Long Shadows Pedestal Merlot 2021

Drink now or cellar for up to 12 years. No need to decant before serving. Created to help put the Columbia Valley on the map for worldclass wines, Long Shadows was founded in 2003 by Allen Shoup who previously spent 20 years building up Chateau Ste. Michelle into a globally-recognised brand. Such was the pre-eminence of the winery group that at one point Allen’s grape purchases were 70% of all the grapes grown in the state. Allen’s new project is a collaboration with top international winemakers who bring their own vision to the Columbia Valley’s finest vineyards. Thanks to this vision and talent, the winery has already gained many accolades including the title “Winery of the Year” from Food & Wine magazine. This stunning Merlot is a great introduction to the Long Shadows approach with fruit sourced from the Wahluke Slope, a warmer area of the Columbia Valley that produces deliciously aromatic and concentrated fruit. The grapes are all harvested by hand and carefully sorted before being fermented in large French wooden tanks. The young wine is then aged in 85% new French oak barrels for 22 months before bottling. Dark fruit dominates on the nose, with plenty of cassis, blackberry, and dark plum, accompanied by hints of cloves, cinnamon and dark chocolate. The first sip reveals a full body, firm tannins, and a solid core of fruit which lingers on the tongue.