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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2017 and 2018 (based on 4 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 88 pts. and median of 88 pts. in 15 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Kustjagr on 7/31/2021 & rated 89 points: Ok, so now this is starting to be over the hill. Having a Columbia Valley APA label, the grapes can be from almost anywhere in WA and purchased in bulk. No trace of any fruit remains. The body of the wine is still impressive, but the decline has started. And I had cellared this perfectly. EDIT: somewhat better next day, but still certainly past the peak. (458 views) | | | Tasted by Kustjagr on 1/8/2021 & rated 90 points: Quite good, though obviously.not as good as the Estate one. Drinking it just a tad bit over aged so the fruits are weaker but the acidicity and tannins more pronounced. Still lovely. (615 views) | | | Tasted by Björn Sesoselak on 11/2/2019 & rated 89 points: Djupröd. Viol, tobak, tallskog. Rak mörk frukt, mjukt långt slut. Redo att drickas.
The wine looks crimson colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle. (929 views) | | | Tasted by jeffal66 on 4/22/2019 & rated 88 points: True to Pacific Northwest versions of the variety, a more angular and aggressive effort that lines up squarely with Cab. Bitter/tart fruit, some char, a little veggie, herbal notes...quite tannic and lengthy. Interesting and fairly complex, if slightly disjointed. But not unlikeable to my taste. Best with several hours of decanting. (1079 views) | | | Tasted by jroberts86 on 9/1/2018 & rated 88 points: tart cherry and ripe plum with a luscious mouthfeel while still being dry. notes of cocoa and combined with medium grained tannins. Nice (1141 views) | | | Tasted by camdawg on 2/5/2018 & rated 87 points: Upon opening, the wine was very watery, with very little flavor. After being open for a day, there was nice cherry flavor on the midpalate, with a touch of blackberry displaying also. Not much acid or tannin. So the wine is easy drinking, but not terribly complex.
A second day open introduced some oak, a little spice, and a touch of tartiness at the tip of my tongue. So this ended up being solid, respectable merlot. Just not amazing. Easy drinking for those who don’t like a lot of tannin in their wine. (1085 views) | | | Tasted by soyhead on 8/31/2017: Nose - caramel, confected
Mouth - juicy though somewhat bland/ non-descript fruit though I agree the nice acidity keeps it all interesting. Decent finish though caramel pops up again. Overly candied for my taste. Inferior to last nights st Emilion. Bar purchase. I would opt for the estate if available (1235 views) | | | Tasted by hoservin on 8/22/2017 & rated 88 points: Popped and poured. Aromas of black cherry, plum, vanilla bean and forest floor. Black cherry, plum, vanilla, milk chocolate and ripe tannins on the palate. Leads to a medium to long, fruit driven finish. Full bodied. Served with pasta, sausage, red peppers and broccoli. (766 views) | | | Tasted by Ben Christiansen on 3/28/2017: Well pronounced on the nose. Power on the palate, good acidit, and then 15 franc and that shoes in a good way. (1177 views) | | | Tasted by Omar Khayyam on 3/12/2016 & rated 88 points: Oregon & Washington Tasting 11 March 2016 Stockholm; 3/12/2016-3/14/2016 (Munchenbryggeriet, Stockholm): 76% merlot, 15% cab franc, 5% Malbec, 4% petit Verdot.
Very tight nose, almost not giving anything. But nothing wrong with the body and balance, has quite the grip, probably should wait a couple of years for this to come around. (1970 views) |
| By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, Focus on Washington: Hot Times in the Desert (Nov 2016) (11/1/2016)
(L’ecole No. 41 Merlot Washington) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous. (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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