L'Ecole No 41 winery in Washington's Walla Walla Valley

L' E c o l e N^o4 1

41 Lowden School Road (Map) . Lowden, WA 99360
P.O. Box 111 (Mailing Address)
509-525-0940 . 509-525-2775 Fax
Email: winery@lecole.com . Website: www.lecole.com

Winery Information
"Regional Winery of the Year 2005" - Wine & Spirits magazine

Winemaker: Martin Clubb

Annual Production:
30,000 cases

Vineyard Acreage:
Partnership in 200 acres
at Seven Hills Vineyard
1.3 Estate vineyard at winery
Also contract with select growers
in Walla Walla & Columbia Valleys
Products & Ordering:
Semillon, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc,
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah,
Red blends and late-harvest Semillon

Tasting Room

Winery Tours
(Appointments for
groups larger than 10)

Tasting Room Hours:
10:00 am to 5:00 pm - Daily

VISA Master Card

American Express

Wine Club

Visit Historic Schoolhouse N^o 41
...where echoes of the past enhance wine-tasting experiences

As legend has it, the raising of grapes and production of wine in Southeastern Washington began with French Canadian employees of the Hudson Bay Company post at "Frenchtown" during the 1820s. Frenchtown became today's Lowden, Washington, but the tradition of winemaking continues today. Lowden's L'Ecole N^o 41 honors the area's historic winemaking tradition with the production of premium, handcrafted, varietal wines, as well as with its choice of a winery name.

L'Ecole, French for "the school," began its winery in 1983, in the basement of the old 1915 Schoolhouse N^o 41. In 1996, production was expanded by the addition of a state-of-the-art facility built that year, while the winery's laboratory and red wine-barrel aging took over the basement. Located on the main floor, L'Ecole's tasting room was restored, preserving the schoolroom character with its original chalkboards, light fixtures, fir floors and moldings. Tucked away among barrels in the cellar is a Christmas pageant mural and child-size drinking fountain. Offices and an oversized meeting room also echo uses of schooldays past. Even the label for L'Ecole wines incorporates the historic schoolhouse theme, thanks to the 1983 artistic rendition of the winery by then eight-year-old Ryan Campbell.

While its location makes it a pleasure to visit, L'Ecole builds its reputation on the production of superior, quality wines, known for their richness and their flavorful, full-bodied character. A hands-on, traditional approach to winemaking includes a dedication to obtaining the highest quality fruits possible. Recent vineyard investments and longstanding relationships with distinguished growers in the Walla Walla and Columbia Valleys have assured L'Ecole of the quality viticultural management so important to superior fruits for wines.

Maintaining its original focus on Merlot and Semillon, L'Ecole now also produces smaller, yet highly recognized, quantities of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Chenin Blanc. Its Semillon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon are all barrel aged, creating a significant demand for barrel storage. In the fall of 2003, L'Ecole completed the construction of a new concrete tilt barrel storage facility that accommodates its current inventory of more than 2,000 French and American oak barrels. In the spring of 2004, a 1.3-acre vineyard was planted next to the winery to Cabernet Sauvignon, and L'Ecole visitors now have the opportunity to observe a working vineyard.

The winery is open to the public for tasting and touring (appointments for groups larger than 10) seven days a week, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Featured L'Ecole N^o41 Wines

Join L'Ecole's Wine Club, Vins de L'Ecole.
For more details and to sign up click here.

2004 Fries Vineyard Semillon
Wahluke Slope
100% Semillon
Released December 2005
90 pts - Wine Advocate, 4/24/2006
Gold Medal - 11th Annual NorthWest Wine Summit, 2006
$19.00 [Order]

Winemaker Comments: The Fries Desert Wind Vineyard continues to prove itself as an exceptional vineyard site for Semillon. The Wahluke Slope is the south-facing slope off the Saddle Mountains. With sandy silty soils, warm days and cool night air rolling off the mountains, we achieve ripe fruit intensity with high natural acidity. Since 1996, this wine has been simply too delicious not to bottle on its own.

Description: This crisp and viscous wine shows its marvelous honey, peach, pear and apricot flavors, with spicy floral and honeysuckle aromas and hints of fresh fig, kiwi and apple on a lemon-zesty finish.

2005 "Walla Voila" Chenin Blanc
Yakima Valley
100% Chenin Blanc
Released May 2006
Gold Medal - 11th Annual NorthWest Wine Summit, 2006
$12.00 [Order]

L'Ecole N^o 41 declared
"Regional Winery of the
Year 2005"
Read the full article
(Winter issue 2005)

Top 100 Wines
of the Year 2005
"Best Red Blends"
2002 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Perigee

L'Ecole's Seven Hills
Vineyard Merlot
has received a rating of 90
or higher from
Wine Spectator every
vintage since 1993

Winemaker Comments: L'Ecole N^o 41 has produced this old vine, Vouvray-style Chenin Blanc since 1987. Jean Ferguson,L'Ecole N^o 41's founding winemaker, loved this wine and crafted her version of Vouvray through cold fermentation to enhance the fruity and floral esters. Pronounced with a French accent as "Walla Voila" or her it is!!, this regional, whimsical pun captures the lively and vibrant flavors of this varietal.

