L'Ecole - 2022 - Estate Merlot - 750 ml.

L’Ecole No. 41 Estate Merlot from Walla Walla Valley is a thoughtfully assembled, estate-driven Merlot that represents the region’s capacity for ripe, structured red wines. Sourced primarily from Seven Hills and Ferguson estate vineyards and matured in French oak, this Merlot delivers a plush but focused profile: dark cherry and blackberry fruit at the core, with savory oak and an underpinning of polished tannins. The texture is medium–to–full bodied, giving the wine weight and presence on the palate without becoming heavy. Its balance of fruit intensity and oak seasoning makes it versatile at the table — equally at home with roast lamb and beef short ribs as with mushroom risotto and a plate of aged cheddar. For collectors and regular drinkers alike, L’Ecole’s Estate Merlot offers both approachability and substance. On release it presents plush, expressive fruit and refined structure; cellar time will integrate the oak and allow tertiary savory notes to develop, though the wine is crafted to give pleasure relatively early. As a Walla Walla Valley benchmark for Merlot, this bottling showcases regionally ripe tannins and the influence of French oak without overshadowing the varietal character. Whether you’re seeking a refined dinner wine or a bottle to age for a handful of years, this Estate Merlot provides the integrity and pedigree expected from L’Ecole No. 41’s estate holdings.