Long Shadows estate spotlight
The official Long Shadows Vintners channel walks the Walla Walla cellar where Gilles Nicault crafts Pedestal, the Merlot first built with Michel Rolland.
The market on this bottle
Wine-Searcher tracks this 2021 Long Shadows Pedestal Merlot Columbia Valley across the open market. Their published U.S. low is $44.90 and the average is $68.67. Our slash is $44.00.
2021 Long Shadows Pedestal Merlot Columbia Valley, USA
Michel Rolland's Washington Merlot, Jeb Dunnuck 96, a 2021 you can open at fifty-five dollars.
Pedestal is 80 percent Merlot from Weinbau and Stone Tree, 22 months in 75 percent new French oak, now $44 against a $75 winery price.
Pomerol craft, Wahluke Slope fruit
Michel Rolland designed this wine so Washington Merlot could stand next to Pomerol. Gilles Nicault makes it now. Jeb Dunnuck gave the 2021 96 points and said it would stand next to top Merlot from France and Napa. Weinbau and Stone Tree did the heavy lifting. This is the proof that Columbia Valley Merlot does not apologize.
The house
Allen Shoup founded Long Shadows in 2003 to bring world-class winemakers to Washington fruit. Pedestal was Michel Rolland's Merlot.
The wine
Weinbau and Stone Tree on Wahluke Slope, Dionysus in White Bluffs, Red Mountain Cabernet for backbone. 22 months, 75% new French oak. 15.2% ABV.
The scores
Jeb Dunnuck 96, Owen Bargreen 96, Wine Enthusiast 95, Vinous 95. Drink now through 2041.
The drinker
Black cherry, cocoa, sandalwood. Serve near 62 F. Decant 30 minutes. Duck or mushroom risotto.
Black cherry, cocoa, and a velvet mid-palate
The house writes black cherry and sweet spice, then plum, blackberry, and oak spice. Dunnuck adds darker currant, chocolate, leafy herbs, and velvety tannin. Bargreen writes sandalwood, black licorice, and black rose.
A warm Wahluke Slope year for dark, textured Merlot. Weinbau and Stone Tree did the heavy lifting. Dionysus added opulence. Red Mountain Cabernet added a spine. Twenty-two months in new French oak did the rest.
Black cherry, plum, blackberry, cocoa, sandalwood, sweet spice, violet, cedar.
Full, velvety, 15.2% ABV. 22 months in 75% new French oak. pH 3.73.
Long, dark fruit and spice. Serve near 62 F. Decant 30 minutes if young.
New French oak, twenty-two months
On the Long Shadows 2021 Pedestal page, the wine is 80 percent Merlot, 12 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8 percent Petit Verdot, aged 22 months in French oak, 75 percent new. Alcohol 15.2%. Acid 0.52 g/100ml. This is Merlot built the Rolland way: dark fruit, polish, and time in new barrels. Gilles Nicault now leads the wine Michel Rolland designed.
Weinbau and Stone Tree on the Wahluke Slope carry the Merlot. Dionysus in White Bluffs adds opulence. Red Mountain Cabernet adds a spine. Serve near 62 F. Decant 30 minutes if you are opening now.
From Pomerol to Wahluke Slope
Allen Shoup hired Michel Rolland to prove Washington Merlot could stand with Pomerol.
Allen Shoup left Chateau Ste. Michelle and founded Long Shadows in 2003 as a set of wines, each with an international winemaker.
Michel Rolland, of Pomerol, took the Merlot brief. Pedestal is still that wine, now finished by Gilles Nicault.
The 2021 stays in that line. Weinbau and Stone Tree. New French oak. Same house. Same brief. A Washington Merlot that does not apologize.
Duck in the pan, risotto in the bowl
Lush Merlot wants crisp skin and earthy mushroom, not a light salad.
Two plates. One crisp duck breast. One mushroom risotto. Both can take black cherry and cocoa.
Decant 30 minutes if drinking now. Serve near 62 F in a Bordeaux glass.
Pan-seared duck breast
Crisp skin, cherry-thyme pan sauce. Merlot and duck is an old argument, and it still wins.
Why it works: Duck fat and a dark glaze match cocoa and plum while acidity keeps the plate clean.
View Recipe for Crispy Skin Pan Fried Duck Breast (opens in a new tab)
Mushroom risotto
Nagi's creamy risotto, thyme, parmesan. Forest notes in the glass, forest notes in the bowl.
Why it works: Mushroom earth echoes leafy herbs while cream softens the 2021 tannin.
View Recipe for Mushroom Risotto (opens in a new tab)Open Rolland's Washington Merlot this week
Michel Rolland designed it. Gilles Nicault bottles it. Jeb Dunnuck went 96. The 2021 is in the glass at fifty-five dollars.
Put it in the cart. This is the Columbia Valley Merlot that closes the proof without a Pomerol rent.
