2015 L'Ecole No 41 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley
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Tasting notes
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla is deep and brooding, unwinding in the glass with aromas of ripe berries and plums that mingle with hints of pencil shavings and creamy new oak. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, with notable power and concentration, but it's all wrapped up in a tight corset of very firm, hard and aggressively extracted tannins that make me question the wine's ultimate balance. The mouth-puckering finish only confirmed my fears.
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Jeb Dunnuck
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
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A small step up in quality over the Columbia Valley release, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley (22 months in 40% new French oak) offers more purity and elegance as well as terrific notes of blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, damp earth, and chocolate. This medium to full-bodied, elegant, silky beauty has sweet tannin, integrated acidity, and a great finish. It's outstanding stuff. Winemakers Marty Clubb and Mike Sharon are behind this impeccably run estate, which is one of the few in Washington that sees good distribution in the United States. Their entry-level wines are always impeccably made and great values, and their top tier releases can compete with the best of Washington State.