Pirouette Red Wine 05 |
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This rich, deeply colored wine offers a broad spectrum of complex aromas including leather and black cherry interwoven with hints of spice, earth and a subtle note of licorice. Supple yet firm tannins on the entry turn rich on the mid-palate to provide a lush mouthfeel across a lengthy finish. For the 2005 Pirouette, a selection of outstanding Columbia Valley vineyards (48%) were chosen for their ripe fruit character; Wahluke Slope (24%) and Red Mountain (9%) vineyards added ripe tannins and flavors; Horse Heaven Hills vineyards (14%) including Cabernet Sauvignon from Champoux and Wallula Vineyards contributed texture and a distinct, earthy note to the wine; and Yakima Valley's Boushey Vineyard (5%) added an extra layer of dark fruit. This wine was aged 22 months in 75% new oak with a selection of barrels from Taransaud, St. Martin and Ermitage. |
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Detailed Info, Previous Vintage Notes, Reviews: |
| 2004 tasting Notes "aromatic and seductive wine right out of the glass, with waves of perfumed fruit, dusty cocoa, bright espresso and toasted grain." - Paul Gregutt, Seattle Times Previous vintage Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points. 2004 Winemaker Notes Philippe Melka and Agustin Huneeus, Sr. teamed to combine the lore of old world winemaking, the advancements of new world technology, and small lots from Washington State's finest vineyards to craft this exotic red blend. Tasting Notes: A full spectrum of bright aromas and flavors gives the 2004 Pirouette wonderful complexity and style. Cabernet Sauvignon makes for a rich, structured wine; Syrah and Merlot add vibrant, dark fruit and a hint of licorice and spice; Petit Verdot contributes to its balance and liveliness. Lush and concentrated, the flavors continue through a lingering finish. Vintage: Due to a January freeze, the 2004 Columbia Valley growing season was trickier than most. However, those who managed their vineyards carefully, as Long Shadows did, were rewarded with wonderfully ripe, flavorful wines on par with previous vintages. Fearing damage to the vine because of the freeze, some vineyards left extra buds on the vine, but Long Shadows elected to work with growers and aggressively pruned and thinned blocks to ensure small crop levels and even ripening. Yields averaged 1 - 2 tons per acre resulting in balanced, uniform vines that developed beautifully over the course of a growing season marked by a hot summer, cool September and a warm October that matured grapes late in the season. Winemaking: Whole berries were gently fermented in small lots with gentle pumpovers to give the wine ripe, lush fruit character and avoid harsh tannins. Aged 21months in 100% all French oak (75% new) barrels, the winemakers' selected their favorite lots to craft a stylish, concentrated red wine showcasing the best of the Columbia Valley. Vineyards: Creating complexity and layers in a wine is due in part to vineyard selection. To that end, the winemakers chose a diverse selection of Columbia Valley vineyard sites, each contributing unique character to the blend. Grapes from the Horse Heaven Hills vineyards (32%) contributed depth; Wahluke Slope (24%) provided richness, concentration and dark fruit; Columbia Valley (25%) added ripe fruit character; the Yakima Valley (5%) gave the wine its balance and acidity; and Petit Verdot from Ciel du Cheval on Red Mountain (14%) further enhanced balance and complexity. 2003 Vintage Reviews and tasting Notes 93 Points - Pierre Rovani (Wine Advocate) "A Long Shadows consortium winery, Pirouette has two men at its helm, Agustin Huneeus, Sr. (Veramonte and Concha y Toro of Chile, as well as California Franciscan Oakville Estate, Mount Veeder, Estancia, and Quintessa) and Philippe Melka (Marston, Seavey, Constant, Lail, Caldwell, Quintessa, 100 Acre, Vineyard 29, and Metisse). The 2003 Pirouette (500 cases), a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 10% Syrah, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot, reveals a super nose of sweet black fruits, tar, and licorice. An immensely broad wine, it unleashes creamy waves of black fruits on the palate that are powerfully flavored and linger throughout its extensive finish. An immensely lush, engaging effort, it reveals excellent tannin and ripeness. Drink it over the next 12-14 years. Wine Spectator 91 points: "Rich, focused and spicy, with lots of chocolaty oak around a frame of vibrant core of currant and plum fruit, persisting nicely on the supple finish. Has plenty of style, but you have to like oak." H.S. Famous winemaker Agustin Huneeus, in collaboration with Philippe Melka, made this limited Boredeaux-style blend from Washington State fruit. Pirouette is a richly concentrated red blend, offering a seamless balance of power and elegance. Layers of ripe plum, black cherry and wild berry flavors are highlighted by hints of mocha and spice across a long, silky finish. Grapes from the Wahluke Slope (31%) provided richness, concentration and dark fruit; Horse Heaven Hills vineyards (32%) contributed depth; Walla Walla (25%) added ripe fruit character; the Yakima Valley (9%) gave the wine its balance and acidity; Petit Verdot from Ciel du Cheval on Red Mountain (3%) further enhanced balance and complexity. Napa Valley legends Philippe Melka and Agustin Huneeus came to Washington to craft a stylish, concentrated wine showcasing the best of the Columbia Valley. To achieve their goal, whole berries were gently fermented in small lots with gentle pumpovers to give the wine its ripe, lush fruit character and avoid harsh tannins. The final blend was aged 20 months in 100% French oak (70% new; 30% one-year-old) barrels. Collectors who enjoy big, rich, fruit-forward wines will find Columbia Valley's 2003 vintage to their liking. This was one of Washington's warmest seasons on record with overall heat accumulation rivaling the high numbers posted in 1998. Temperatures were warm from June to August, allowing grapes to reach an exceptional level of maturity - a wonderful vintage from start to finish. |
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