Winemaker Notes
Since its inaugural vintage in 2011, Ferguson has quickly become L’Ecole No 41’s pre-eminent Bordeaux blend, furthering our reputation for excellent single-vineyard wines from the Walla Walla Valley. Ferguson reflects the unique terroir expression of its microclimate and geological site. This wine shares its name with our Ferguson Estate Vineyard.
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. 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.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Notes of blackberries, blueberries and spices on the nose. It’s full-bodied with chewy tannins. Structured, with a lot of wood and a juicy character on the center-palate. Mineral and racy. Flavorful finish. A blend of 55% cabernet sauvignon, 24% merlot, 11% cabernet franc, 5% malbec and 5% petit verdot. Drink in 2024.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2018 Ferguson Estate Ferguson Vineyard comes from an estate vineyard in Walla Walla and is based on 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Malbec and Petit Verdot. Lots of earthy currants and mulberry fruits, new leather, tobacco, and cedary herb notes define the nose, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a backward, unevolved profile, ripe tannins, and outstanding length on the finish. It opens up gradually with time in the glass and has a more savory, herbal, floral, complex, incredibly compelling character. It needs to be forgotten for 3-4 years and it should keep for 15-20 years nicely.
Rating: 94(+) -
Wine Enthusiast
Cabernet Sauvignon comprises 55% of this wine, with the balance Merlot (24%), Cabernet Franc (11%), and then equal parts Malbec and Petit Verdot. The fruit flavors show sophistication. It's packed tightly with youthful tannins, acidity and notes of cherry, black tea, raspberry and spice. It will have a very long life ahead of it.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Composed of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2018 Ferguson Vineyard starts with a gorgeous nose of elegant oak, fresh and ripe fruit tones and resinous purple flowers. Full-bodied, the blend displays immaculate balance, possessing both power and precision as flavors of spiced cherry compote, black plum skin and redcurrant sway with seductive tones of vanilla, cinnamon and nuances of cardamom madeleines. The wonderfully structured mid-palate displays firm tannins that will loosen in time, before concluding with a long-lingering and ever-evolving finish. The wine rested 22 months in French oak, 50% new. It's superb, and the best thing to do is to put it in the cellar and forget about it for a few years until it's found its stride. Bravo, I think I might finish the glass. Rating: 93+
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Responsible for some of Washington’s most highly acclaimed wines, the Walla Walla Valley has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years and is home to both historic wineries and younger, up-and-coming producers.
The Walla Walla Valley, a Native American name meaning “many waters,” is located in southeastern Washington; part of the appellation actually extends into Oregon. Soils here are well-drained, sandy loess over Missoula Flood deposits and fractured basalt.
It is a region perfectly suited to Rhône-inspired Syrahs, distinguished by savory notes of red berry, black olive, smoke and fresh earth. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot create a range of styles from smooth and supple to robust and well-structured. White varieties are rare but some producers blend Sauvignon Blanc with Sémillon, resulting in a rich and round style, and plantings of Viognier, while minimal, are often quite successful.
Of note within Walla Walla, is one new and very peculiar appellation, called the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. This is the only AVA in the U.S. whose boundaries are totally defined by the soil type. Soils here look a bit like those in the acclaimed Rhône region of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, but are large, ancient, basalt cobblestones. These stones work in the same way as they do in Chateauneuf, absorbing and then radiating the sun's heat up to enhance the ripening of grape clusters. The Rocks District is within the part of Walla Walla that spills over into Oregon and naturally excels in the production of Rhône varieties like Syrah, as well as the Bordeaux varieties.