The purple/black 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley was aged for 22 months in 40% new French oak. It delivers an excellent nose of balsam wood, leather, violets, black cherry, and blackberry. Round, plush, and friendly on the palate with nicely concealed fine-grained tannin, it should continue to blossom for several more years and offer a drinking window extending through 2022. L’Ecole No. 41, under the leadership of Marty Clubb, is one of Walla Walla’s pioneers, the third modern day winery in the Valley. Over the years the winery has prospered, outgrown the namesake schoolhouse, and now is about to outgrow the charming label which may have contributed to its fame. Be that as it may, L’Ecole now produces about 35,000 cases with distribution in all 50 states and abroad. Despite the expansion, quality has remained consistently excellent as has pricing, no doubt the main reason why L’Ecole seems to have survived the recession without too much pain. Tel. (509) 525-0940; www.lecole.com

This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from an all-star collection of Walla Walla vineyards. It shows excellent structure and depth, with plenty of herbal character. The black fruits are abundant, spicy and sharp; this is a young wine from a great vintage than needs more bottle age. The layering, though still tight and compact, suggests that with cellaring this will evolve into Bordeaux-like complexity, with a mix of herb, mineral, leaf and berry flavors. The barrel flavors (40% new) are subtle and elegant.——P.G.(12/1/2010)—— 93