2017 L'Ecole No 41 Ferguson Vineyard
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Tasting notes
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec. Spiced and candied plums on the nose lift from the glass and carry into the palate. The spice elements are more apparent here than in the previous vintages but work well with the wine, offering a sophisticated layer to the dark-fruit character. The wine is juicy, mouth-watering and lengthy, with just a little bit of peppery heat through the finish. Fine-grained, lengthy tannin, well-balanced acidity and a lot of length. Tobacco leaf and resinous herbs emerge with air, while graphite persists throughout. There is a nice sense of freshness, alongside ripe dark fruits and good overall balance. Notes of spicy dark chocolate and a touch of dried plum emerge on the finish. (ECB)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Bright red-ruby but not quite as saturated as the Perigee (this wine is actually higher in acidity and has a higher pH than that wine). Complex, lightly medicinal aromas of dark berries, licorice, peppery herbs, tobacco leaf, menthol and minerals. Plush, fine-grained and concentrated, showing a restrained sweetness and a strong spicy quality to its piquant pomegranate and cranberry flavors, plus a subtle suggestion of white fruits. Conveys a strong impression of terroir character in its mineral firmness and brisk wind-driven acidity. Really showcases this fascinating site's long growing season in its combination of flavor complexity, intensity, gripping acidity and density without weight. Finishes with very refined tannins, resounding length and a touch of austerity. No easy sweetness here but already long on personality. (aged in 50% new oak)
A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec, the 2017 Ferguson Vineyard opens with an expressive nose with an aromatic lift. Wafting from the glass, the wine showcases a frame of delineated red and black fruits with a soft undertone of minerality that supports notions of succulent cherry, plum, spiced blackberry and elegant oak tones. Full-bodied, the wine is rich and focused, showing layers across the mid-palate with a balanced structure and lifted tannic edge. A sensation of mineral tension creeps along with flavors of dark chocolate-covered cherries, mocha, cinnamon, vanilla and plum preserves on the long-lingering finish. Nicely done.
I loved the 2017 Estate Ferguson Vineyard. This beauty is complex and nuanced, with stunning notes of crème de cassis, unsmoked tobacco, graphite, and crushed rocks. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, with good acidity and loads of structure, it's a balanced, beautiful wine that needs 4-5 years of bottle age and will evolve for over two decades. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Malbec, aged 22 months in 50% new oak.