L'Ecole #41 Apogee Pepper Bridge Vineyard 08

2007 Vintage Tasting Notes

2007 Wine Advocate - 94 points - The fruit for the 2007 Apogee Pepper Bridge Vineyard matured 2 weeks later than the Seven Hills fruit. It is an almost identical blend with the exception of 6% Malbec and 4% Cabernet Franc and was aged in 50% new oak. Aromas of toasty oak, tobacco, leather, Asian spices, black currant, and black cherry leads to a more structured offering that will require 4-6 years of cellaring. Well-balanced, intense, and mouth-filling, it will amply reward those with patience.

2006 Vintage Tasting Notes

Boldly aromatic, this wine has spicy aromas of cinnamon and nutmeg, earthy hints of sweet tobacco and leather, and smoky dark fruit packed with a chocolate, mint and cherry finish. Let us know which vintage you'd like.

2005 Vintage Tasting Notes

2005 Wine Advocate - 93 points - The 2005 Apogee Pepper Bridge Vineyard is 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 7% Malbec, and 3% Cabernet Franc. Saturated purple colored, it has a slightly brooding nose of pain grille, pencil lead, spice box, and assorted black fruits. It is the most structured of the L'Ecole reds with darker fruit and greater aging potential. Drink this superb effort between 2015 and 2030. - Jay Miller

The pinnacle, or apogee, of L'Ecole's red wines. Produced from Walla Walla's Pepper Bridge vineyard, the 2005 is a classic wine. Made for cellaring, yet ripe and open enough to decant and enjoy.

From the winery: The handpicked grapes were gently crushed and de-stemmed into small, one-ton stainless steel fermenters. The must was fermented with Pasteur Red and Cepage Cabernet yeast and gently punched down by hand two to three times daily. At the ideal balance of tannin and fruit extraction, the must was gently pressed and transferred to tank to settle. The resulting wine was aged 22 months in 100% small oak barrels with approximately 60% new oak. The wine was racked five times, then bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve its natural flavors.