More than a decade ago I loved frequenting the Long Shadows tasting room in Woodinville. The project was still relatively young and somewhat under the radar, as I always wanted to be tasting new vintages and seeing some of the most exciting wines that our state has to offer. As we continue our Washington Wine Month, we bring you one of the outstanding producers in our state, Long Shadows. Long Shadows has made their name by crafting outstanding red wines with a superstar cast of winemaking talent that spans the globe. Gilles Nicault serves as Long Shadows head winemaker. A downright awesome guy to chat wine with, Gilles was formerly at Woodward Canyon and is one of the brightest talents in the state. One thing I have found with these wines over the years is how brilliantly they can cellar. Over the past year I’ve had the chance to consume wines from the 2006, 2007 and 2008 vintages and the wines are still youthful and really singing even at more than ten years of age. I have been really impressed particularly how their ‘Pedestal’ Merlot ages. Made by Michel Rolland, a few months back I adored their 2008 ‘Pedestal’ Merlot (OB, 95) which still has great acidity and borders liquid silk.
The new releases by Long Shadows were seriously good across the board. Long Shadows produces one of the great Riesling wines in Washington and their 2019 Long Shadows Poet’s Leap Riesling (OB, 93) is dense and fresh with incredible length. The texture here is just insanely good. I adored the new 2017 Long Shadows ‘Pedestal’ Merlot (OB, 95) which has amazing concentration and poise, with great non-fruit flavors like coffee and tea tones. Learn more about this amazing winery at http://www.longshadows.com/ Here are the amazing new release wines from Long Shadows.
2019 Long Shadows ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling- The 2019 ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling is another sensational effort that is truly one of the great wines of its kind made in Washington. Given 1.1% G/L, this shows petrol and wet stones mingle with Japanese pear and gooseberry tones on the nose. The palate is fresh and beautifully textured with outstanding length. Orange blossom water, Sprite and sweetened cantaloupe flavors alongside crushed wet rock tones all impress on the nose. The verve, weight and length of the wine is really outstanding. Drink 2021-2029- 93
2017 Long Shadows ‘Pedestal’ Merlot- The 2017 Long Shadows ‘Pedestal’ Merlot is a scintillating new release that is already beautifully evolved once in the glass. Made my famed oenologist Michel Rolland, they have blended 82% Merlot with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. Rich dark fruit aromatics impress, alongside mocha, tar and purple rose petals. The palate is round and downright voluptuous with a massive core of espresso bean and black cherry compote, alongside black tea and exotic spices on the palate. Full-bodied and showing a downright opulent texture, this beautiful wine will cellar well for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2021-2038- 95
2017 Long Shadows ‘Chester Kidder’ Red Wine- The 2017 ‘Chester Kidder’ is almost entirely sourced from the newly formed Candy Mountain AVA. A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon with 26% Syrah and the remainder Petit Verdot. The wine shows espresso bean and red cherry candy tones alongside tobacco leaf, with black tea and exotic spices that all take shape in the glass. The palate is super fresh and vibrant with firm tannins that hold together milk chocolate covered espresso bean, tar, dark currants, boysenberry pie and menthol tones. The weight and length is outstanding a s the 2017 ‘Chester. Kidder’ will provide drinking enjoyment for several decades to come. Drink 2021-2038- 95
2019 Long Shadows ‘Botrytis’ Riesling- The 2019 ‘Botrytis’ Riesling is only the second time that Giles Nicault has made this wine over the past decade. Sourced from ’The Benches Vineyard’ this 13% residual sugar, Auslese style Riesling shows honeysuckle and orange marmalade tones woven together with candied ginger and apricot tones that all take shape in the glass. The palate is very fresh and refined with Golden Delicious apple, sweetened papaya, with white raisin. The length and generous texture really add to the enjoyment as this beautiful new wine will have a long life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2035- 94