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2018 Longshadow Pirouette

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$57.99

4 in stock

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Philippe Melka, named one of the top nine winemakers in the world by Robert Parker, used small lots from Washington State’s finest vineyards to craft this enticing red blend.

Tasting Notes

The Pirouette is a big, refined wine with beautiful balance, offering concentrated color and flavors. Black cherry, sweet spice, plum, and hints of dark chocolate are lavishly integrated with silky tannins that leave a rich impression across a lengthy finish. Complete and seamless from beginning to end.

About Long Shadows Vintners

A selection of top Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards and a small amount of old vine Cab from Sagemoor Vineyard give Pirouette its ripe and rich style. Merlot, also sourced from Red Mountain, adds suppleness to the mid-palate, with Cabernet Franc from Weinbau Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope lending elegant red fruit and a small amount of Weinbau Malbec, adding depth and spice to the final blend.

“The name Long Shadows honors the exceptional international winemakers who are visionary vintners and some of our industry’s boldest leaders.” — Allen Shoup, Founder

Following a distinguished 20-year career leading Chateau Ste. Michelle, its affiliate wineries and Washington wines to international prominence, Allen Shoup retired to establish Long Shadows in 2002, the most ambitious and personal project of his storied career. Unwavering in his commitment to growing the global reputation of Washington wines, Allen also envisioned a family winery of his own. He knew Long Shadows was the path to achieving both goals, provided he could find a winemaker with the talent, creativity, range, and technical ability to pilot the project. Gilles Nicault proved to be that winemaker. He has been with Long Shadows since its inception, working alongside Allen to refine the vision for the project and collaborating with a team of all-star vintners to craft wine from their signature grape.

Allen took inspiration for Long Shadows from his good friend and mentor Robert Mondavi, whose Opus One collaboration with Baron Philippe de Rothschild furthered the prestige of Napa Valley. Inspired by the idea of international partnerships and fortunate to enjoy industry friendships spanning the globe, Allen envisioned a more complex alliance to highlight the quality and diversity of Washington vineyards. He easily recruited a dream team of winemakers. The talent pool was deep, but the winemakers were all new to Washington vineyards. To succeed, Allen knew he needed boots on the ground, someone who enjoyed strong working relationships with the Columbia Valley’s best growers and was excited by the challenge of working with a divergent group of winemakers.

Gilles joined Long Shadows shortly before the start of his tenth vintage in Washington, just as Long Shadows’ first celebrated vintners were signing on to the project. An international winemaker in his own right, Gilles grew up in southern France, studied viticulture and enology there, and made wine in Côte du Rhône, Provence, and Champagne. Already a winemaker of rising fame in his homeland, he traveled to Washington State in 1994 to expand his winemaking skills, working for several top Washington wineries, including Woodward Canyon. By the time Long Shadows was established, Gilles knew Washington vineyards well. He sought the position at Long Shadows, eager to merge his winemaking skills with a remarkable group of vintners.

With Gilles at the helm, Long Shadows began crafting wines inspired by iconic winemakers, each of global prominence and famous for their mastery of a particular variety and style:

  • Randy Dunn, Dunn Vineyard, Napa Valley (Feather Cabernet Sauvignon)
  • Agustin Huneeus Sr. and Philippe Melka, Quintessa, Napa Valley (Pirouette)
  • John Duval, Penfolds, Barossa Valley (Sequel Syrah)
  • Michel Rolland, Chateau Le Bon Pasteur, Pomerol (Pedestal Merlot)
  • Ambrogio and Giovanni Folonari, Tenute Folonari, Tuscany (Saggi)
  • Armin Diel, Schlossgut Diel, Nahe Valley (Poet’s Leap Riesling)

Gilles own wine, Chester-Kidder, was the first Long Shadows red produced in 2002.

The winemakers joined Long Shadows as co-owners of their wine, not as consultants. In so doing, Allen reasoned, each partner would be vested in learning more about Washington State’s vineyards, and Long Shadows’ wines would exemplify the viticultural excellence of the Columbia Valley.

