2005 Long Shadows Pedestal Merlot
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Tasting notes
(Michel Rolland's project, consisting of 80% merlot, 13% cabernet sauvignon and 7% cabernet franc) Bright ruby. Aromas of blackberry, cocoa powder and flowers. Lush, smooth dark fruit flavors are complemented by sexy sweet oak tones. I love this dense, fat wine's restrained sweetness, its almost medicinal reserve, and its slow-mounting finish. Highly concentrated but still youthfully tight today and in need of time to resolve its substantial tannins. Vinification featured a good percentage of whole berries.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jay S Miller, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2005 Pedestal features the peripatetic Michel Rolland. His wine is 80% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 7% Cabernet Franc aged for 22 months in 85% new French oak. Deep crimson-colored, it offers an enticing perfume of toasty new oak, pencil lead, spice box, clove, allspice, red currants and black cherry. Seamless on the palate, the wine has gobs of ripe, savory flavors, well-concealed tannin, excellent aging potential, and a long, pure finish. It will provide much pleasure between 2012 and 2025. Long Shadows is the brainchild of Alan Shoup, longtime CEO of Chateau Ste-Michelle. It is a consortium of seven different labels, each with its own star winemaker who has a 25% share in the brand. The concept is that each “is dedicated to producing a single Columbia Valley wine representing a ‘best of type’ that reflects the winemaker’s signature style.” For the second straight year, every wine in this portfolio has achieved an outstanding rating. For this, the credit goes to Alan Shoup who put it all together. Tel. (425) 467-9398; www.longshadows.com