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.
2021 Long Shadows Pedestal Merlot Columbia Valley, USA
Michel Rolland's Washington Merlot, 96 points from Jeb Dunnuck, fifty-five dollars a bottle.
Pedestal is 80 percent Merlot from Weinbau and Stone Tree, 22 months in 75 percent new French oak, now $55 against a $75 winery price.
27% off the winery bottle
A 96-point Washington Merlot at fifty-five dollars
Michel Rolland designed this wine. 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.
The project
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 proof
Jeb Dunnuck 96, Owen Bargreen 96, Wine Enthusiast 95, Vinous 95. Drink now through 2041.
The buy
$55 a bottle, $330 for six, $660 for twelve with free shipping. Winery price $75.
What is $55 Pedestal Merlot actually buying?
$55 versus the $75 winery price is 27 percent off. Wine.com lists $69.99. Wine Country Connection lists $68. This is the slash.
At $55 per bottle, the 6-bottle allocation totals $330.
Review Wine-Searcher (opens in a new tab) and Long Shadows (opens in a new tab) for the 2021 page. The $75 winery price is the comparison anchor.
Slash price per bottle, 27 percent under the $75 winery price.
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
This is Merlot built the Rolland way: dark fruit, polish, and time in new barrels.
Fruit: Weinbau and Stone Tree on the Wahluke Slope, Dionysus in White Bluffs, Red Mountain Cabernet for backbone.
Cellar: 80% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot. 22 months in French oak, 75% new. Alcohol 15.2%. Acid 0.52 g/100ml.
Intent: Gilles Nicault now leads the wine Michel Rolland designed. A Washington Merlot that does not apologize.
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.
Ninety-six points from Jeb Dunnuck, fifty-five dollars today.
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)Put 96-point Washington Merlot on the table tonight
This is the bottle that argues for Columbia Valley Merlot without a Pomerol rent.
Black cherry, cocoa. 62 F, duck or risotto.
Six bottles at $330.
Twelve at $660, ships free.
Take the 2021 Pedestal home while a 96-point Rolland Merlot still costs fifty-five dollars.
