Wine Article
2004 Long Shadows Wineries Syrah Sequel
Last edited on 6/15/2008 by RPerro
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From winery website: 2004 Long Shadows Sequel
Winemaker: John Duval is the winemaker who for fifteen years presented Australia with its most celebrated wine, Penfold's Grange.
Tasting Notes: Darkly-hued with cherry and cassis aromas to match, this is a focused Syrah loaded with black fruit, spice and a hint of vanilla across a supple frame. Give it time in the glass to fully reveal the wine’s layers of fruit and concentration.
Vintage: The Columbia Valley's 2004 vintage required meticulous care in the vineyard and those who did so were rewarded with beautifully elegant, well-balanced wines. Long Shadows resident winemaker Gilles Nicault invested hundreds of hours in the vineyards from the first of the year through harvest after a harsh January freeze left everyone anxious about damage to the vines. Gilles worked with growers to manage crop loads and canopy exposure throughout the growing season. He asked growers to prune to two buds in the early spring, despite freeze damage to the primary buds; thin at bloom; thin and drop green clusters at verasion; and finally, leaf thin in September to open up the canopy and promote even ripening. As a result, Long Shadows’ blocks averaged 1 – 2 tons per acre, just slightly less than a “typical” year, producing wonderfully ripened, flavorful fruit.
Winemaking:Carefully selected, hand-harvested grapes were fermented in 2 – 4 ton tanks, using a variety of Australian fermentation methods. In 2004, 90% of the wine was aged in small French oak, a barrel regime similar to the one John developed for Penfolds RWT, a modern, lusher style of Shiraz than his iconic Grange. Held in small lots over the course of 18 months of barrel aging, John selected the best wine of the vintage for the final blend.
Vineyards: The Columbia Valley is a diverse growing region so working with a varied selection of top Syrah vineyards gives Sequel complexity and layers. Yakima Valley’s //Boushey Vineyard// (35%) gives the wine its elegance and balance; //Alder Ridge// (24%) and //Wallula Vineyard// (7%) in the Horse Heaven Hills combines with Red Mountain vineyards (32%) to add black fruit and richness. A small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon from Sagemoor’s //Dionysus Vineyard// on a southwest facing slope in Pasco adds complexity and more layers.
Alcohol: 14.3%
pH: 3.77
TA: 0.56 grams/100ml
Blend: 97% Syrah, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon
Release Date: October 2006
Production: 1,359 cases
Winemaker: John Duval is the winemaker who for fifteen years presented Australia with its most celebrated wine, Penfold's Grange.
Tasting Notes: Darkly-hued with cherry and cassis aromas to match, this is a focused Syrah loaded with black fruit, spice and a hint of vanilla across a supple frame. Give it time in the glass to fully reveal the wine’s layers of fruit and concentration.
Vintage: The Columbia Valley's 2004 vintage required meticulous care in the vineyard and those who did so were rewarded with beautifully elegant, well-balanced wines. Long Shadows resident winemaker Gilles Nicault invested hundreds of hours in the vineyards from the first of the year through harvest after a harsh January freeze left everyone anxious about damage to the vines. Gilles worked with growers to manage crop loads and canopy exposure throughout the growing season. He asked growers to prune to two buds in the early spring, despite freeze damage to the primary buds; thin at bloom; thin and drop green clusters at verasion; and finally, leaf thin in September to open up the canopy and promote even ripening. As a result, Long Shadows’ blocks averaged 1 – 2 tons per acre, just slightly less than a “typical” year, producing wonderfully ripened, flavorful fruit.
Winemaking:Carefully selected, hand-harvested grapes were fermented in 2 – 4 ton tanks, using a variety of Australian fermentation methods. In 2004, 90% of the wine was aged in small French oak, a barrel regime similar to the one John developed for Penfolds RWT, a modern, lusher style of Shiraz than his iconic Grange. Held in small lots over the course of 18 months of barrel aging, John selected the best wine of the vintage for the final blend.
Vineyards: The Columbia Valley is a diverse growing region so working with a varied selection of top Syrah vineyards gives Sequel complexity and layers. Yakima Valley’s //Boushey Vineyard// (35%) gives the wine its elegance and balance; //Alder Ridge// (24%) and //Wallula Vineyard// (7%) in the Horse Heaven Hills combines with Red Mountain vineyards (32%) to add black fruit and richness. A small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon from Sagemoor’s //Dionysus Vineyard// on a southwest facing slope in Pasco adds complexity and more layers.
Alcohol: 14.3%
pH: 3.77
TA: 0.56 grams/100ml
Blend: 97% Syrah, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon
Release Date: October 2006
Production: 1,359 cases