L’Ecole No. 41 is the name of the winery established by Jean and Baker Ferguson in eastern Washington in 1983. It was the third winery created in the Walla Walla Valley, now a hot spot for world-class wines. Today, their daughter, Megan Clubb, and her husband, Marty, operate the winery with their children, Rebecca and Riley. While L’Ecole may be better known for well-structured, long lived red wines, this Chenin Blanc is testament to a broader range of skill. The grapes come vines planted in the late 1970s at three highly respected vineyards in the Yakima Valley: Upland Vineyard, Rothrock Vineyard and Phil Church. In its second year in the bottle, it is fresh and lively with floral, citrus aromas, peach and Granny Smith apple flavors intensified by vibrant acidity.
L’Ecole No. 41, Columbia Valley (Washington) Chenin Blanc 2017
By Rebecca Murphy