Had the 2017 and 2012 last year and liked them quite a bit, but could not get into the 2014. It was mosty about the fruit, little secondary notes, and the fruit seemed a bit harsh. Didn't take detailed notes. Really needed food to enjoy it
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Medium intensity of aroma, still quite dark with little bricking. Barrel notes still somewhat prominent. Despite noticeable oak notes, well-balanced with dark plum-like fruit starting to move into secondary phase. Some complexities of tobacco leaf. Medium+ length. I liked it a lot more than everyone else.
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Sight: The wine is clear with a medium ruby color. Nose: The nose is clean with a medium(+) intensity aroma of blackberry, black cherry, black currant, vanilla, baking spice, and a hint of leather. Palate: The wine is dry with high acidity, medium(+) alcohol, medium(+) tannins, and a medium(+) body. The flavors on the palate are consistent with the nose, with additional notes of cedar and tobacco. The finish is long. Conclusion: This is a high-quality wine with well-integrated tannins and a complex flavor profile. It can be enjoyed now or aged further (5-7 years).
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This wine was good but just not great IMHO. It went up against a 2014 Gorman Zachary's Ladder and the Zac's Ladder blew it away and at half the price point of the Ferguson. Having had several bottles of Ferguson now it seems they may be better drunk early rather than later in life. Tannins had faded way back and the finish was not all that long. YMMV.
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Love this vintage. Three hour decant of this magnum, consumed over next two hours, continuing to improve. Beautifully balanced, wonderful acidity with the malbec being deliciously present on the finish. WOTN our of a great lineup.
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Still too tannic for my preference but not unexpected. Decanted for 1h30 and drank with a ribeye. Will hold the rest for 3 years minimum before trying again.
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Elegant style but dies a bit quickly on the mid palate. It’s young for a L’ecole so will have next one in 3-4 years to see if it develops further. It went well with Denver steak. Huckleberry or Marionberry, Black RaspberryDark cherry at the end Cedar and Vanilla all very light in a tight wrapper
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Younger, stronger and more powerful than the 2008 Perigee but still came in second in WOTN. Both great, just preferred the aged bottle. This was dark but not opaque. cooked dark fruits (black berries pie, plum cobbler), some olive, lots of tannins.
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Has a kind of saltiness and overt sweetness I often find with Washington cabs, like the cheaper Quilceda Creek. A bit one-dimensional. Held up well on the 2nd day.
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Really enjoyed this one. Big and round with a lot of flavor but just enough acidity and a little something herbal/savory in there to bring it all together. Drinking well from the jump, should go several more years but not sure I'd bury in the cellar long term.
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A complete wine. Well balanced, generous, appealing. For this palate, however, difficult to get excited about, as it lacks discernible sense of place, and features a generally non-descript red blend character.
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Fruit forward, full bodied, rich plum color, nice mellowing of cab with merlot.
Seems pricey, compared to many wines I have been having for $30, or less. The field of wines in WW has really gotten competitive. I guess one is paying for the consistency that L'Ecole offers.
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Consistent with previous note. While fruit forward, it would likely play in a blind flight of modernly styled Bordeaux. Showing well and likely to hold form, and perhaps improve, over the next several years. 92-93.
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Enjoyed with friends over for dinner. Lovely nose, flavorful wine, but still a bit hot, even though decanted a good 2 hours before drinking. This wine probably could benefit from a couple more years in the cellar.
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L’Ecole is one of my go to wineries so I might have some bias. This is my first bottle of this red blend (cab, merlot, cab franc and Malbec). The drinking range goes out to 2031 so no telling how great this will be. Now it is blackberry and dark sweet cherry with a large measure of black olive and oregano. If some black pepper shows up I will stop looking and fill my small cellar.
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Drank amongst 2 first growths (with lots of bottle age), cru barolo (also with lots of bottle age), cult napas, and others. I thought this really held its own at a price point substantially less expensive. Great expression of terroir, and not terribly unapproachable with a decant. Drink now-2030
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Fruit forward, though not excessively. Also, judiciously oaked. A wine of substance, featuring medium plus acid and medium tannin. Terroir here reminiscent of DuBrul. Intriguing and very young. So many big New World Bordeaux tributes lack balance. This is not one of those wines. Let it rest. 92-93.
