Nose

With a flavor profile distinctly influenced by its volcanic basalt soil, Ferguson is a richly structured wine offering complex aromas of mineral-laced blackberries, expressive violet, black plums, and sandalwood.

Palate

Layers of fruit and espresso are framed by lifted tannins, integrated with graphite and crushed rocks on the palate. Precise and structured, Ferguson’s pronounced natural acidity carries through to a satiny yet firm finish.

Growing Conditions

L'Ecole's Estate Ferguson Vineyard is a stunning, high elevation site overlooking a panoramic view of the Walla Walla Valley. With 30 planted acres, vines are rooted in fractured basalt rock from 15-million-year-old ancient lava flows overlaid with a thin layer of wind-blown loess. The vineyard is Certified Sustainable and Certified Salmon-Safe.

Harvest

Perfectly dry harvest weather extended hang-time resulting in rich color and vibrant fruit flavors, another great vintage for Washington State. A late bud-break in mid-April was followed by a warm May with rapid canopy growth. A quick, even bloom set a uniform crop. A cool June contributed to healthy berry growth. July and early August were warm, with occasional heat spikes. Canopies were managed to avoid sunburn and irrigation was micromanaged. Intense cluster thinning was required to control yields. Veraison tracked 2017 in Walla Walla and was slightly ahead in other regions of the state. A brief rainfall shifted early September into cooler weather leading to two months of near-perfect weather conditions for final fruit maturity. Higher sugars were balanced against higher acid levels and wonderfully intense color and tannin extraction, big fruit flavors, and overall balanced structure. Another strong Washington vintage.

Bottling

Bottling Date: July 10, 2020

Winemaking

Each lot was hand-harvested ripe and gently crushed into 1.5 and 5 ton open-topped stainless steel fermenters. Gentle handling of the fruit through punch down cap management and gravity assisted movements were utilized throughout the entire winemaking process. The wine was cleanly racked entirely to small French oak barrels, 50% new, with four rackings over 22 months.