Long Shadows’ celebrated vintners traveled to Washington State frequently in the early years, collaborating with Gilles on vineyard preferences, picking and fermentation protocol, barrel selections, and final blending. When construction started on Long Shadows’ state-of-the-art Walla Walla winery in 2005, Gilles knew what was needed to design and outfit the new facility to each vintner’s exacting specifications. As the years passed, and the wines continued to show remarkable consistency under Gilles direction, the partners’ visits to the Columbia Valley naturally became less frequent.

In any company the quality of its products begins and ends with the employees who produce them. At Long Shadows, I’ve had the good fortune to be able to surround myself with highly dedicated, conscientious and talented people whose exacting efforts have led to the success of our award winning wines. I can’t thank them enough for all that they do. — Allen Shoup, Founder

Today, Long Shadows’ original team of celebrated vintners is no longer directly involved in production, but the signature style of each winemaker can be tasted in each glass of Long Shadows wine. Gilles sees to that, as he always has, by skillfully maintaining their long-standing methods and techniques.

Recruiting winemakers from around the world, each to produce a single Columbia Valley wine representing a “best of type,” was only half of the plan. Allen knew each winemaker would come with their own winemaking techniques and requirements, so a world-class winery was designed and built, capable of making wine to each winemaker’s rigorous specifications. The results were almost immediate. Acclaim for the wines and for the project followed, and in 2007, just four short years from its inception, Food & Wine Magazine named Long Shadows “Winery of the Year.” Since then Long Shadows has continued to produce highly-sought-after and highly-acclaimed examples of the best Washington can produce.

Over the years, Gilles and Allen have experimented with small quantities of uniquely styled wines for their personal and family enjoyment. A few of these wines became too good not to share with their “extended family” and now are available with Long Shadows’ other current releases. They include Dance Chardonnay, Cymbal Sauvignon Blanc, and Julia’s Dazzle Rosé, named after Allen’s granddaughter.

Related products

2018 Longshadow Pirouette

$57.99

4 in stock

Country

Size

Vintage

Categories: , ,

Philippe Melka, named one of the top nine winemakers in the world by Robert Parker, used small lots from Washington State’s finest vineyards to craft this enticing red blend.

Tasting Notes

The Pirouette is a big, refined wine with beautiful balance, offering concentrated color and flavors. Black cherry, sweet spice, plum, and hints of dark chocolate are lavishly integrated with silky tannins that leave a rich impression across a lengthy finish. Complete and seamless from beginning to end.

About Long Shadows Vintners

A selection of top Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards and a small amount of old vine Cab from Sagemoor Vineyard give Pirouette its ripe and rich style. Merlot, also sourced from Red Mountain, adds suppleness to the mid-palate, with Cabernet Franc from Weinbau Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope lending elegant red fruit and a small amount of Weinbau Malbec, adding depth and spice to the final blend.

“The name Long Shadows honors the exceptional international winemakers who are visionary vintners and some of our industry’s boldest leaders.” — Allen Shoup, Founder

Following a distinguished 20-year career leading Chateau Ste. Michelle, its affiliate wineries and Washington wines to international prominence, Allen Shoup retired to establish Long Shadows in 2002, the most ambitious and personal project of his storied career. Unwavering in his commitment to growing the global reputation of Washington wines, Allen also envisioned a family winery of his own. He knew Long Shadows was the path to achieving both goals, provided he could find a winemaker with the talent, creativity, range, and technical ability to pilot the project. Gilles Nicault proved to be that winemaker. He has been with Long Shadows since its inception, working alongside Allen to refine the vision for the project and collaborating with a team of all-star vintners to craft wine from their signature grape.

