Quasi Perfect: 2003 Apogee, Pepper Bridge Vineyard, Walla Wally Valley, L'Ecole 41

This is simply a stunning wine, someday it will be a breathtaking one. With a balance that a California wine could only dream about these days, here is an American hope to challenge  the elegance of fine Bordeaux. It’s not that such graceful power could not be constructed in Napa, but winemakers there are too point hungry to exercise any self control. L’Ecole No. 41 exhibits displined self-confidence in making an entire portfolio of wines driven by balance and style rather than power and points. In about five years this will be a wine to be remembered.

49% cabernet sauvignon, 45% merlot, 5% malbec, 3% cabernet franc