80. L’Ecole No. 41 2011 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, $35
Marty and Megan Clubb partnered up with a number of the Walla Walla Valley’s most illustrious winemakers in this 230-acre site on the Oregon side of the appellation, first planted in 1981. Three decades later, it produced this glorious expression of Syrah, which offers up aromas of plum sauce, blackberry and strawberry jam, backed by dark chocolate, moist earth and savory notes of bacon. The drink is loaded with flavor, bringing back blackberry and dark chocolate, but the real fascination comes with the feathery tannin feel reminiscent of Marionberry skin. And there’s ample acidity in the finish for balance.
Production: 1,010 cases
Alcohol: 15%
Leave a Reply