Sequel Syrah 06
Sequel Syrah 06 - John Duval, former winemaker of Penfold's internationally famous Grange Red, makes the Sequel Syrah in the style of his iconic Australian wines.
Sequel Syrah 06 Wine Spectator 92 points: "Bright and generous, delivering a lively mouthful of blackberry and plum fruit, shaded with hints of pepper and spice, lingering nicely on the beautifully focused finish. This has depth without excess weight, along with the goods to develop long term in the cellar. Drink now through 2014. - HS"
John Duval, former winemaker of Penfold's internationally famous Grange Red, makes the Sequel Syrah in the style of his iconic Australian wines.
A generous and concentrated wine of great character, the 2006 Sequel is notable for its deep purple hue, rich aromatics and layers of flavor. Almond, dark chocolate and cherry notes fill the glass, complemented by hints of black licorice, blackberry, cocoa powder and a touch of smoke. Great complexity on the palate with a lengthy finish, this is a refined wine of beauty and balance. - John Duval
Long Shadows Sequel Syrah 05 received 94 points from Wine Advocate (Parker) 7/08
John works with a variety of diverse Columbia Valley vineyards to craft this wine: Syrah from Horse Heaven Hill's Alder Ridge and Wallula Vineyards serve as the backbone; Yakima's acclaimed Boushey Vineyard contributes to the wine's refined structure; Bacchus Vineyard provides dimension and depth; Red Mountain and the surrounding area vineyards enhance the wine's concentration, color and richness.
A small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon (5%) from Sagemoor's Dionysus Vineyard on a southwest facing slope in Pasco adds structure and an extra layer of complexity.
MORE INFORMATION
Previous Vintage Tasting Notes
2005 Vintage Tasting Notes
Previous vintage tasting notes:
Long Shadows Sequel Syrah 05 received 94 points from Wine Advocate (Parker) 7/08 They said: "The 2005 Sequel is made by John Duval, former winemaker of Penfolds Grange. The wine is 96% Syrah and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 16 months in mostly French oak. Aromas of cedar, smoke, game, bacon, and violets are alluring while leading to a round, layered, smooth-textured, full-bodied wine with several years of aging potential. This hedonistic effort will be at its best from 2012 to 2020. "
Velvet and full-bodied, John Duval's blackberry and dark fruit driven Syrah is more old world Bordeaux than Washington State. It's about as far as you can get rom a "typical" Australian Syrah, with balanced but restrained fruit, mineral notes, youthful, fine-grained but quite present tannins, and the promise of greatness with time and careful cellaring. Blackberry, toasted espresso bean, roasted meat, cinnamon spice, and white flowers show in the nose as an initial impression. Blackberry, black raspberry, and black currant hold the center of a wine framed by fruit and oak derived tannins that smooth out and integrate with aeration. Decant for an hour or two if drinking this wine in the next year, or cellar to allow its potential complexity to develop. From the winery: "This is a deep, dark Syrah loaded with aromatic dark chocolate and black cherries. Lush and concentrated with a perfect balance of richness and acidity that brings the wine to life." 2004 Tasting Notes Wine Spectator 92 points. Smooth and velvety, this is a graceful, beautifully balanced Syrah that shows off its blueberry and plum fruit against shades of white pepper and cedar. The finish keeps welling up with haunting flavors. Drink now through 2014. 1,359 cases made. -HS
Sequel Syrah from Longshadows Vintners' 2003 vintage received 92 points from Wine Spectator too. This second 2004 release is 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. Made by John Duval, the very famous winemaker who for fifteen years made Australia's most celebrated wine, Penfold's Grange.
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.
