The Story Behind the Wines, Pt. 2
Welcome to part two of The Stories Behind the Wines blog! In part one we introduced you to three out of seven wines within the Long Shadows Vintners flagship portfolio; the 2018 Poet’s Leap Riesling, 2017 Feather Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2016 Chester-Kidder. We again invite you to follow along as we tell the tales of two more of our wines and the vintners behind them.
2016 PIROUETTE RED BLEND
“How can you refuse to be part of a dream project? Partnering with Agustin Hunneus from Quintessa and Allen Shoup and working with all great winemakers….it was a very attractive project in a promising wine region.”
— Philippe Melka
Philippe Melka was once named one of the top nine winemakers in the world by Robert Parker, and showcasing his talents and passions he made some amazing award-winning wines at Long Shadows Vintners. Philippe’s winemaking assignment with Quintessa Winery in St. Helena and friendship with owner Agustin Huneeus Sr. led to his opportunity at Long Shadows, as Agustin is one of Allen’s longtime friends in the industry. With the combination of Philippe’s initial degree in geology, Allen’s vision of a timeless Bordeaux blend, and the terroir of the Columbia Valley, the relationship quickly solidified. Like many of Philippe’s wines, he crafts them so they can be enjoyed at their youth or cellared for the future. With a 97-point rating from Jeb Dunnuck, the 2016 Pirouette is richly aromatic, elegant, and embodies everything a Washington red blend should.
2017 SEQUEL SYRAH
“My goal with Long Shadows has been to highlight, in an elegant but structured fashion, the different sub-regional expressions of Syrah, and then combine these components to express a more complex wine.”
— John Duval
Now, this story wouldn’t be a true sequel without our 2017 Sequel Syrah. Long Shadows vintner John Duval is best known for his work with Australia’s Penfolds Grange, one of the most highly acclaimed Syrah producers in the world. John holds a tremendous number of awards for his wines, such as two-time Red Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine Challenge in London and Wine Spectator’s “Wine of the Year” award in 1995. These awards, along with his ability to make memorable wine is why Allen sought John out for the Long Shadows project. John retired from Penfolds in 2003, and coming to the Columbia Valley is John’s sequel to his life’s work with Syrah. This wine is dark in color containing black fruits, sweet spice, and espresso notes. It’s a layered and complex Syrah that stands out in Washington and in your cellar.
We hope you take the chance to try these special wines and continue to follow us on our journey as we feature the last two wines of our collection in The Stories Behind the Wines Part Three!