Nose
Bright yet rich, our Estate Luminesce features pronounced aromas of lemon zest, lime blossom, and lanolin, accented with faint spice notes.
Palate
Its exotic and fragrant palate, with white peach and lemon tart, is laced with notes of jasmine and a hint of salinity, building to a persistent, tangy finish.
Growing Conditions
L’Ecole N° 41 is a partner in the 170 acre acclaimed Seven Hills Vineyard, which is planted in wind-blown loess of geologically young and mineral-rich soils. Originally planted in 1981, this Certified Sustainable and Salmon Safe vineyard was recognized as one of the Ten Great Vineyards of the World by Wine & Spirits Magazine.
Harvest
An overall mild growing season and challenging harvest have nonetheless delivered a high-quality vintage for L’Ecole. A cold and snowy February/March delayed field pruning, resulting in budbreak late April to early May. A warm May accelerated canopy growth and the onset of bloom. Cooler July temperatures moderated heat unit accumulation with veraison delayed 7 to10 days from normal. August brought customary warm weather, with only a few heat spikes over 100°F. A warm early September initiated a normal harvest, which was slowed due to slightly rainy and cooler conditions. A light frost at the end of September along with a forecast of more freezing weather on its way accelerated picking, with 60% of our fruit harvested the first two weeks of October. Freezing weather quickly brought the season to a close the second week of October. With delight, we are seeing beautiful and elegant wines, with high natural acidity, and impressive structure.
Bottling
Bottling Date: May 28, 2020
Winemaking
The grapes were harvested in the cool, early morning hours and promptly delivered to the winery for immediate pressing. The fruit was whole-cluster pressed to tank and allowed to settle. The juice was racked to neutral French oak barrels where it completed a slow, steady primary fermentation. The wine aged sur lie four months in tight-grained French oak barrels and then transferred to stainless steel tank for finishing.
