Double bottle size from Longshadows Vintners is a festive, elegant, and impressive gift.

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."

Wine & SPirits magazine says: " Australian winemaker John Duval is the winemaker for Long Shadows signature Syrah. His experience shows in the Oz-like color (almost black), the spicy berry, plum, cherry and currant fruit, and the silky, polished tannins. Interestingly, Duval uses a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, rather than going with Viognier. The wine seems to be holding something back; its definitely got some years ahead."