Saggi 2018 (Long Shadows)

Drink now or cellar for up to 10 years. No need to decant before serving. Thanks to the vision and foresight of founder Allen Shoup, Long Shadows is regarded as one of the most dynamic and exciting producers currently working in the Columbia Valley. Allen worked for Chateau Ste. Michelle for twenty years, helping put Washington on the map for exceptional winemaking. Now his new project collaborates with some of the world’s top winemakers to bring their own flair and talent to this promising corner of the wine world. Although only founded in 2003, the winery has already been named "Winery of the Year" by Food & Wine magazine thanks to wines like this charming and unusual Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon blend. Fruit comes from the Candy Mountain vineyard where the warm climate produces rich blackcurrant aromas and plenty of colour, and Boushey vineyard in the Yakima Valley where the cooler conditions preserve plenty of aromatics and freshness. The fruit is all harvested aby hand and then fermented in small tanks with some of the juice bled off at the beginning to increase the concentration and intensity. The young wine is then aged in 55% new French oak barrels for 18 months. Bursting with luscious wild berry and dark cherry notes, this punchy red is ideal for cellaring for a few more years or enjoying now with wild game meat or hearty beef dishes.