L'Ecole No. 41

Founded in 1983 by Jean and Baker Ferguson, the family-owned L’Ecole No. 41 Vineyards is the third-oldest winery in the Walla Walla Valley. The name, “L’Ecole,” is French for “school,” a nod to the former 1900s schoolhouse—which is located in school district 41—the Fergusons remodeled into the present winery. L’Ecole No. 41 is renowned for producing terroir-driven wines, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sémillon and Syrah constituting the bulk of production. For a full list of the winery’s rated wines, check out our L’Ecole No. 41 Wine Ratings.

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L'Ecole No. 41 2008 Seven Hills Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Walla Walla Valley (WA))

Editors' Choice
Online Exclusive

Price $60

From the oldest block of the estate’s Seven Hills Vineyard, this pure Cabernet opens with intense aromas of mountain fruit. Bramble, light herb, cement, black cherry and cassis combine in a polished, elegant wine that probes deeply into the palate. Flavors abound—cassis, coffee, licorice and more. — P.G. (11/1/2011)

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L'Ecole No. 41 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Walla Walla Valley (WA))

Cellar Selection

Price $37

Fragrant with smoky red fruits, this tight, young, pure Cabernet Sauvignon brings a generous mix of raspberry, pomegranate and cherry fruit into play. The firm and supple tannins are folded in seamlessly, with hints of iron, coffee and chocolate. — P.G. (11/1/2011)

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L'Ecole No. 41 1998 Barrel Fermented Sémillon (Columbia Valley (WA))

Best Buy

Price $15

If this isn’t among the tastiest, most exciting American-made white wines, then what is? An absolute grand slam. Huge stone-fruit and banana aromas and flavors. From an excellent vintage, it’s wonderful to drink as an aperitif. Gorgeous oak notes from the barrel fermentation. (With 11% Sauvignon Blanc.) Best Buy. — M.S. (4/1/2000)

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L'Ecole No. 41 1999 Seven Hills Vineyard Sémillon (Walla Walla Valley (WA))

Editors' Choice

Price $22

This is an almost magically delicious, ripe, alcoholic wine which packs plenty of punch but carries its weight with confidence and authority. Walla Walla’s great 1999 grapes seem to effortlessly achieve an unbelievable balance of ripe, tropical fruit and firm, bracing acids. Add eight months in a mix of new and second-year French oak and you have a star. Editors’ Choice. — P.G. (6/1/2001)

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L'Ecole No. 41 2003 Fries Vineyard Sémillon

Editors' Choice

Price $20

Another classic edition of L’Ecole’s best Semillon. Big, fresh, and bursting with ripe and delicious fruit. Green apples and pears and bright, toasty tropical flavors are perfectly meshed, and the wine fills out in the mid-palate; then sails into a thoroughly satisfying, lingering finish. — P.G. (4/1/2005)

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L'Ecole No. 41 2002 Seven Hills Vineyard Perigee Red (Walla Walla Valley (WA))

Price $45

This is L’Ecole’s estate Bordeaux blend, and comes exclusively from the Seven Hills vineyard. A lovely nose suggests violets, truffle, fresh-turned earth, sweet spice, hay and leather – lots to dive into here! The wine continues with a panoply of exotic, well-matched flavors, and the mix of fruit and leather and tannin and herb is just about perfect. — P.G. (4/1/2005)

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L'Ecole No. 41 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (Walla Walla Valley (WA))

Cellar Selection

Price $40

This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from an all-star collection of Walla Walla vineyards. It shows excellent structure and depth, with plenty of herbal character. The black fruits are abundant, spicy and sharp; this is a young wine from a great vintage than needs more bottle age. The layering, though still tight and compact, suggests that with cellaring this will… — P.G. (12/1/2010)

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L'Ecole No. 41 2008 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Merlot (Walla Walla Valley (WA))

Cellar Selection
Online Exclusive

Price $37

L’Ecole is one of the three partners in the Seven Hills vineyard, and sources its grapes from some of the oldest vines. The blend includes 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc, tight and spicy at first, then opening into a deeply flavored, brambly wine with a vivid mix of berry and stone. Firm tannins anchor it solidly and the overall structure suggests it… — P.G. (11/1/2011)

Most Reviewed Designations

Seven Hills Vineyard Luminesce White Wine Alder Ridge Vineyard Rosé Alder Ridge Vineyard Grenache Apogee Pepper Bridge Vineyard Barrel Fermented Fries Vineyard Pepper Bridge Vineyard Apogee Seven Hills Vineyard Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Perigee Walla Voila

Most Reviewed Varietals

Bordeaux-style Red Blend Bordeaux-style White Blend Cabernet Sauvignon Chardonnay Chenin Blanc Grenache Merlot Red Blend Rosé Sémillon Syrah White Blend

2009 Russian River Vineyards Estate Grown

Rich flavors of cherries, persimmons, cola, anise and oak flood the…

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