This is a big black beauty with juicy acidity and firm tannins. Wow, this Bordeaux-style blend is going to age beautifully. I love blends that include all five noble grapes – Cabernet Sauvignon 56%, Merlot 18%, Cabernet Franc 14%, Malbec 7%, and Petit Verdot 5%. This is an exceptionally well-structured, powerful vineyard-designate red blend from Ferguson Vineyard, a high-elevation block and one of L’Ecole’s premier estate sites.
The wine is big – Fruit, oak, tannin, alcohol – however, all components are fully in balance and I believe, intended for extended aging, i.e., investment wine. Drink this red blend now with food or hold 7-10 years for optimal drinking.
What to pair with this wine tonight? The NY Times provides an answer – Grilled Eggplant Lasagne with a simple arugula salad – and the wine shines.
Read Winemaker Marcus Rafanelli’s Wine Character interview, and learn why he selected this wine as most emblematic of the brand.