Vintage Character L'Ecole No 41 Chenin Blanc 2022 from Yakima Valley is a dry Washington white built on one of the state’s most established traditions for old-vine Chenin Blanc. The 2022 growing season delivered a long, even ripening period after a cool spring, helping preserve the grape’s hallmark acidity while allowing generous stone-fruit flavor to develop. Sourced from historic Yakima Valley vineyards, this wine benefits from the region’s sunny days, cool nights, and arid conditions, a combination that encourages concentration, freshness, and a distinctly lifted mineral edge.
Tasting Profile & Food Pairing In the glass, it offers expressive aromas of white peach, Meyer lemon, green apple, and orange blossom, backed by hints of wet stone, ginger, and a light touch of honeyed lees complexity. The palate is medium-bodied and lively, with crisp acidity carrying citrus and orchard-fruit flavors across a supple texture into a clean, mouthwatering finish. It pairs beautifully with roast chicken with herbs, seared halibut, or sushi, making it an especially versatile bottle at the table.
Winery Background Founded in 1983, L'Ecole No 41 is one of Washington’s pioneering family-owned wineries and is famously based in a former 1915 schoolhouse in Lowden. The estate has built its reputation on French-inspired wines that faithfully express Washington terroir, with a longstanding commitment to sustainable vineyard practices and meticulous fruit selection. For this Chenin Blanc, the focus is on preserving freshness and vineyard character, typically through careful handling, cool fermentation, lees aging, and restrained use of oak or stainless-steel élevage to highlight the purity and age-worthy charm of old-vine fruit.