Description
Winemaker’s Comments
For over 40 years, L’Ecole has built long-term partnerships with the oldest and most proven vineyards, providing access to some of the best fruit in the Columbia Valley. With an average vine age of more than 20 years, this wine shows a classic Cabernet Sauvignon profile of firm structure, integrated tannins, and dark expressive fruit.
Tasting Notes
With its classic Cabernet profile, this expressive wine shows layers of dark fruits, cocoa, graphite, thyme, and espresso accented by a subtle hint of lavender. The palate showcases blackberry, cassis, and herb flavors leading to a flavorful finish supported by fine tannins.
2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Columbia Valley
93 PTS, CELLAR SELECTION
Wine Enthusiast, Michael Alberty – October 2024
A dark raspberry aroma is one thing. But when you add aromas of
earth, mint, rosemary and the sweet citrus scent of a guarana perfume,
you have something amazing. A lightning bolt of acidity teams up with
grippy tannins to support blackberry and black tea flavors. The texture
is still a bit chewy. Enjoy 2024–2035.
93 PTS, CRITIC’S CHOICE
Northwest Wine Report, Sean P. Sullivan – May 2024
This is one of the best offerings of L’Ecole’s Columbia Valley Cabernet
Sauvignon in recent memory. 100% varietal, fruit comes from 10
vineyards spanning from the Horse Heaven Hills to the Wahluke Slope,
Candy Mountain, and Walla Walla Valley. It was aged 22 months in
French, American, and Hungarian oak (20% new). The aromas offer
notes of cocoa, black tea, cherry, raspberry, and fresh herb. The
palate brings a suite of red and black fruit flavors. Fresh acid and
well-integrated tannins frame it all beautifully. The balance is spot on
throughout. It sails on the finish. This wine is accessible now but will
also have a long life ahead of it. It punches way above its weight class.
92 PTS
JamesSuckling.com, Claire Nesbitt – March 2024
Blackberry, olive, iodine and beef broth aromas make for a very savory
cabernet. Saline and minerally on the palate, with a firm tannin frame
and a medium to full body. Firm finish. Best after 2025.
92 PTS
OwenBargreen.com, Owen Bargreen – April 2024
100% varietal the 2021 L’Ecole No 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet
Sauvignon comes from a range of site throughout the Columbia
Valley. Dark in the glass, this offers rich figs and milk chocolate notes
alongside blackberry and tobacco on the nose. The palate is soft and
refined with a silky texture and good sense of weight. Drink 2024-2032.
92 PTS
Wine Spectator, Tim Fish – December 2024
Appealingly structured and expressive, offering black cherry and dark
plum flavors accented by licorice and coffee bean tones that finish with
fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2031.
92 PTS
Decanter, Clive Pursehouse – April 2024
Mouthfuls of herbs and eucalyptus frame this black-fruited and dusty
Cabernet Sauvignon from 11 different Washington vineyard sites,
including stand-out vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills and Walla
Walla. The palate is concentrated with green and black peppercorn
spices framing black figs, currants and baking chocolate.
91 PTS
JebDunnuck.com, Jeb Dunnuck – July 2024
Largely in the same correct, impeccably made style, the 2021 Cabernet
Sauvignon has darker currants and cherry fruits supported by tobacco
leaf, loamy earth, leather, and spicy aromas and flavors. It’s medium-
bodied, beautifully balanced, has fine tannins, and outstanding length.
91 PTS
Vinous, Eric Guido – October 2024
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley impresses with a dark
mix of crushed black cherries and raspberries complicated by hints of
gravel dust and lavender pastille. Cedar tones emerge over a core of
brisk acidity. The 2021 tapers off with tension, long and saturating, as
edgy tannins tug at the cheeks and a flourish of wild blueberries lingers
on.
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