The rounded, voluptuously textured 2013 Seven Hills Vineyard Merlot (there’s 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc) gives up tons of chocolately dark fruits, smoked earth and hints of herbs to go with solid purity, medium to full-bodied richness and no hard edges. It’s singing already and I see no need to delay gratification either.

A more serious effort, which was first produced in 1993, the 2010 Merlot Seven Hills Vineyard is a ripe, fleshy effort that has complex aromas of lavender, licorice, spring flowers and plum-styled fruit all emerging from the glass. A blend of 78% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Cabernet Franc, this polished, silky red is medium-bodied, lightly textured and perfectly balanced. It should drink nicely through 2018. Drink now-2018. One of the oldest producers in the Walla Walla Valley, with over three decades of history, L-Ecole 41 has been run by Megan and Marty Clubb since 1989. A relatively large producer, they have distribution throughout the US and produce a solid lineup of both value priced wines and top tier efforts. Tel. (509) 525-0940; www.lecole.com

Raised in 40% new wood and incorporating 12% each Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, the texturally polished L’Ecole 2009 Merlot Estate Seven Hills Vineyard boasts generously juicy dark cherry and plum fruit allied to game, leather and piquancy of fruit pit, striking a fine balance between richness and brightness, and persisting with mouthwatering savor, if relative simplicity. Based on a very limited experience with some older bottlings, I suspect this will be best enjoyed over the next 3-4 years. (The corresponding generic bottling was relatively tight and tart.) Celebrating three decades this year, L’Ecole 41 is under the direction of Megan and Marty Clubb – founders Jean and Baker Ferguson’s daughter and son-in-law – who met while at MIT’s Sloan School of Management and left consulting and management careers in 1989 to take over the family winery. The Ferguson’s brought prior viticultural experience to their winery, even though it was only the third to open in Walla Walla, and the next generation, in 1993, brought L’Ecole into partnership with Seven Hills Vineyard, even as they became the first winery to crush fruit from Pepper Bridge Vineyard. A recently planted second estate vineyard, Ferguson Ridge, is one of the so-called SeVein properties above Seven Hills. Beyond these sites, L’Ecole taps into many others, most well-known, ranging all across eastern Washington. (L’Ecole’s 2011 whites had only recently been bottled when I tasted the 2010s last July, and I did not have a chance last year to make good on that omission.) Tel. (509) 525-0940

The 2008 Merlot Seven Hills Vineyard Estate contains 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc in its blend and was aged for 18 months in 40% new French oak. Aromas of balsam wood, Asian spices, herbs, incense, violets, and black currant inform the nose of a spicy, savory, structured Merlot that is nicely proportioned and lengthy. It is likely to evolve for 2-3 years and drink well through 2023. L’Ecole No. 41, under the leadership of Marty Clubb, is one of Walla Walla’s pioneers, the third modern day winery in the Valley. Over the years the winery has prospered, outgrown the namesake schoolhouse, and has now outgrown the charming label which may have contributed to its fame. Be that as it may, L’Ecole now produces about 35,000 cases with distribution in all 50 states and abroad. Despite the expansion, quality has remained consistently excellent as has pricing. Tel. (509) 525-0940; www.lecole.com