Rose season is in front of us. What has become a national phenomenon, the Rose craze full has hit our nation, with seemingly every producer adding a Rose to their lineup. For many years Long Shadows has sought to craft a complex, intentional and delicious Rose to add to their lineup. For many years the Pinot Gris was selected from The Benches Vineyard which is a warmer site but winemaker Gilles Nicault has sought to choose sites now that are cooler and come from older vine Pinot Gris.
I've tasted every vintage of the Long Shadows Julia’s Dazzle and I can clearly say that this wine has been one of the most consistently great Rose wines out of Washington. This is Rose that has plenty of stuffing but always maintains a wonderful sense of verve — great for when the weather warms up.
I am the first critic to taste the 2021 Long Shadows ‘Julia’s Dazzle’ Rose (OB, 92) which I slightly prefer to the excellent 2020 edition. This is lithe and polished Rose that has just the faintest touch of sweetness and is simply a steal at the price. This is another masterclass by the talented Gilles Nicault who is one of the great winemakers in the Pacific Northwest. Cheers to warmer days ahead! Learn more at longshadows.com and here is my review of the 2021 Long Shadows ‘Julia’s Dazzle’ Rose.
2021 Long Shadows ‘Julia’s Dazzle’ Rose- Crafted entirely from Pinot Gris grapes from Columbia Valley Vineyards, this was given just a touch of residual sugar (.3G/L). Beautiful now even so youthful, this wine was bottled in earl. December. Right away beautiful Mandarin orange rind tones combine with wet stone, honeydew melon and watermelon flavors on the palate with a silky texture. With the faintest kiss of sweetness, and showing gobs of finesse, this beautiful wine is singing in its youth and will surely hit its high octave for another five to seven years. Drink 2022-2029- 92