Ferguson Vineyard Photo Courtesy of L'Ecole No. 41

The Bordeaux of Washington State
Depth & Savoriness 

Much has been written about the beauty and earthiness that Washington State Cabernet and its blends produce across Columbia Valley and Walla Walla. Chateau Ste. Michele brought recognition and fame to the region for their widely available and affordable wines. Quilceda Creek brought fame and huge press praise for their Cabernet Sauvignons and their connection to the legendary André Tchelistcheff.

Along the way there have been other great properties in Washington, some with flash and splash and others that are consistent producers turning out great wine on a moderate scale. Two properties that we have come to love are Delille and L’Ecole. 

Both Delille and L’Ecole produce wines that really speak of their vineyards and when it comes to Cabernet Sauvignon and blending, the wines are foremost savory, earthy, powerful and balanced with some taunt acidity. There is plenty of fruit to compete with Napa and Bordeaux but these wines lean heavily to the old world rather than their southern counterparts.

Grand Ciel is one of the core vineyards of Delille on Red Mountain. A site where Cabernet Sauvignon thrives, turning out a cross of Pauillac (Lynch-Bages like) and Pessac (La Mission Haut-Brion like) expressions with a dollop of new world sunshine. These are some substantial wines that not only are built for the cellar but enjoyable in their youth with proper preparation. Loaded with that cigar box and lead pencil smokiness, these wines possess great texture and depth that naturally open to reveal layers of bitter chocolate and coffee interwoven with the smell of freshly plowed stony soil.

The Ferguson Vineyard for L’Ecole has always been one of those great sites that produces a wine that punches well above its price point. Here Cabernet is blended to consistently yield a wine that is aromatically more about the herbal and leafy character of the Bordeaux blend. The luscious fruit holds the baking spice and decadence in check with the savory edge, creating a very sensual texture and length. 

These are two classic examples of Washington State Cabernet and how these wines are unique to this place.

Cheers,
Jeremy