Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Up there with the Pedestal release in term of quality, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Feather is made by Randy Dunn of Dunn Vineyards in Napa Valley. It’s always a 100% Cabernet and in 2012, offers sensational notes of sweet black cherry and cassis fruit, tobacco leaf, graphite and lead pencil shavings. Deep, concentration, rich and tannic, it needs 4-5 years of cellaring, but will evolve nicely through 2032.
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Connoisseurs' Guide
By Long Shadows. In an era in which the green-leaning parts of Cabernet Sauvignon’s varietal character have faded into higher ripeness and concentration levels, this appealing bottling manages to capture both deeply curranty fruit qualities as well as distinct, well-fit streaks of herbs and green olives. It is full on the palate, offers a mouthfilling, supple invitation at entry, then tightens up towards the finish and takes on a brighter, fairly vital stance that seems to promise lots of very rewarding improvement after some half dozen years in bottle. And, with little chance that it will fall apart with twice that much aging, this is one that we would put in the cellar.
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Wine Enthusiast
This 100% varietal wine comes from Wallula, Dionysus and Stone Tree vineyards. It brings alluring aromas of red currant, cranberry, coffee and dried herbs. The palate is concentrated and layered, backed by chewy tannins. The textured feel adds to its appeal.
Long Shadows Vintners is a collection of seven ultra-premium wines, each built on the unique expertise of some of the world's most highly-regarded winemakers to showcase the viticultural quality and caliber of Washington State's Columbia Valley.
Founded by Washington wine visionary Allen Shoup in 2002, Long Shadows is the continuation of Allen's ongoing ambition to bring international recognition to the Columbia Valley. His idea for Long Shadows was as simple as it was complex. Recruit seven internationally acclaimed winemakers; give each access to Washington State's best grapes; and outfit a winery to the vintner’s exacting cellar specifications. The result, in effect, is seven stand-alone wineries, under one roof.
Since the beginning, Long Shadows' director of winemaking and viticulture Gilles Nicault, has overseen the operations of the winery and worked closely with the vintners to bring each winemaker's vision to completion. Internationally renowned winemakers Randy Dunn (Feather Cabernet Sauvignon); John Duval (Sequel Syrah); Philippe Melka (Pirouette Red Wine); and Michel Rolland (Pedestal Merlot) are active partners in their respective wines. Gilles now crafts Poet’s Leap Riesling and Saggi (Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon) in styles that remain true to their original winemakers, Armin Diel and Giovanni Folonari respectively. Gilles crafts Chester-Kidder, a Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah blend, independently.
Gilles works closely with the state's top growers to execute a diverse winemaking protocol at Long Shadows' state-of-the-art facility in Walla Walla to produce wines of exceptional quality, true to the Columbia Valley's terroir.
Washington produces so many exciting wines, and that definitely includes Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. With over 10,000 acres under vine, Cabernet Sauvignon is now the most widely-grown varietal in the state. Terrific examples hail from sub-appellations like Red Mountain, Wahluke Slope, Horse Heaven Hills and Walla Walla Valley. One of the fascinations of these Columbia Valley Cabs is that they so often seem to have one foot in the New World and one in the Old. Representing the former are characteristics like the ripe, forward fruit that results from long sunny days during the growing season (up to two hours longer than in much of California). Old World similarities include an undeniable brightness from acidity, as well as notes of herbs, graphite and a dusty, sometimes gravelly minerality.
Whether you’re looking for a budget bottle for everyday enjoyment, or a stellar, world-class wine with tremendous aging potential, Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wines can deliver the goods! Among the many fine options are bottles from Columbia Crest, Chateau Ste. Michelle, L’ecole #41, Quilceda Creek and Leonetti.