L'Ecole No 41 Merlot 2021

This Merlot exhibits lively aromas of plum, cherry, and macerated berries accented by savory notes of sage leaf, fresh tobacco, cola, and cedar. Full-bodied and vigorous, this wine bursts with flavors of kirsch and cocoa powder contrasted by an enchanting old-world character. Charming and inviting, its finish is balanced and lingering.

VINEYARDS
Estate Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge, Eritage, Summit View, Weinbau, Dionysus, McKinley Springs, Candy Mountain, Estate Ferguson

• A hot season yielded to cooler ripening weather during the fall resulting in unusually low yields, intense concentration, high acidity, and outstanding quality in what will likely become a memorable vintage.
• Bud break was average with a 10-day stretch of cold nights putting growers on frost watch. 
• Warm spring conditions led to an early bloom, followed by a heat dome with record high temps in late June contributing to lower yields at the end of the season. Summer heat resulted in one of the hottest vintages on record, similar to 2015.
• Harvest started in late August with ideal fall weather leading to a balanced fruit ripening.
• Small berries, low yields, and cool harvest weather produced an outstanding quality vintage.

Harvest Dates: August 31 - October 8, 2021

•  40 years of meticulous vineyard management and winemaking experience are fundamental to the quality of our wines and reputation for excellence.
•  Each lot was hand-harvested at ideal ripeness and gently crushed into 1.5 and 5 ton stainless steel fermenters.
•  Gentle handling of the fruit through hand punch downs and gravity-assisted movements was utilized throughout the entire winemaking process.
•  The wine was cleanly racked to small oak barrels, 20% new, and barrel-aged for 18 months.

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The third winery to be established in the Walla Walla Valley, L’Ecole No 41 has been a leader in the production of premium handcrafted varietal wines in Washington State since 1983. The family owned winery is located in an old schoolhouse built in 1915 in historic Frenchtown, just west of Walla Walla. The name - L’Ecole No 41, French for “the school located in district number 41”, was chosen to salute the pioneering viticultural efforts of the French-Canadians who settled the area.  L’Ecole is one of the most recognized and acclaimed wineries in Washington State, having been honored by Wine & Spirits Magazine as Winery of the Year for 13 consecutive years; and in 2014 winning the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards International Trophy for ‘Best in Show, Red Bordeaux Varietals over £15’ for their 2011 Ferguson Vineyard bottling. The winery is however perhaps best known for being one of the top American producers of Merlot and Semillon.