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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2013 and 2016 (based on 5 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 87.3 pts. and median of 88 pts. in 26 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by GoBlue2002 on 12/9/2017 & rated 88 points: 375 ml consumed by Marianne.
Chewy, harsh, more acidic than round. Lots of sediment. Possibly over the hill. (872 views) | | | Tasted by joseph120 on 11/9/2015: Mid palate underwhelming and tannins still harsh after 6 years. (1404 views) | | | Tasted by df1962 on 7/21/2015 & rated 88 points: Ripe flavours at its peak (1528 views) | | | Tasted by blaahhi on 12/22/2014: Blackcurrant, plum, sweet fruit and some floral notes on the nose. The medium to full bodied palate adds some some spiciness and faint but persistent tannins. The fruit is actually more savory than you'd except from the sweet nose. Medium finish, with the tannins lingering on. Nicely balanced and very drinkable. (1842 views) | | | Tasted by forceberry on 12/11/2014 & rated 88 points: Dark, almost completely opaque reddish black color with a hint of developed bricking evident especially towards the rim. Very dark-toned, somewhat developed and a bit dusty nose with aromas of savory dark fruits, nuanced spices, some dusty oak, a little bit of cacao nibs and a hint of developed, pruney fruit. The wine is medium-bodied and pretty fruit-forward on the palate with very juicy and somewhat sweet flavors of ripe red fruits, plum jam, some peppery spice, a little bit of savory woody character and a hint of crunchy black raspberry. Overall the wine feels quite balanced - albeit a bit soft - with its moderate acidity and soft, modest-to-medium tannins. The finish is ripe and juicy yet also somewhat bitter with long, ripe flavors of dark plums, bittersweet dark chocolate, rich baking spices, sweet red berries and a hint of strawberry jam.
A somewhat soft and juicy, but also surprisingly balanced and enjoyable Merlot - and this is from a Merlot-basher! This is definitely not a Pomerol, that's for sure, but the wine still manages to remain perfectly balanced and doesn't come across as overtly jammy or over-oaked, which isn't that typical for a US Merlot. The wine suffers from the typical problem of Merlot, which is a bit too low acidity and soft tannins for my taste, but all things considered, this was a genuinely good wine. (969 views) | | | Tasted by Trolson on 9/6/2014 & rated 84 points: I would describe this as a good value wine: good though nothing memorable. (1402 views) | | | Tasted by yofog on 4/18/2013 & rated 88 points: The is very pretty, and very much the way merlot is supposed to taste. Not too tannic, soft but not mushy, very floral and with an underlying note of plums. There's a sense of the soil here, too, but not in a dirty way. Very old-school Bdx. Classy juice. (2206 views) | | | Tasted by avwineguy on 1/16/2013 & rated 88 points: This is the way a Merlot should taste. Shows it's youth, (a little oaky) but breathes nicely. Very black berries, a short finish, but I expect this to improve with age. Goin' down to Costco before they run out! (1854 views) | | | Tasted by mreinitz on 12/15/2012 & rated 88 points: Nice dark fruit mixes with substantial oak on the midpalate that is a little harsh at first and doesn't yet seem fully integrated into the wine. This didn't seem like anything special to us, but perhaps it's just too young. (1699 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, November/December 2012, IWC Issue #165
(l'Ecole No. 41 Merlot Columbia Valley) Subscribe to see review text. | By Sean Sullivan
Washington Wine Report (12/18/2012)
(L'Ecole No 41 Merlot Columbia Valley) This wine has the stuffing but doesn’t seem to have quite blossomed yet. It’s very lightly aromatic with bay leaf and barrel spices. The palate is chock full of red fruit flavors back by firm, chalky tannins. 76% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec, and 3% Petit Verdot. Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge, Candy Mountain, Bacchus, Dionysus, Klipsun, StoneTree and Weinbau vineyards. Aged 18 months in oak (30% new). 14.5% alcohol. 4,000 cases produced. Sample provided by winery. *** points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and Washington Wine Report. (manage subscription channels) |
| L'Ecole No. 41 Producer websiteMerlotMerlot is a dark blue–colored wine grape variety, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to be a diminutive of merle, the French name for the blackbird, probably a reference to the color of the grape. Its softness and "fleshiness", combined with its earlier ripening, makes Merlot a popular grape for blending with the sterner, later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon, which tends to be higher in tannin.USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.Washington Washington Wine Commission | Credit to Washingtonwine.org for this article
Washington Wine
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Wineries
With 30,000+ acres planted, the state has ideal geography and conditions for growing premium vinifera wine grapes. Primarily grown on their own root stocks, the vines produce grapes of consistent quality, resulting in strong vintages year after year. While its focus is on Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the region also produces a wide range of other spectacular whites and reds.
Growers
Winemakers from all over the world have chosen to establish themselves in Washington, where they can create wines reflecting this region's unique characteristics. Their hand-crafted wines are receiving wide acclaim from critics regionally, nationally and internationally for their consistently high quality. Many of them have received scores of 90 and above from the major wine media. Overall this is a higher percentage than other leading wine regions.
Regions
As the state's fourth largest fruit crop, the Washington wine industry is an important contributor to the long-term preservation of Washington agriculture. The industry is committed to sustainable agricultural practices and conservation of water resources.
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Varieties
Washington produces more than 20 wine grape varieties - a ratio of 56 percent white to 44 percent red. As the industry matures and experiments, it finds many grape varieties that thrive throughout Washington's microclimates. There are more than 16,000 vineyard acres of red wine varieties statewide.
History & Vintages
Washington's wine future is limitless. As consumers discover the quality of Washington wines, demand continues to grow nationally and internationally. New acreage and wine varietals are being planted and new wineries are opening at a remarkable pace. Washington State is recognized as a premium viticultural region around the world.
State Facts
Washington's wine industry generates more than $3 billion to the state economy. It employs more than 14,000 people, directly and indirectly, with projections to add nearly 2,000 more jobs by 2006. In terms of tax revenues accrued to the state and federal government, wine grapes are among the highest tax generators of any agricultural crops. Furthermore, Washington wine tourism attracts nearly two million visitors annually contributing to the positive growth of local and regional economies.
Washington State - the perfect climate for wine = ideal growing conditions, quality wines, business innovation, lifestyle, and social responsibility. All are key elements of this world-class wine industry.
Vintages
"2008 and even more so 2010 and 2011 were cool, even cold vintages (think: 2002 in the Barossa) without the extreme ripeness, extract and higher alcohol that had become the norm in the state’s post 1995 world. 2008 was manageable but the duo of 2010/2011 nearly caused a “great depression” in Washington State." - Jon RimmermanColumbia Valley Columbia Cascade Winery Association
The Columbia Valley AVA lies mostly in Washington state, with a small section in Oregon. The Cascade Range forms its western boundary with the Palouse regions bordering the area to the east. To the north, the Okanogan National Forest forms a border with the AVA and Canada. It encompasses the valleys formed by the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Walla Walla River, the Snake River, and the Yakima River. The Columbia valley stretches between the 46th parallel and 47th parallel which puts it in line with the well known French wine growing regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy. The northern latitude gives the areas two more hours of additional daylight during the summer growing season than wine regions of California receive. The volcanic and sandy loam soil of the valley offers good drainage and is poor in nutrients, ideal in forcing the vine to concentrate its resources into the grape clusters.Columbia Valley Columbia Valley Winery Association |
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