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 Vintage2006 Label 1 of 107 
TypeRed
ProducerLong Shadows Wineries (web)
VarietyRed Bordeaux Blend
DesignationPirouette
Vineyardn/a
CountryUSA
RegionWashington
SubRegionColumbia Valley
AppellationColumbia Valley
UPC Code(s)090075390342, 808755003846

Drinking Windows and Values
Drinking window: Drink between 2013 and 2021 (based on 39 user opinions)
Wine Market Journal quarterly auction price: See Long Shadows Pirouette on the Wine Market Journal.

Community Tasting History

Community Tasting Notes (average 90.9 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 238 notes) - hiding notes with no text

 Tasted by PolarBear22 on 10/30/2022 & rated 91 points: Drank very nicely. (939 views)
 Tasted by jenapple on 8/10/2022: Still hanging in there. Nice dark fruit notes. Good for week night pasta night. (1058 views)
 Tasted by Backdoctor on 12/5/2020 & rated 92 points: Drinking well. Smooth, balanced with black fruits on palate (2049 views)
 Tasted by pape du neuf on 11/2/2020 & rated 93 points: The most satisfying Bordeaux blend in this price range for the last six months. Still fresh and showing youthful energy, but not likely to benefit from additional aging.
Strong black cherry note coming through a complex of dark and mid-dark fruit. On the verge of excess alcohol, but no VA or impression of heat.
Well crafted from excellent juice, worth it's price. (1979 views)
 Tasted by drmarc61 on 8/14/2020 & rated 86 points: Surprisingly a disjointed drinking experience. A wine this old should have been more integrated.... (2347 views)
 Tasted by Neecies on 7/26/2019: This was an okay bottle--drank well enough but not 'more-ish', as my Brit friends would say, and it doesn't have the substance for further cellaring. Drink by 2021. (2360 views)
 Tasted by thebonnydooner on 1/28/2019 & rated 93 points: Drank on Sat night. Delicious. Really full bodied, well balanced, darkly fruited with currant and dark berry, rich and smooth without being candied or overdone. Really excellent. Drinking at peak, but no danger of dying anytime soon. (2498 views)
 Tasted by Neecies on 1/8/2019: Firm and complex fruit. No mature flavors yet but has reasonable tannins for continued cellaring. (1704 views)
 Tasted by davidspieker on 11/23/2018 & rated 90 points: Dark and viscuis. Fresh red fruit aroma. Rich dark cherry, meat and ripe olive flavors with some juicy acidity on a nice lengthy finish. (1683 views)
 Tasted by guitarguy on 6/20/2018 & rated 90 points: Chocolate, raspberry, moderate drying tannins with cracked pepper in the finish which dries up a little quickly. Nose doesn’t give much, some berry, dirt and a bit of lift. (2475 views)
 Tasted by ovenmitt on 6/8/2018 & rated 89 points: Time has helped this a lot.... much more in balance and quite enjoyable. (1944 views)
 Tasted by wjochim on 1/25/2018 & rated 91 points: I was expecting this bottle to be fading or on its downside since last drinking one. However, it is still drinking well with a nice nose of dark fruit, earth and leather; good body, structure and nice balance. Very pleasantly surprised! (2061 views)
 Tasted by Neecies on 12/29/2017: Good. But missing the interesting nuances of secondary development one would hope for at 11-12 years out. Think this one won't age, it will just fade. (1922 views)
 Tasted by Hamersly on 12/4/2017 & rated 92 points: Needed about an hour to open up, then luscious, deep and rich. Plenty of dark fruit and sweet tannins, should drink wonderfully for at least five more years. (1904 views)
 Tasted by tward on 11/4/2017 & rated 90 points: Picked this up as a "Mystery Wine" six years ago and it's been stored in good, but not perfect conditions (upper-50s to mid-60s seasonally), yet it was still vibrant with seemingly years ahead of it if you wish. Not my normal house style - this is a broad shouldered, deep and fairly dense wine. However, for my taste it does a great job balancing modern New World tastes with enough structure and balance to keep you coming back for more; not over extracted and it worked great with grilled steak. (1477 views)
 Tasted by eszencia on 8/10/2017: Dark fruit, sawdust, bramble and cedar. An aroma tease that was not fulfilled. (1710 views)
 Tasted by wine4lux on 7/2/2017 & rated 90 points: Decent, opened about 30 minutes before serving, didn't evolve much, pleasant. (1778 views)
 Tasted by jovino on 5/14/2017 & rated 91 points: Very enjoyable blend. Copious black fruits good with or without food. Better on day two so should have years left. (2179 views)
 Tasted by wino121 on 4/30/2017 & rated 88 points: Eh, this ones heading down the Skopje...drink up. (2009 views)
 Tasted by guitarguy on 2/7/2017 & rated 87 points: Blueberry and alcohol in the nose with hints of underbrush and green herb. Flavors show the zoo pooh of the Syrah on opening and underneath throughout. Blueberry, heat, moderate tannins but somewhat flabby. It needs more acid to balance the fruit and tannins. (2441 views)
 Tasted by John O' on 1/9/2017 & rated 95 points: wow. After about 15 minutes of air this was silky smooth beautiful (2179 views)
 Tasted by davidspieker on 11/26/2016 & rated 91 points: Dark inky color. Minimal musty aroma. Lush blue and blackberry flavors with spice and coco. Great balance and finish. (1795 views)
 Tasted by Whine-oh on 11/25/2016 & rated 89 points: Big new world cab blend from Walla Walla. Fruit frwd. Only real flaw, a little heat on back end. Still young tasting. Needed a little time after opening to soften. (1606 views)
 Tasted by johnnyo on 11/18/2016 & rated 93 points: If I would have tasted this blind I would never have thought this was a 2006, its appearance and taste was still so youthful. Plush and velvety with great balance of rich fruit and tannins. Showing great aging potential. (1602 views)
 Tasted by TallMikeWine on 10/8/2016 & rated 92 points: Those that know me would simply look at the blend on the label of this wine, and see it's mostly Cab and Merlot with some good amounts of Franc and PV, and a hint of Syrah (why????) and also that it's 10 years old and from Washington, and know, they would just KNOW I'd love it. Well, there's a lot more to it than that, but I do love it! Fruit, red fruit, dark red. Spice, dry spice. Finish of some sort of dried fig I can't even describe (and english is my first language). Time to drink up though. I think another year or two and this will start to fade. Though I could be wrong. HA! (1594 views)
 Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine...