Allen took inspiration for Long Shadows from his good friend and mentor Robert Mondavi, whose Opus One collaboration with Baron Philippe de Rothschild furthered the prestige of Napa Valley. Inspired by the idea of international partnerships and fortunate to enjoy industry friendships spanning the globe, Allen envisioned a more complex alliance to highlight the quality and diversity of Washington vineyards. He easily recruited a dream team of winemakers. The talent pool was deep, but the winemakers were all new to Washington vineyards. To succeed, Allen knew he needed boots on the ground, someone who enjoyed strong working relationships with the Columbia Valley’s best growers and was excited by the challenge of working with a divergent group of winemakers.

Gilles joined Long Shadows shortly before the start of his tenth vintage in Washington, just as Long Shadows’ first celebrated vintners were signing on to the project. An international winemaker in his own right, Gilles grew up in southern France, studied viticulture and enology there, and made wine in Côte du Rhône, Provence, and Champagne. Already a winemaker of rising fame in his homeland, he traveled to Washington State in 1994 to expand his winemaking skills, working for several top Washington wineries, including Woodward Canyon. By the time Long Shadows was established, Gilles knew Washington vineyards well. He sought the position at Long Shadows, eager to merge his winemaking skills with a remarkable group of vintners.

With Gilles at the helm, Long Shadows began crafting wines inspired by iconic winemakers, each of global prominence and famous for their mastery of a particular variety and style:

  • Randy Dunn, Dunn Vineyard, Napa Valley (Feather Cabernet Sauvignon)
  • Agustin Huneeus Sr. and Philippe Melka, Quintessa, Napa Valley (Pirouette)
  • John Duval, Penfolds, Barossa Valley (Sequel Syrah)
  • Michel Rolland, Chateau Le Bon Pasteur, Pomerol (Pedestal Merlot)
  • Ambrogio and Giovanni Folonari, Tenute Folonari, Tuscany (Saggi)
  • Armin Diel, Schlossgut Diel, Nahe Valley (Poet’s Leap Riesling)

Gilles own wine, Chester-Kidder, was the first Long Shadows red produced in 2002.

The winemakers joined Long Shadows as co-owners of their wine, not as consultants. In so doing, Allen reasoned, each partner would be vested in learning more about Washington State’s vineyards, and Long Shadows’ wines would exemplify the viticultural excellence of the Columbia Valley.

Long Shadows’ celebrated vintners traveled to Washington State frequently in the early years, collaborating with Gilles on vineyard preferences, picking and fermentation protocol, barrel selections, and final blending. When construction started on Long Shadows’ state-of-the-art Walla Walla winery in 2005, Gilles knew what was needed to design and outfit the new facility to each vintner’s exacting specifications. As the years passed, and the wines continued to show remarkable consistency under Gilles direction, the partners’ visits to the Columbia Valley naturally became less frequent.

In any company the quality of its products begins and ends with the employees who produce them. At Long Shadows, I’ve had the good fortune to be able to surround myself with highly dedicated, conscientious and talented people whose exacting efforts have led to the success of our award winning wines. I can’t thank them enough for all that they do. — Allen Shoup, Founder

Today, Long Shadows’ original team of celebrated vintners is no longer directly involved in production, but the signature style of each winemaker can be tasted in each glass of Long Shadows wine. Gilles sees to that, as he always has, by skillfully maintaining their long-standing methods and techniques.

Recruiting winemakers from around the world, each to produce a single Columbia Valley wine representing a “best of type,” was only half of the plan. Allen knew each winemaker would come with their own winemaking techniques and requirements, so a world-class winery was designed and built, capable of making wine to each winemaker’s rigorous specifications. The results were almost immediate. Acclaim for the wines and for the project followed, and in 2007, just four short years from its inception, Food & Wine Magazine named Long Shadows “Winery of the Year.” Since then Long Shadows has continued to produce highly-sought-after and highly-acclaimed examples of the best Washington can produce.

Over the years, Gilles and Allen have experimented with small quantities of uniquely styled wines for their personal and family enjoyment. A few of these wines became too good not to share with their “extended family” and now are available with Long Shadows’ other current releases. They include Dance Chardonnay, Cymbal Sauvignon Blanc, and Julia’s Dazzle Rosé, named after Allen’s granddaughter.

Related products