Description: These old vines (planted in 1979) produce a vibrantly fruity and lively Chenin with brightly perfumed apple and orange blossom aromas and flavors of fresh apricot and pear, on a zesty, floral grapefruit finish.

2004 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Syrah
Walla Walla Valley
100% Syrah
Released May 2006
$36.00 [Order]

Winemaker Comments: This Estate Syrah is a blend of three different blocks of Syrah from Seven Hills Vineyard. Planted with the Phelps clone, each block contributes unique characteristics. L'Ecole N^o 41 is a partner in the 200-acre Seven Hills Vineyard, along with Pepper Bridge Winery and Leonetti Cellar.

Description: The hard winter of 2004 may have limited the quantity (500 cases), but has turned up the density and spice in this newest Estate Syrah. With uncanny consistency, this wine was harvested ultra-ripe with jammy dark plum, dense blackberry, black currants and with an elegant mineral and earthy finish.

2003 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Merlot
Seven Hills Vineyard
78% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc
Released May 2005
91 pts - Wine Spectator - Oct 15, 2005
91 pts - Tastings, July 1, 2006
$36.00 [Order]

Winemaker Comments: With vine age now more than 14 years, this consistently rich and flavorful Merlot from our Estate Seven Hills Vineyard shows elegance and finesse, yet wonderful complexity and length on the finish.

Description: Our Estate Seven Hills Vineyard Merlot shows its characteristic cedary, silky black cherry fruit, with cool mint and floral aromas and a gripping yet elegant mix of blueberry, blackberry, cocoa and sweet tannins on a long, lingering finish.

2003 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc
Released May 2006
Silver Medal - 11th Annual NorthWest Wine Summit, 2006
$36.00 [Order]

Winemaker Comments: This wine is a blend of four Walla Walla Valley vineyards: 38% from our Estate Seven Hills Vineyard; 22% Va Piano; 21% Yellow Jacket; and 19% Windrow. The 2003 vintage will be recorded as the warmest on record in the last 20 years, and, for quality, this was good news! A mild, cool spring helped the vines recover from some slight winter injury in October of 2002. July and August were extremely war, keeping berry size and cluster weights down, which produced lower yields. These conditions resulted in vibrantly fruity whites and deep, rich extraction in the reds. A one-day rain in early September brought with it cooler weather, extending harvest and hangtime for improved fruit flavors and intensity.

Description: Its old world structure and dense dark fruit flavors show cassis, black cherry and cocoa with leather, tobacco and savory spice on a balanced, toasty finish.

2003 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Apogee
Walla Walla Valley
47% Cabernet Sauvignon; 45% Merlot, 5% Malbec; 3% Cabernet Franc
Released December 2005
91 pts - Wine & Spirits, Aug 2006
92 pts - Wine Spectator, June 2006
$44.00 [Order]

Winemaker Comments: Apogee is the point in the orbit of the moon that is the greatest distance from the earth; the farthest point or apex. This name reflects all that we were trying to accomplish with the wine, reaching the ultimate in quality. The Pepper Bridge Vineyard, planted in the terraced remnants of ice-age flood deposits, is one of the Walla Walla Valley's most reputable vineyards. Apogee was the first wine produced from this vineyard and shows its characteristic spicy, bold and dark fruit flavors with a rich structure, well-integrated tannins and a long finish.

Description: Boldly aromatic, this wine has spicy aromas of nutmeg and clove and earthy hints of sweet tobacco and leather on a luscious fruit-packed dark chocolate, mint and cherry finish.

2003 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Perigee
Walla Walla Valley
56% Cabernet Sauvignon; 37% Merlot; 7% Cabernet Franc
Released December 2005
91 pts - Wine & Spirits, Aug 2006
90 pts - Wine Spectator, June 2006
90 pts - Wine Enthusiast, Aug 2006
$44.00 [Order]

Winemaker Comments: Seven Hills Vineyard, planted in the wind-blown loess of geologically young, mineral-rich soils, is one of the Walla Walla Valley's most acclaimed vineyards. Perigee is a blend of the oldest and most distinguished blocks from our Estate vineyard, renowned for its rich elegance, seductive aromas and complex, silky finish. Perigee exemplifies this vineyard's characteristic cedary, black cherry elegance. L'Ecole N^o 41's partners in Seven Hills Vineyard include Pepper Bridge Winery and Leonetti Cellar.

Description: Polished with perfumed aromas of exotic spice, velvety blackberry and silky black cherry fruit, this wine exudes power and grace on an endless, earthy finish. Aged 22 months in small oak barrels, approximately 60% new. 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc.

To order any currently available L'Ecole wines:

Link to the winery's secure ordering page
Email your order
FAX your order to 509-525-2775
Call in your order to 509-525-0940

Map to L'Ecole No 41 in Walla Walla Wine Country

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Last revised: 11/14/2006