Founded in 2003 by Washington State wine visionary Allen Shoup, the mindset behind the Long Shadows winery is quite simple; obtain the best grapes and get them into the hands of the best winemakers. However, easier said than done. Each of the Long Shadows wines have a different label, a different name, and a different winemaker. To make the best Merlot in Washington State, Allen Shoup employed the master of Merlot (Michel Rolland) and developed the Pedestal label. To get the best Cabernet Sauvignon, he brought on Randy Dunn and created the Feather Cabernet. And to make the best Washington State equal to Opus One or Joseph Phelps Insignia, he got Philippe Melka to create Pirouette, a Cabernet Sauvignon-driven blend!
Philippe Melka is a master of Cabernet Sauvignon and blends, and has crafted several wines that have earned 100 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. He has been trained and influenced by some of the most notable personalities in the wine world, including Jean Delmas and Jean Philippe Masclef from Haut-Brion, Christian Moueix and Jean Claude Berrouet from Petrus, Paul Draper from Ridge, Daniel Baron from Silver Oak. For Pirouette, a variety of fermentation methods were used to enhance complexity and richness in this classic Bordeaux blend. Hand-harvested Cabernet was fermented in 400L French oak barrels that were gently rolled throughout fermentation to integrate the oak with refined, dark fruit flavors and give the wine its silky mouthfeel. All other varieties were fermented in traditional stainless steel tanks, with select lots enjoying longer skin contact to enhance the wine's dark color and mid-palate. The finished wine was aged 22 months in French oak barrels (75% new) before bottling unfiltered and unfined.
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 93 POINTS - "The 2020 Pirouette is spicy with a dark and brooding bouquet of musky black currant, grilled herbs, cocoa and ashen stone. This is velvety smooth yet lifted in feel, with a combination of red and blue fruit that flows across a core of juicy acidity. It leaves the palate caked in primary concentration and fine tannins, as a mentholated herbal tinge adds freshness and suggestions of tobacco fade. The Pirouette is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec."
JEB DUNNUCK 93 POINTS - "Based on 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Malbec, the 2020 Pirouette offers more high-toned aromatics of plums, liquid violets, incense, and dark chocolate. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, nicely balanced, dense 2020 offering ripe tannins and outstanding length."
Philippe Melka is a master of Cabernet Sauvignon and blends, and has crafted several wines that have earned 100 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. He has been trained and influenced by some of the most notable personalities in the wine world, including Jean Delmas and Jean Philippe Masclef from Haut-Brion, Christian Moueix and Jean Claude Berrouet from Petrus, Paul Draper from Ridge, Daniel Baron from Silver Oak. For Pirouette, a variety of fermentation methods were used to enhance complexity and richness in this classic Bordeaux blend. Hand-harvested Cabernet was fermented in 400L French oak barrels that were gently rolled throughout fermentation to integrate the oak with refined, dark fruit flavors and give the wine its silky mouthfeel. All other varieties were fermented in traditional stainless steel tanks, with select lots enjoying longer skin contact to enhance the wine's dark color and mid-palate. The finished wine was aged 22 months in French oak barrels (75% new) before bottling unfiltered and unfined.
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 93 POINTS - "The 2020 Pirouette is spicy with a dark and brooding bouquet of musky black currant, grilled herbs, cocoa and ashen stone. This is velvety smooth yet lifted in feel, with a combination of red and blue fruit that flows across a core of juicy acidity. It leaves the palate caked in primary concentration and fine tannins, as a mentholated herbal tinge adds freshness and suggestions of tobacco fade. The Pirouette is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec."
JEB DUNNUCK 93 POINTS - "Based on 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Malbec, the 2020 Pirouette offers more high-toned aromatics of plums, liquid violets, incense, and dark chocolate. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, nicely balanced, dense 2020 offering ripe tannins and outstanding length."
