2016 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  Thanks to the snow this past week, my yard is full of snow topped with leaves still, which meant I got a break from leaf blowing and raking today!  So instead I did a bunch of errands around town, and am now ready for a relaxing evening.  And what better way to relax than opening a nice bottle of wine to enjoy, tonight it's a recent wine club selection from L'Ecole No. 41 in Washington.  The 2016 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon is a 100% Cabernet from five different vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley AVA, including the Estate Ferguson, Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills, Summit View and Stone Valley Vineyards.  So let's see how this classic Cabernet is shaping up!

The wine is a deep indigo at the center with bright garnet along the edges.  The nose is a beckoning array of blue and black fruit, intermingled with lavender and a a bit of cocoa powder.  The taste is an interesting balance of new world and old world styles, with a new world rush of ripe fruit at the outset, blueberry, blackberry, plum and cherry that break through the door, followed by distinct mineral notes of basalt mixed with tobacco and dark chocolate.  The tannins are nicely polished providing an ideal backing for the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish that reminds me of a classic Bordeaux.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's a great example of the varietal and truly highlights the differences between the more elevated Cabernet of Walla Walla compared to the more aggressive, in your face Cabernets of Napa.  This wine is an ideal one for fall, pairing nicely with a broad range of dishes from beef short ribs to pasta, steaks and chops to hearty stews.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime New York strip, topped with Bearnaise sauce, some grilled asparagus and a big baked potato.  Cheers!