2011 L'Ecole No 41 Ferguson Vineyard
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Tasting notes
57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc. This is the first vintage from the Ferguson vineyard. The wine was originally released in 2014. Fresh purple- and black-fruit aromas with savoury, lightly earthy notes. The palate is mouth-watering with lots of palate-stimulating acidity and persistent yet very fine-grained tannin. There is an abundance of flavour and of length. The wine offers a nice balance of fresh, dark fruits, a mix of fresh, resinous herbs, savoury character and a graphite note that carries into a long finish. This vintage is still decidedly youthful and fresh though it also feels like age has helped the wine to open more and reveal itself. Persistent and quite lengthy. There is a lighter, fresher character to this vintage that I find quite pleasing and which likely comes from a combination of a cooler vintage overall and the blend not yet including the deeper-toned characters of Malbec and Petit Verdot. (ECB)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate
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A new cuvee for the estate and more focused and tight, the 2011 Estate Ferguson is 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc that spent 22 months in 50% new French oak barrels. Coming completely from the Ferguson vineyard in Walla Walla, it’s a slightly longer term prospect and gives up ample dark berry fruit, scorched earth, charcoal and graphite to go with a medium+-bodied, tight, focused and linear profile. Give it 2-3 years in the cellar and enjoy bottles through 2025. This was another fine set of releases from proprietors Megan and Marty Clubb. One of the original estates in Walla Walla, their entire lineup is solid, and in most cases, represents value. Tel. (509) 525-0940; www.lecole.com