Walla Walla Valley is predominately a red region. Only about 5% of grapes in this corner of southeastern Washington are white. So it felt kind of special to open a bottle of L’Ecole No. 41 Luminesce and shine a light on their two estate-grown whites, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc.
Family-owned L’Ecole No. 41 was the third winery in the Walla Walla wine region and the 20th commercial winery in Washington state. The winery is housed in the historic Frenchtown School just west of Walla Walla. The Walla Walla Valley was voted America’s Best Wine Region in the 2020 USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
Throughout 2021, a group of wine bloggers has been partnering with L’Ecole and tasting many of the wines in their portfolio. For details on L’Ecole wines I’ve tasted, check out these posts:
Please note that while the wines for these posts were provided, opinions are my own.
Luminesce is made from grapes grown in L’Ecole’s Seven Hills Vineyard (see map below). Seven Hills is a warm parcel of land consisting of Loess soil, a super-fine, pulverized granite that derives from ancient glacial activity and has the feel of talc. A number of local wineries source grapes from this vineyard.
The 2020 Luminesce is 62% Semillon and 38% Sauvignon Blanc. These two grapes are well-known and compatible blending partners. Semillon brings body and fullness, while Sauvignon Blanc contributes acidity and tropical notes.
My tasting notes: Lemony yellow in color, it has an aromatic nose bright with citrus fruit and honeysuckle. The palate is both sharp and round, with white flowers and a lemony tartness, medium+ acidity and long finish. Alcohol: 14.5%. Price: $22. Tastes a lot like a classic Entre-deux-Mers Bordeaux white wine. Look for it at L’Ecole starting in August.
The spouse and I enjoyed this Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc blend with a not-too-spicy, light-style Chicken Tikka Masala over rice. Creaminess from the coconut milk and yogurt in this Indian dish complement the round palate of the Luminesce and take the edge off its tartness. This wine would also pair well with typical picnic foods: fried chicken, deviled eggs, or ham and cheese sandwiches on buttery croissants.
As temperatures climbed into the triple digits for the third week in eastern Washington, the L’Ecole staff talked about what this hot 2021 season will mean for the grapes.
In this heat, vines start to shut down. Instead of leaf-pulling, which typically happens this time of year to allow sunshine to ripen the grapes, vineyard managers are letting leaf canopies cover and shade the vines for now. They’re also misting the vines during the heat of the day.
Fortunately, temperatures have been dropping into the 60s overnight and this helps to lock in the region’s vaunted acidity.
Conclusion: Expect 2021 to look a lot like 2015, another hot year. Cluster sizes likely will be reduced and yields lower. But as for quality, everything is looking good!