minerals are found in its boisterous aromatics. On the palate, this medium to full-bodied effort bursts forth with lush, rich layers of peach, apricot, tropical fruits, pastry cream and a myriad of spices. This velvety-textured, extroverted, friendly, smile inducing wine is complex, seamless and crammed with flavor. Drink it over the next 2-3 years.

Soft, with a lively underpinning to the fig and spice flavors. Drink now.