Perigee

Columbia Valley, USA

L'Ecole No 41's prestige Bordeaux blend from Columbia Valley sources, the flagship of this family winery established in 1983 in a historic schoolhouse in Frenchtown near Walla Walla. Perigee — the point of closest orbital approach — represents L'Ecole's ambition at its most concentrated: primarily merlot with cabernet sauvignon, assembled for complexity and approachability. A consistently reliable benchmark that represents Washington's quality ceiling for family estate winemaking at the premium tier.

Pairing intelligence

• main: Braised Wagyu is one of the richest preparations in fine dining. Perigee's tannic structure binds to the collagen-derived gelatin and fat from 6-hour braising; the wine's cassis and cedar complement the deep, concentrated beef flavour. Gremolata's fresh herbal acidity mirrors the wine's herbal Cabernet Franc component. A pairing built on matching intensity across every dimension.
• main: The Cabernet-dominant Bordeaux blend of Walla Walla mirrors the structured, herbal power of lamb perfectly — rosemary and cassis singing together across the bridge.
• cheese: Perigee's structured Cabernet weight and dark fruit find perfect resonance with the nuttiness of aged Comté; quince bridges to the wine's own stone-fruit register.
• fish course: Perigee's structured Red Mountain tannin and deep blackcurrant character provides the structural foil that duck liver parfait requires; port reduction bridges the wine's cassis and walnut brioche adds earthy depth.
• starter: The structured tannin and black cassis of Red Mountain Cabernet cuts through the luxurious fat of the foie gras, while the truffle amplifies the wine's earth and graphite.