Pirouette was created by Long Shadows' Managing Director, Agustin Huneyas (Quintessa, Napa Valley), in collaboration with Napa Valley's top consulting winemaker, Philippe Melka.
In addition to his own label, Melka also produces acclaimed wines from Hundred Acres, Bryant Family, Dana Estate and Vineyard 29.
Combining traditional winemaking with modern techniques, we harvested small swaths of grapes from Washington State's finest vineyards to create this irresistible red blend.
This expressive wine slowly unfolds, revealing a kaleidoscope of red and black fruit aromas and oak spice flavors, becoming more vibrant as it evolves in the glass.
The palate is richly concentrated and textured, with a sensual mouthfeel and refined tannins that lead to a long, accomplished finish.
Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced primarily from Red Mountain's finest vineyards, gives Pirouette the rich structure and texture that is characteristic of this esteemed destination.
A small amount of old-vine Cabernet from Sagemoor, planted in 1972, adds complexity.
Merlot gives the wine a juicy, rich flavour.
Malbec from Sonnet Vineyards in Horse Heaven Hills adds spice.
Finally, Dinasis Vineyards' Petit Verdot enhances the wine's color and contributes intense, layered aromas and flavors.
After a slow start to the spring, the 2018 growing season warmed up rapidly.
The hot summer continued, but the heat suddenly died down in September and the weather became milder, which extended the hanging time for the grapes.
In the fall, Columbia Valley's typical warm days and cool nights allowed for slow ripening without losing acidity.
The result is a well-balanced wine with concentration, beautiful texture and richness.
Multiple fermentation techniques were used to enhance the complexity and richness of this Bordeaux-style blend.
Hand-picked Cabernet Sauvignon is gently rolled and fermented in 400L French oak barrels, slowly infusing oak and dark fruit flavors while also developing rich, supple tannins.
The remaining grapes are fermented in traditional stainless steel tanks, with selected lots being left in extended skin contact to enhance the wine's dark color and mid-palate flavors.
The resulting wine was aged for 22 months in French oak barrels (85% new) and bottled without filtration or fining.
Long Shadows was founded in 2002 by Washington wine visionary Allen Shoop.
Shoop served as President and CEO of Chateau Ste. Michelle from 1984 to 2000, where he developed international winemaking partnerships with world-renowned Italian Piero Antinori (Col Solare) and German Dr. Loosen (Eroica Riesling).
Building on this success, Long Shadows was established to bring an elite group of great winemakers from the world's major wine regions to Washington State to create world-class wines that showcase the excellence of Washington State's Columbia Valley grape growing region.
Each winemaker partners individually with Shoop and the winery's resident winemaker, Jill Nicoll, to create their own quintessential, top-quality wine using their own vinification techniques and bottled in their own unique style.