2016 Chester-Kidder Red Blend

2016 2016 Chester-Kidder

$60.00 / Bottle Purchase
  • Winemaker Gilles Nicault
  • Appellation Columbia Valley
  • Varietal Cabernet/Syrah Blend

Allen Shoup named this wine in honor of his mother, Elizabeth Chester, and his grandmother, Maggie Kidder. He selected Long Shadows' director of winemaking, Gilles Nicault, to craft this New World blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and other classic Bordeaux varieties.

Tasting Notes:

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Inky in color and brimming with layered aromas and flavors of black cherries, baking spice and a subtle earthiness, the 2016 Chester-Kidder offers an impressive concentration of refined tannins and a lively mouthfeel. Wonderfully rich and well-balanced, the wine gains fullness across the mid-palate and leaves a vibrant impression on the finish.

94 Points

An interesting blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah, and the rest Petit Verdot, all aged 30 months in 85% new French oak. Jammy blackberries, cassis, graphite, scorched earth, and crushed flower notes all emerge from the glass, and it's full-bodied, with a layered, opulent texture, subtle vanilla oak, and a great finish. It's a beautiful, powerful yet impeccably balanced wine that will evolve for 15-20 years.

— Jeb Dunnuck
94 Points

This Bordeaux-inspired red blend has a rich, ripe array of dark berries that are framed in a sweetly spicy oak and delivered in a seamless style that is a hallmark of this producer. Such long and noble tannins. Impressive wine.

— James Suckling
92+ Points

The 2016 Chester-Kidder begins with a dense and chewy nose, opening to concentrated black fruit and dark red fruit aromas with dusty black pepper and dried herbs that waft out of the glass with inky resinous purple flowers and lifting oak spices. Full-bodied, the wine is generous with a chewy mouthfeel and firm tannins that tighten on the mid-palate before lingering with a long, drawn-out finish. Leaving behind flavors of bitter dark chocolate, black spice, sticky currants and cassis, there is a lasting flavor of smoked blackberries that recline on the tongue. This is delicious stuff but keep it a couple more years in the wine cellar before opening. Patience will be rewarded.

— Wine Advocate
Varietal Composition 58% Cabernet Sauvignon 30% Syrah 12% Petit Verdot
Acid .58 grams / 100ml
PH 3.83
Alcohol 14.9%

Vineyards

Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah grapes from Red Mountain and Candy Mountain give this wine ripe, firm structure and wonderful intensity. Stone Tree Vineyard (Wahluke Slope) adds red fruit characteristics. A small selection of top Columbia Valley vineyards contribute dark fruit and rich textures. Dionysus Vineyard Petit Verdot provides layers of ripe, fresh flavors and refined tannins.

Explore Past Chester-Kidder Vintages in The Library →