L'Ecole No 41 Perigee Estate Seven Hills Vineyard Walla Walla Valley 2015 (750ml)

Winemaker's Comments

Our Estate Perigee captures the essence of Seven Hills Vineyard’s characteristic rich elegance, seductive aromas and earthy structure. L’Ecole has been producing wines from Seven Hills Vineyard since 1993. We hand-select our oldest and most distinguished blocks to produce this stunning, flagship wine.

Tasting Notes

Perigee exemplifies this vineyard’s characteristic cedar and black plum structured elegance. Alluring aromas of blueberry, cigar box and herbal flavors are accented with notes of cassis and earth, on a fine tannin finish.

VINTAGE

■ The 2015 vintage in Washington is now the warmest vintage on record.

■ Bud break was two or three weeks early. That set a pattern for the year with fowering, fruit set, Veraison, and harvest occurring similarly early.

An unusual number of excessive heat days in July (over 95 F) resulted in some vine shut down and early exposure to sunburn. Proper irrigation and canopy management were critical to ensure vine health and quality fruit health during the unusually hot July.

■ Mid-August temperatures moderated with cooler nights stimulating color and structure development. Classically moderate fall temperatures kicked in extending hang-time.

■ Vines adapted to the three year warm cycle, delivering the earliest harvest on record with lower yields due to smaller berries, higher sugars and lower acids, yet deeply colored structured reds with exciting potential.

WINEMAKING

■ Over 30 years of meticulous vineyard management and winemaking experience are fundamental to the quality of our wines and reputation for excellence. We are engaged in growing and making 100% of our wines.

■ Each lot was hand harvested ripe and gently crushed into 1.5 and 5 ton open-topped stainless steel fermenters.

■ Gentle handling of the fruit through hand punch downs and gravity assisted movements were utilized throughout the entire winemaking process.

■ The wine was cleanly racked to 100% small French oak barrels, 40% new, with five rackings over 22 months.