It's the first Saturday of the new month, which means this is Cellar Saturday, that magical time when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making. Tonight is a special treat as I had long forgotten I had this wine, the 2007 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is a treat as well as this was the last vintage with the old school house label that was the signature of L'Ecole until they updated to a photo of the schoolhouse at the 25th anniversary vintage in 2008. So, let's see how this wine is tasting now that it's nearly old enough to drive.
I decanted the wine for about an hour before tasting which is always a risk with an older wine, but we'll see whether it was a mistake. The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with just a hint of amber along the edges. Take a whiff and you're greeted by aromas of prune, blackberry and cherry, intermingled with floral notes of lilac. Take a sip and your mind it blown at the rush of tart cherry at the outset, that easily transitions to notes of mocha, dusty loam and peppery spice midpalate. The tannins are still firm and well structured, providing for a velvety smooth, dry finish that lingers until your next sip.
Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it's drinking marvelously after 16 years, but clearly has a lot of life left in it. This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops to barbecue or tacos. Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Angus ribeye along with some grilled corn on the cob with elote spice. Cheers!
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