What I Drank With Dinner (WIDWD) Whenever I stumble upon a bottle of Washington or Oregon wine that is made from a varietal that is off the beaten path, I will always buy it. No matter what the chance it might be poured down the drain, these wines are worth a try. Why? You just never know when one of these easily overlooked varietals might become a newly discovered favorite. Such is the case with the L'Ecole No 41 "Walla Voila" 2007 Chenin Blanc ($12.99), which was described on the back label in the following manner: A trademark of...

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Posted by Thad W. at 07:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Considering how often we visit Walla Walla to see famiy and friends, I can't believe it's taken us almost four years to finally eat at 26 Brix, a downtown restaurant that opened in 2004. During its first year in operation, we had heard that the place was a bit over-priced and high-brow, catering mostly to out-of-town tourists. It wasn't until the last two years or so that I had heard that 26 Brix had gone through a transformation, revamping its menu and lowering its prices to appeal to the local population. It seems these changes have paid off, for on...

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Posted by Thad W. at 05:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What I Drank With Dinner (WIDWD) Boy, did this L'Ecole Nº 41 wine live up to its label, which states, "The fruit for our Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Syrah was harvested ultra-ripe, resulting in a dark, massive and dense wine." It certainly was a big, extracted wine with dark cherry fruit, providing a hearty wine on a cold winter night. Even still, it paired well with the grilled filet mignon we had last night with roasted fennel, red onions and carrots along with onion rings. The kosher salt and ground pepper seasoned free range beef was served with a chipotle...

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Posted by Thad W. at 08:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Highway 12 going to Walla Walla, you'll find L'Ecole No 41 winery just outside the town of Lowden. Like the other wineries on Highway 12 coming east into town, L'Ecole is a frequent stop for folks traveling to Walla Walla. And this Monday visit was no exception, with about a half dozen cars in the parking lot. L'Ecole No 41 is named after the school house in which it is located. It is a beautifully restored building that was originally constructed in 1915. L'Ecole produces about 30,000 cases each year, making it one of the larger wineries in the...

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Posted by Thad W. at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)