Pedestal Merlot
Michel Rolland, possibly the most influential winemaker in the field, takes the lowly Merlot grape to heights rarely seen in the US with his annual production of Pedestal. Choosing from the best grapes grown in Washington State, he crafts a multi-dimensional, multi-layered, ageable wine reminiscent of Pomerol (where he lives) but containing characteristics unique to the Pacific Northwest.
Michel Rolland
Rolland, famously skewered in the movie Mondovino, is so much more than the parody the moviemaker depicted. Those who view the “Rolland Method” as a craftsman’s book of recipes have missed the mark. Rolland is not a technician – he is, first and foremost, an observer. In uncanny fashion, Rolland understands the location and situation unique to wine from a particular area - and therefore the nuances that separate an uneventful wine from something quite exciting. It is this ability to understand the wine that makes him the oenologist extraordinaire that he is, and a legend in his time. In the case of Pedestal, he brings out flavors and scents that make the wine quintessentially Washington State, to a level of depth and complexity too often missed. It's ironic that a Frenchman comes to Washington and produces a wine that offers such a profound presentation of Washington Merlot at its best.
Pedestal Merlot 2004
The 2003 vintage of this wine received 94 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 92 points from Wine Spectator, 95 points from Connoisseurs Guide, and 93 points from Wine Enthusiast. Read 2003 reviews below.
Pedestal 2004
The 2004 Vintage
Avalon Wine's Tasting Notes
The Pedestal Merlot '04 is an impressive wine from the beginning, from its ornate label to the deep color of the wine. Stunning, classic Washington Merlot aromas of plums, cassis, and tobacco leaf explode from the glass, nicely framed by a toasty blue-fruit-vanilla-bean perfume.
This is an opulent, expansive Merlot with flavors of ripe plums, sweet blueberry, dark cherries, and cassis, giving way to leather, minerals and more fruit layers on the finish. Lively acidity and super-fine tannins provide a structure that will reward years in the cellar. With time in the glass, the Pedestal's depth evolves as darker fruit and barrel spices show.
This is a highly-collectible, Aston Martin of a Merlot--beautifully-styled, rare, powerful, crafted impeccably. -marcus
+++++++++++++++
Nose- Intense scent of black fruit, sweet & rich tobacco leaf, spicy cedar incense, and toast.
Flavors- Tremendously complex layering makes this everything most new world Merlot is not- this is not a simple wine by any measure. Layers of different berry, cherry, and currant fruit flavors mingle with toasted espresso bean, bittersweet cocoa, exotic cedar incense and spice, and vanilla bean. The flavors are complemented by a lush, velvety mouthfeel, an uplifting, refreshing acidity that accentuates the complexity of the wine, and beautifully integrated tannins, balanced and unobtrusive, but present and indicating that this will be along-lived wine.
Such a rich, lush wine can be out of balance, but not this one. The big, uplifting acidity matches the silky tannins and huge flavors, reiterating the complexity and suitability for aging. The wine has a remarkable complexity of layers and range of flavors.
Finish- On the finish, hints of fresh saddle leather and minerals add to the fruit flavors. As the fruit diminishes, the sense of intense spice, sweet tobacco, and bittersweet chocolate become more pronounced.
Hype aside, this is one of the best wines ever made in Washington State. Michel Rolland marries his deep knowledge of Bordeaux with the flamboyant richness, intensity, and ripeness of the New World in this Petrus-like wine.
This wine is a complex, satisfying showstopper. -jean
Food Pairings:
Pair with: Grilled Flank steak with summer berry compote
or grilled
mixed earthy and sweet vegetables like carrots and
rutabaga. Lots of
concentrated layers of sweet tobacco leaf and toast
oak with nice
acidity fits well with a meaty steak lightened by the
berry sauce and
grilled to mirror the scent of smoke. For vegetarians,
a hearty mix
of earthy and sweet vegetables will give the heft of
meat and find the
sweet essence and smoke present in the wine. -amy
Michel Rolland (at Right) with Longshadows winemaker
Gilles Nicault
Winemaker's Notes
Tasting Notes: Intense cherry,
blackberry and baking spice aromas and flavors are
woven throughout layers of ripe tannins resulting
in a full bodied Merlot with a great concentration
of flavors and richness that carry across a lengthy
finish.
Vintage: Because of a harsh January
freeze that left everyone anxious about damage to
the vines, the 2004 vintage required meticulous care
in the vineyard. Those who did, including Long Shadows
vintners, were rewarded with wonderfully ripe, well-balanced
wines. We asked growers to prune to two buds in the
early spring, thin at bloom, thin again 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. This, combined
with warm summer temperatures and an extended growing
season proved ideal conditions for ripening grapes
fully, yielding flavorful, balanced wines.
Winemaking: Grapes were allowed
to hang as long as possible for extra richness and
ripeness, then hand-harvested and delivered to the
winery where the fruit was de-stemmed but not crushed
to avoid harsh tannins and preserve fruit character.
After fermentation, grapes were moved to French oak
barrels for 23 months. Rolland carefully selected
the coopers himself calling for Merlot to age in
Sylvain barrels for elegance and to help polish the
mid-palate; Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc
rested in Seguin Moreau and Saury barrels to stand-up
to the wines' tannins and impart density and richness.
Vineyards: Pedestal's 2004 vineyard
sources were selected to produce a rich, jammy, fruit-forward
wine. Primary vineyard sources included Alder Ridge
(30%) in the Horse Heaven Hills, giving the wine
elegance and wonderful aromatics, Weinbau Vineyard
(24%) on the Wahluke Slope adding ripe black fruit
and richness and Wallula Vineyard (21%), delivering
deep flavors and complexity.
2003 Pedestal
 2003 Pedestal Merlot - 94 points |
 2003 Pedestal Merlot - 95 points 15% Cabernet Sauvignon; 7% Cabernet Franc; 3% Petit Verdot. As professional and polished a Merlot as we have tasted in quite some, this very deep, impeccably crafted effort from the Pacific Northwest easily outdistances the field this month and moves to the very head of the class. From its rich and keenly composed aromas to its layered flavors of black cherries, loam and deftly fit oak, it is wine of real reach and complexity and never once resorts to simple ripeness to bolster its impressions of richness. It shows a fine spine of firming tannins and will grow gracefully for five to ten years. |
 2003 Pedestal Merlot - 92 points Big, rich and generous, a lavish mouthful of currant, blackberry and a touch of spice and earth that weave through the finish and linger. First wine from a partnership involving Michel Rolland in Washington. Best from 2007 through 2013.—H.S. |
 2003 Pedestal Merlot - 93 points |
|
|
Home | Site
Map | About
NW Wine | Shop
for Wine | Highest
Rated | Wine
Clubs | NW
Wine News | Search | View
Cart Reproduction
of any part of this site prohibited without permission. |