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Ruby/purple color medium density, very bright and clear. Nose is tight cab essence, cassis and mulberry, very clean but reluctant in the glass early on. The palate reflects the nose, and reveals even more structure in this wine. Cab fruit hinting of ripeness, but held in check by tight tannin. A more elegant, claret style here, but needing time...a lot of promise here.
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A blend of 56% CS, 32% Merlot, 6% CF and 6% Malbec. Hello Bordeaux! Dark plum confit, stewed blackberries, blackcurrants, warm cooking spices. Excellent palate with good length – the aggressive tannins show than this wine needs time, but will be something exciting if you have the patience.
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4/3/2024 - Janstan Likes this wine: 88 Points
Still quite too young will try again in 3 years. Tannins are dominant. Marion berry, blackberry then light cedar
.
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11/19/2023 - kitkat4 wrote: 88 Points
Had the 2017 and 2012 last year and liked them quite a bit, but could not get into the 2014. It was mosty about the fruit, little secondary notes, and the fruit seemed a bit harsh. Didn't take detailed notes. Really needed food to enjoy it
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5/16/2023 - Wine12345 wrote:
Drink now; this wine is no longer improving with age.
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5/15/2023 - PDXinSEA Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium intensity of aroma, still quite dark with little bricking. Barrel notes still somewhat prominent. Despite noticeable oak notes, well-balanced with dark plum-like fruit starting to move into secondary phase. Some complexities of tobacco leaf. Medium+ length. I liked it a lot more than everyone else.
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4/5/2023 - Folkmar wrote:
Sight: The wine is clear with a medium ruby color.
Nose: The nose is clean with a medium(+) intensity aroma of blackberry, black cherry, black currant, vanilla, baking spice, and a hint of leather.
Palate: The wine is dry with high acidity, medium(+) alcohol, medium(+) tannins, and a medium(+) body. The flavors on the palate are consistent with the nose, with additional notes of cedar and tobacco. The finish is long.
Conclusion: This is a high-quality wine with well-integrated tannins and a complex flavor profile. It can be enjoyed now or aged further (5-7 years).
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1/28/2023 - PMHouser Likes this wine: 95 Points
still going strong, lots of structure and deep fruit.
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12/26/2022 - ibglowin Likes this wine: 90 Points
This wine was good but just not great IMHO. It went up against a 2014 Gorman Zachary's Ladder and the Zac's Ladder blew it away and at half the price point of the Ferguson. Having had several bottles of Ferguson now it seems they may be better drunk early rather than later in life. Tannins had faded way back and the finish was not all that long. YMMV.
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12/21/2022 - RJWallis wrote: 94 Points
Love this vintage. Three hour decant of this magnum, consumed over next two hours, continuing to improve. Beautifully balanced, wonderful acidity with the malbec being deliciously present on the finish. WOTN our of a great lineup.
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3/29/2022 - Monks_Mood Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still too tannic for my preference but not unexpected. Decanted for 1h30 and drank with a ribeye. Will hold the rest for 3 years minimum before trying again.
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2/28/2022 - rakasome Likes this wine: 92 Points
No change in my previous note.
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3/7/2021 - PMHouser Likes this wine: 95 Points
Lovely wine, still has legs but is drinking well now.
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2/18/2021 - Quaffable Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still pretty tannic, needs time.
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12/15/2020 - rakasome Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not as fruity as I had expected. Is very good. Maybe another year or 3.
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12/11/2020 - Janstan Likes this wine: 88 Points
Elegant style but dies a bit quickly on the mid palate. It’s young for a L’ecole so will have next one in 3-4 years to see if it develops further. It went well with Denver steak. Huckleberry or Marionberry, Black RaspberryDark cherry at the end Cedar and Vanilla all very light in a tight wrapper
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11/15/2020 - Brentwjohnston1932 wrote: 95 Points
Better than reviews indicate- couple hour decant-
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10/17/2020 - korkd wrote: 93 Points
This is going to be special but needs time
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6/26/2020 - jm98029 wrote:
Jammy, starting to lose alcohol, good mouth feel, blackcherry. A little bitter. Complexity. 4-5 years to mellow.