Professional 'Channels'
By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, November/December 2009, IWC Issue #147
(Long Shadows Vintners Collection Pirouette Red Wine Columbia Valley) Subscribe to see review text.
By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (9/16/2011)
(Long Shadows Wineries Pirouette) Very dark red violet color; oak, roasted berry, plum, cedar, instant coffee crystals nose; plush, black fruit, berry, coffee palate with sweet tannins; medium-plus finish 91+ points (54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Syrah)  91 points
By Jon Rimmerman
Garagiste (11/12/2009)
(Pirouette) Box Dear Friends, Long Shadows has received a heap of critical praise lately, mostly for their top 2005 and 2006 portfolio, and we've been offered a few limited wood boxes of the Vintner's Collection (2006) - almost all of these were offered as "winery only" packs but a few have been handed around to retail in the immediate area (as far as I know, none of the packs made it outside of the NW - the winery is already completely sold out of all the 2006's so this is the last of the vintage - they are moving on to 2007 for the red wines). This is a great way to get a feel for this detailed and modern Washington State winery at a price that is below market for each item. Long Shadows has the highest aspirations for all of their wines and they will not be satisfied until their stable is considered the best of its type in the US. Considering the recent acclaim and relative obscurity of these 6-packs, this is a bargain at the mid-upper end (today's Tanzer will only add fuel to the fire - none of the wines in the portfolio received less than 90pts). A wood box was specially made for this set - it is handsomely etched and would be a terrific gift for someone special that enjoys the finest high-impact/fussed over domestic wines. Inside each pack you will receive: 1 - 2006 Pirouette 1 - 2006 Feather 1 - 2006 Pedestal 1 - 2006 Sequel 1 - 2006 Saggi 1 - 2005 Chester-Kidder (CK is always released late, thus the 2005, which was a behemoth vintage in Twice Walla) This is a one-time offer - the winery is giving us approximately 14 hours from now (seriously - 9:00am tomorrow) to take possession of the lot or they are going into their library for release a decade down the road: Long Shadows Vintner's Collection LIMITED wood 6-pack (focus: 2006) Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA WA9970
By Sean Sullivan
Washington Wine Report (7/23/2009)
(Long Shadows Pirouette Columbia Valley) Again, lots of anise, mocha powder, and spice along with a fair amount of caramel. Quite similar on the nose to the 2005. A rich, fruity, syrupy wine with well integrated tannins and a lot of texture. Throwing a good deal of sediment. 54% Cabernet; 20% Merlot; 15% Petit Verdot; 6% Cab Franc; 5% Syrah. 14.6% alcohol. 1,733 cases produced.  ***** points
By Jennifer Cossey, CSW
Sommelier Journal, April 30, 2011
(Long Shadows Wineries Pirouette) 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 15% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Syrah. First impressions are of black plum, blackberry, blackcurrant, and blood orange, followed by vanilla, clove, and a slight earthiness. On the palate, lavender tones and a velvety mouthfeel give way to an elegant and lasting finish. 1,733 cases made. Winery Spotlight: Long Shadows Winery
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and RJonWine.com and Garagiste and Washington Wine Report and Sommelier Journal. (manage subscription channels)

