Recently I met with Marty Clubb, who is the managing winemaker and, with his wife Megan, co-owner of L’Ecole No. 41, a winery in Lowden, Wash., a dozen miles west of Walla Walla.

L’Ecole was founded by Megan’s parents, Jean and Baker Ferguson, in 1983. Their ‘83 Merlot won the only gold medal issued by the 1986 Pacific Northwest Enological Society. L’Ecole No. 41 was the third winery in Walla Walla, and the 20th commercial winery in Washington. It has been named Winery of the Year by Wine & Spirits Magazine for nine consecutive years. The winery is located in the historic Frenchtown School pictured on their labels (hence, L’Ecole, the French word for “school”).

I was impressed with Marty’s commitment to his wines and the vineyards used to make them. His grapes come from two American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), Walla Walla and the Columbia Valley. He works closely with vineyard managers in making decisions that enhance his chosen wine style.

Here, at the Delta Oaks Market of Choice, we carry five of Marty’s Columbia Valley wines:

2010 Semillon – A small amount of Semillon is used in white Bordeaux wine to fatten up the Sauvignon Blanc grape. Marty’s Semillon is 86% Semillon with 16% Sauvignon Blanc, giving it nice acidity to round out the ripe pear fruit flavors. $12.99/750 ml.

2010 Chenin Blanc – This white has crisp acidity with wonderful minerality that pairs well with our Northwest clams and seafood. Wine Enthusiast gave this vintage 91 pts. $12.99/750 ml.

2009 Red Wine – A blend that is their most accessible wine for any occasion. Goes well with everything from pizza to steak. $17.99/750 ml.

2008 Merlot – Dry with dark pitted fruit flavors. Brings out the meatiness of a medium-rare steak. Wine Enthusiast gave this vintage 92 pts. $23.99/750 ml.

2008 Cabernet Sauvignon – A classic Washington Cab with a dark fruit, blackberry, and ripe plum profile, it will stand up wonderfully with any game steak. Wine Advocate scored it 90 pts. $29.99/750ml.

Marty and Megan’s children, Riley and Rebecca, are now involved in winery operations, making this a true family winery, heading into the third generation. They have taught their children well, as CSN&Y would say.

We’ve got some new wines at Delta that should warm you up as the weather turns cooler.

First is the Saint Cosme 2010 Cotes-du-Rhone. It’s 100% syrah grown on limestone sand and red clay. It’s a well balanced red with dark cherry fruit and a dusty finish, and an excellent example of southern Rhone syrah. It pairs well with all red meats and pasta dishes and will be a hit at supper time. $13.99/750 ml.

The new vintage of Sineann’s Abondante has arrived (2009). Sineann has been around since 1994 and has been making sought after wines out of Newberg, OR. The Abondante is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. A full bodied wine, the fruit tends to lean toward darker berries, with a touch of white pepper on the finish. I think the Zinfandel really comes through on this vintage. Great with steak. $17.99/750 ml.

I recently brought in a limited supply of a wine I was really infatuated with. Jean-Claude Lapalu Beaujolais Villages 2009 is 100% Gamay, but I would never have guessed it. This wine has solid structure, with pitted fruit up front, more plum than berry. A lot of Beaujolais Villages are much lighter, but this wine will hold up to any game meat you want to pair it with. It’s not for the faint of heart. $40.99/750 ml.

Come in and check out our selection. And give any one of these three gems a test drive for your next winter meal.

Are you ready for a lush Indian summer? We’ve got just the right wine for those beautiful sunsets we’ve been get these days.

Cave de Pomerols Picpoul de Pinet 2010 is a refreshing white with flavors of lime and melon, followed by good acidity and a minerality that cries out for shellfish and seafood. The French are masters at growing the perfect wine grapes that go with the regional food preferences, and the wines from these vineyards near the Mediterranean were made to go with the bounties of the sea. $10.99/750 ml.

We recently received a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon that you have to try! Siegel 2010 Reserve is 85% Cab fleshed out with 15% Syrah grown in Chile’s Colchagua Valley. It’s got a strong finish and that earthy quality we’ve come to expect from Chilean reds. At $10.99/750 ml. it is a good value wine that will hold up to game, beef, bratwurst or anything else you might throw on the grill.

Also, from neighboring Argentina, we’ve brought in an excellent Malbec. 2010 Maipe, from the foothills of the Andes in Mendoza, has wonderful dark berry fruit with a touch of spice on the finish. Mild days and cool nights give this Malbec excellent expression. Pair it with everything from sandwiches to that rare rib-eye steak. $10.99/750 ml.

To a new season: Cheers!

Hello. I’m Roger, your Wine Steward at the Delta Oaks Market Of Choice. Got a minute? I’d like to talk to you about wine and choice. Not which wine to choose, not this time, but more about where you choose your wine and why.

There’s a lot of wine on the market these days – a lot of “juice,” as some would call it. But not all of the juice is good. In fact, there’s a lot of mediocre juice out there. With an increasing number of places to buy wine, especially in Oregon, how can you tell the difference between a good and a mediocre outlet?  It’s not always easy.