2016 L'Ecole No. 41 Klipsun Cabernet-Merlot

Well the week is certainly moving along, and unfortunately we are back to winter after we thought spring finally arrived last weekend, it was only 40 degrees when I got up this morning!  So in that light, having a somewhat heavier wine might be appropriate to keep the chill at bay.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2016 L'Ecole No. 41 Klipsun Cabernet Merlot blend from the Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) and Merlot (40%) from the Klipsun vineyard, which was originally planted in 1984 and has become one of my favorite vineyards for Cabernet.  So let's see what this one has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky indigo at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from the blend.  The nose presents aromas of smoke, dusty limestone, ripe black cherry and blackberry with just a hint of lilac layered over the top.  The taste is a rush of rich, ripe fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant that transitions nicely to some notes of caramel, mocha and dusty limestone midpalate.  The fine grain tannins offer ample support for the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just an exceptionally pleasant wine to just sip in the evening, by a warm fire in late May!!!  This wine would pair well with big steaks, chops, Sunday Yankee pot roast or even some great barbecue.  But tonight, I'm enjoying this wine with just some leftovers, so clearly my focus this evening is on the wine and not the food!  Cheers!