L'Ecole No. 41 Yakima Valley Chenin Blanc 2024

Drink it now or cellar for up to 10 years. No need to decant, but best to open it half an hour before service. Founded in 1983, L'Ecole No. 41 is a family-owned winery located in the Walla Walla Valley in Washington State. It produces exceptional wines, considered among the best in the entire state, using organic and sustainable methods. This elegant Vouvray-style Chenin Blanc has been made since 1987, using grapes from old vines at Willard Farms, Upland Vineyard, Snipes Mountain, and Phil Church vineyards, all located in the Yakima Valley and planted in 1979. After hand-picking in the cool morning hours and gentle pressing, fermentation takes place in stainless steel at a controlled temperature. The finished wine is then bottled after clarification and filtration. The result is a fresh, crisp, and aromatic wine that reveals fruity notes of Granny Smith apple, pear, and ripe citrus on the nose, followed by hints of honeysuckle and wet stone. On the palate, it is soft and round, with a creamy texture and excellent concentration. It has bright acidity and a pronounced minerality. It is juicy, broad, and complex, with a long finish that evokes notes of lemon curd and herbs. It pairs deliciously with fish, vegetarian dishes, and roast chicken in lemon sauce.