Tasting with Long Shadows maestro Gilles Nicault, high atop the Smith Tower in downtown Seattle we looked out at the beautiful panoramic views. We had an amazing tasting in front of us, savoring each vintage of ‘Saggi’ back to the first year in 2004. Nicault shared the story of ‘Saggi’ noting “Saggi was inspired when Allen Shoup was at Ste. Michelle because it was genius to shine the light on Napa by bringing the Rothchild family. He wanted to do the same here and he partnered with the Antinori family to make Col Solare and the Eroica project with Ernst Loosen. He had done the Gernam and Italian project and he wanted to bring in winemakers that specialized in different varietals. He wanted to have an Italian partner but it was in conflict with the Antinoris. He went to Piero and aside that he wanted to do an Italian project just like Col Solare. Pietro introduced him to the Folonari family.”
Nicault explained “We did a 2003 and decided against releasing it so the Folonari family were the last ones to come into the partnership.” Nicault noted “They were very Italian and they were dressed very well. Somehow I was talking with them and went over there to visit. Col Solare didn’t have Sangiovese because they didn’t want to use that because it was so Italian. It is true, it is so beautiful there but Giovanni said that there was some grown here but we can use it. I loved the brightness and red fruit and I thought that it would elevate a blend. In the beginning that is why we didn’t do the 2003. Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot and Syrah but with the Sangiovese it went to the next level.”
He continued “In the beginning in 2004 we used almost equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon with Sangiovese, alongside Syrah and Barbera.” Sangiovese evolved to be a larger part of this wine, as Long Shadows President Dane Narbaitz explains “It has become more stand alone over time and richer.” Narbaitz mentioned that Sangiovese has surprised both consumers and the winemaking team as a variety that can be world-class. I certainly have loved tasting these wins in my personal collection and seeing how gracefully they can age.
In the process of making this wine Nicault blends in a small portion of Syrah and he stated “This is a really important part of the wine, brings the darkness to the color and extra layer of complexity, the spiciness. Sangiovese brings brightness but this Syrah elevates the wine and softness, richness to the palate.”
We all sat down to taste the wines and were really impressed with the stability and consistency in the winemaking. A wine that is delicious and definitely not improving is the 2004 Saggi (OB, 94) which was dense and chewy with some beautiful acidity. I was not at all surprised at the 2018 Saggi (OB, 96) which has gotten better with age. That was a wine that I tasted professionally for Decanter, Vinous and my publication and I was enamored by the texture and weight each time I enjoyed that wine. The 2012 Saggi (OB, 96) is another complete knockout of a wine that still has quite a bit of life left. It was a marvelous day tasting at our scenic location. At the end we all enjoyed a glass of our favorite bottling. I moved towards the 2018 and also revisited the 2004 — a little piece of Washington State wine history. At the time we all had no idea that Sangiovese would be such a Pacific Northwest icon. Long Shadows has proven vintage after vintage that a world-class Washington Sangiovese can be made and can sit at the high table with other greats from the Pacific Northwest. Learn more about this famous wine at https://longshadows.com/wines/2020-saggi/133 and here are my reviews of an epic ‘Saggi’ vertical tasting.
2004 Long Shadows ‘Saggi’ Red Wine- The 2004 Long Shadows ‘Saggi’ Red Wine is near equal parts Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller portions Syrah and Barbera. Damp earth and black truffle shavings combine with boysenberry fruit notes on the nose. The palate is soft and savory with loads of mouth-watering acidity. This is showing really good viscosity and flavor density despite being twenty years old. Drink now. Drink 2024-2030-94
2006 Long Shadows ‘Saggi’ Red Wine- The outstanding 2006 Long Shadows ‘Saggi’ Red Wine was the first vintage that they made this wine at their Walla Walla facility. Comprised of 42% Cabernet and 39% Sangiovese with the remainder Syrah, this is very fresh and fragrant on the nose. Rich dark fruits parade with loads of acidity, chocolate, sagebrush and worn later notes on the plate. This is totally stunning. Drink 2024-2032- 95
2008 Long Shadows ‘Saggi’ Red Wine- The 2008 Long Shadows ‘Saggi’ Red Wine is a gorgeous wine from a fantastic vintage. This shows similar richness and tension to the 2006 bottling. Milk chocolate and blackberry tones combine on the palate, alongside garrigue and refined tannins on the palate. Finishing long, this is drinking marvelously now — and still has a long way to go. 45% Sangiovese and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Syrah. Drink 2024-2034- 95
2010 Long Shadows ‘Saggi’ Red Wine- The 2010 ‘Saggi’ comes from this cooler vintage and is a blend of 53% Sangiovese with smaller parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. This has marvelous freshness and is a touch leaner than the 2008, showing good structure and red bell pepper notes alongside boysenberry fruit flavors and coffee grounds. Drink 2024-2032- 94
2012 Long Shadows ‘Saggi’ Red Wine- The 2012 ‘Saggi’ is made of considerably more Sangio (59%) with smaller parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Right away this shows dark currants n the nose alongside milk chocolate and shades of star with black licorice. The palate is elegant and refined with good richness. The balance here is impeccable. Drink 2024-2034- 96
2014 Long Shadows ‘Saggi’ Red Wine The 2014 ’Saggi’ 52% Sangiovese with 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and the remainder Syrah. Roasted dates and dark chocolate shavings fill the nose alongside shades of freshly tilled soils. Soft on the mouth, this is loaded with depth and flavor density. The palate is absolutely dazzling with serious richness and verve. Espresso grounds, roasted fig and refined tannins greet you on this expressive palate. This still has at least another decade of life ahead of it. Drink 2024-2036- 96
2016 Long Shadows ‘Saggi’ Red Wine- The 2016 ‘Saggi’ is a totally stunning wine that is shining brightly right now. A blend of 60% Sangiovese, with 29% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Syrah, this offers Bing cherry notes on the palate alongside rich boysenberry and espressos ground notes. With a generous mouthfeel this shows a seamless texture. Finishing long with rich dark fruits and copious minerals, and fantastic finesse, this is drinking marvelously right now and still has a long way to go. Drink 2024-2040- 96
2018 Long Shadows ‘Saggi’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘Saggi’ is a marvelous blend of 58% Sangiovese with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Syrah from this outstanding vintage in Washington State. This offers fantastic flavor density with mocha, tar and Turkish coffee notes alongside loads of depth and finesse. Stony minerals finish off this beautiful Wien that has a long life head of it. Drink 2024-2040- 96
2020 Long Shadows ‘Saggi’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Saggi’ is a really brilliant showing that is already brilliantly evolved. A touch more Sangiovese (62%) than most vintages, with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. This shows great mid-palate viscosity and freshness. Bright red and dark fruits parade with wet stone, coffee grounds and garriage notes. This is already beautifully evolved stuff that is highly nuanced and structured. Drink 2024-2032- 94