CellarTracker Wiki Articles (login to edit | view all articles)

Long Shadows Wineries

Producer website

Nine Hats Wines NineHats

Visit to Woodinville tasting room.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2018/08/long-shadows-cellars-feature-world.html

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2018/11/thanksgiving-feast-features-rhone-wine.html

Red Bordeaux Blend

Red Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.

Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.

USA

American wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.

Washington

Washington Wine Commission | Credit to Washingtonwine.org for this article

Washington Wine
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.

Wineries
With 30,000+ acres planted, the state has ideal geography and conditions for growing premium vinifera wine grapes. Primarily grown on their own root stocks, the vines produce grapes of consistent quality, resulting in strong vintages year after year. While its focus is on Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the region also produces a wide range of other spectacular whites and reds.

Growers
Winemakers from all over the world have chosen to establish themselves in Washington, where they can create wines reflecting this region's unique characteristics. Their hand-crafted wines are receiving wide acclaim from critics regionally, nationally and internationally for their consistently high quality. Many of them have received scores of 90 and above from the major wine media. Overall this is a higher percentage than other leading wine regions.

Regions
As the state's fourth largest fruit crop, the Washington wine industry is an important contributor to the long-term preservation of Washington agriculture. The industry is committed to sustainable agricultural practices and conservation of water resources.
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.

Varieties
Washington produces more than 20 wine grape varieties - a ratio of 56 percent white to 44 percent red. As the industry matures and experiments, it finds many grape varieties that thrive throughout Washington's microclimates. There are more than 16,000 vineyard acres of red wine varieties statewide.

History & Vintages
Washington's wine future is limitless. As consumers discover the quality of Washington wines, demand continues to grow nationally and internationally. New acreage and wine varietals are being planted and new wineries are opening at a remarkable pace. Washington State is recognized as a premium viticultural region around the world.

State Facts
Washington's wine industry generates more than $3 billion to the state economy. It employs more than 14,000 people, directly and indirectly, with projections to add nearly 2,000 more jobs by 2006. In terms of tax revenues accrued to the state and federal government, wine grapes are among the highest tax generators of any agricultural crops. Furthermore, Washington wine tourism attracts nearly two million visitors annually contributing to the positive growth of local and regional economies.
Washington State - the perfect climate for wine = ideal growing conditions, quality wines, business innovation, lifestyle, and social responsibility. All are key elements of this world-class wine industry.

Vintages
"2008 and even more so 2010 and 2011 were cool, even cold vintages (think: 2002 in the Barossa) without the extreme ripeness, extract and higher alcohol that had become the norm in the state’s post 1995 world. 2008 was manageable but the duo of 2010/2011 nearly caused a “great depression” in Washington State." - Jon Rimmerman

Columbia Valley

Columbia Cascade Winery Association

The Columbia Valley AVA lies mostly in Washington state, with a small section in Oregon. The Cascade Range forms its western boundary with the Palouse regions bordering the area to the east. To the north, the Okanogan National Forest forms a border with the AVA and Canada. It encompasses the valleys formed by the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Walla Walla River, the Snake River, and the Yakima River. The Columbia valley stretches between the 46th parallel and 47th parallel which puts it in line with the well known French wine growing regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy. The northern latitude gives the areas two more hours of additional daylight during the summer growing season than wine regions of California receive. The volcanic and sandy loam soil of the valley offers good drainage and is poor in nutrients, ideal in forcing the vine to concentrate its resources into the grape clusters.

Columbia Valley

Columbia Valley Winery Association

 
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