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3/27/2020 - SGates Likes this wine: 92 Points
Younger, stronger and more powerful than the 2008 Perigee but still came in second in WOTN. Both great, just preferred the aged bottle. This was dark but not opaque. cooked dark fruits (black berries pie, plum cobbler), some olive, lots of tannins.
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2/1/2020 - John McCabe wrote: 91 Points
Has a kind of saltiness and overt sweetness I often find with Washington cabs, like the cheaper Quilceda Creek. A bit one-dimensional. Held up well on the 2nd day.
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11/5/2019 - domco wrote:
Really enjoyed this one. Big and round with a lot of flavor but just enough acidity and a little something herbal/savory in there to bring it all together. Drinking well from the jump, should go several more years but not sure I'd bury in the cellar long term.
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8/31/2019 - Motz wrote: 92 Points
A complete wine. Well balanced, generous, appealing. For this palate, however, difficult to get excited about, as it lacks discernible sense of place, and features a generally non-descript red blend character.
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7/6/2019 - jm98029 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fruit forward, full bodied, rich plum color, nice mellowing of cab with merlot.
Seems pricey, compared to many wines I have been having for $30, or less. The field of wines in WW has really gotten competitive. I guess one is paying for the consistency that L'Ecole offers.
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6/26/2019 - Motz wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous note. While fruit forward, it would likely play in a blind flight of modernly styled Bordeaux. Showing well and likely to hold form, and perhaps improve, over the next several years. 92-93.
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5/12/2019 - FelineAvenger Likes this wine:
Enjoyed with friends over for dinner. Lovely nose, flavorful wine, but still a bit hot, even though decanted a good 2 hours before drinking. This wine probably could benefit from a couple more years in the cellar.
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2/8/2019 - spicy1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
L’Ecole is one of my go to wineries so I might have some bias. This is my first bottle of this red blend (cab, merlot, cab franc and Malbec). The drinking range goes out to 2031 so no telling how great this will be. Now it is blackberry and dark sweet cherry with a large measure of black olive and oregano. If some black pepper shows up I will stop looking and fill my small cellar.
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10/22/2018 - Margaux Bro Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank amongst 2 first growths (with lots of bottle age), cru barolo (also with lots of bottle age), cult napas, and others. I thought this really held its own at a price point substantially less expensive. Great expression of terroir, and not terribly unapproachable with a decant. Drink now-2030
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10/20/2018 - Bro-rolo Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bro-Rolo's/Margaux Bro's POLITICKIN' PAUL SUPERPAC PACKY THROWDOWN; 10/18/2018-10/20/2018 (The White House): how bout we don't tell all the Napa snobs about Columbia Valley...that way we can keep drinking 94 pt $50 buck wine...and they can keep disposing of their after tax income in the trash on caymus special selection lolz
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6/2/2018 - Motz wrote: 93 Points
Fruit forward, though not excessively. Also, judiciously oaked. A wine of substance, featuring medium plus acid and medium tannin. Terroir here reminiscent of DuBrul. Intriguing and very young. So many big New World Bordeaux tributes lack balance. This is not one of those wines. Let it rest. 92-93.
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12/31/2017 - PMHouser Likes this wine: 95 Points
Great wine, dark fruit with minerality, flint, rock, grippy tannins. Will cellar for many years.
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9/12/2017 - Helenachuck Likes this wine:
Ruby/purple color medium density, very bright and clear. Nose is tight cab essence, cassis and mulberry, very clean but reluctant in the glass early on. The palate reflects the nose, and reveals even more structure in this wine. Cab fruit hinting of ripeness, but held in check by tight tannin. A more elegant, claret style here, but needing time...a lot of promise here.
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7/3/2017 - RieslingFanatic Likes this wine:
A blend of 56% CS, 32% Merlot, 6% CF and 6% Malbec. Hello Bordeaux! Dark plum confit, stewed blackberries, blackcurrants, warm cooking spices. Excellent palate with good length – the aggressive tannins show than this wine needs time, but will be something exciting if you have the patience.
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3/28/2017 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
First year on three. Lots of mineralogy on the nose, and tight and structure and powerful.
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3/17/2017 - kimbo9591 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank to early after delivery, needed to settle in wine cave, awaiting 2016 to taste again
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