L'Ecole No 41 Estate Merlot 2022

This expressive Merlot reveals brooding aromatics of Bing cherry, fresh blackberry, cinnamon, savory cedar, and espresso completed with rose petals and a touch of sage. Its concentrated texture is laced with basalt-driven minerality, and notes of graphite, cocoa, and spice that are complemented by refined tannins leading to a fresh and focused finish.

ESTATE VINEYARDS:
Ferguson Vineyard 50% - Fractured basalt
Seven Hills Vineyard 50% - Wind-blown loess
These prestigious vineyards are Certified Sustainable and Certified Salmon Safe.

•  A cooler-than-average growing season resulted in a late harvest with above-average yields and outstanding wine quality with higher natural acidity, lower sugars, wonderful balance, and a beautiful expression of fruit.
• A warm winter finish resulted in a bud break for early varietals in late March/early April. Bud break for later varietals was delayed due to a cold and snowy April which kept wind machines running, followed by a cool and wet May. The weather cooperated at bloom, and we experienced an excellent fruit set with bloom two weeks later than normal.
• July and August were hot with large canopy growth from spring moisture. Mildew pressure was high and caused some problems in isolated vineyards. High heat shut canopies down and prevented excessive berry growth.
• Veraison was two weeks later than normal. A warmer fall with cool nights created perfect late-season ripening conditions, with the majority of harvest occurring in October.
• Long hang time contributed to ideal fruit balance and flavors that developed in advance of sugars, creating an expectation of wonderful 2022 vintage wines. Despite challenges that arose during the growing season, the dice rolled in our favor at each turn.

• 40 years of meticulous vineyard management and winemaking experience are fundamental to the quality of our wines and reputation for excellence.
• Each lot was hand-harvested ripe and gently crushed into 1.5-ton stainless steel fermenters.
• The fruit was gently handled throughout the winemaking process using hand punch downs and gravity-assisted movements.

• The wine was cleanly racked entirely to small French oak barrels, 30% new, over 18 months. The wine is un-fined and was gently filtered prior to bottling.

L’Ecole N° 41 is a third-generation family-owned, artisan winery located in the historic Frenchtown School depicted on our label.  Founded in 1983, we were the third winery established in the Walla Walla Valley.  We have become one of the most prominent and visible Walla Walla Valley wineries with national and international distribution.

L’Ecole is one of the most honored wineries in Washington State and has garnered national and international accolades over the years for producing superior-quality wines.  We are proud to be recognized by Wine & Spirits Magazine as a Top 100 Winery of the Year seventeen times.  In 2014, Decanter awarded our 2011 Estate Ferguson the International Trophy for Best Bordeaux Blend in the World!  In 2016, the 2013 Ferguson won the International Trophy for Best New World Bordeaux Blend from the Six Nations Wine Challenge.