TN:2005 Long Shadows Pedestal

80% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cab Franc. Aged for 22 months in 85%new French oak.

The nose on this is huge. Red flowers with red cherries and red plums. This is somewhat austere on the palate with a somewhat high acid level and drying tannins. I found a very admirable mouth feel with clove and chocolate, and some cedar and spiciness. Great ‘bones’. This should be wonderful in about 3 years. Right now its in a tough place, but the pedigree shows. A Michel Rolland wine. 89/100

This was the best of all of em I’ve had and I think the TN is spot on.

  • 2005 Long Shadows Wineries Pedestal - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (11/11/2009)
    – decanted for an hour before initial taste –
    – tasted non-blind over 2 days –
    – 80% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc –
    – pH: 3.77 –
    – TA: 0.52 grams / 100ml –

NOSE: oak; very rich red fruits; pencil lead; vanilla; a bit simple right now - I do hope the oak integrates with time.

BODY: some sediment present; medium-full bodied; garnet-purple color of medium-deep to deep depth.

TASTE: very tannic right now - even after decanting; lusciously ripe red fruits and boisenberry; black cherry; graphite; oaky; 14.7% alcohol; bit of heat on the finish (approx. 45 sec.); fruits are very concentrated; maybe a bit lacking in acidity; this needs time still – I will wait at least 5 years to open my one other bottle. This wine is absolutely stuffed with material, so I’ll be very curious to see how it all shakes out over time.

B: 50, 5, 11, 16, 8 = (90 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

I thought the 2003 Pedestal was fantastic when I first tried it several years ago. Haven’t checked in on it recently, but my expectation (hope?) is that it will be even more fantasticker. [thumbs-up.gif]

Nice note.

have a case of this.

You’re right, tough as nails.

I too hope it relaxes a tad in the next 3-7 yrs b/c if it does I think it will be a better than good wine.

Neat facility too.

+1

Alan Shoop poured this for me last year and it ripped the enamel of my teeth. I told him it was undrinkable but I bought a couple of bottles anyway.

exactly

2005 Long Shadows Wineries Merlot Pedestal - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (10/19/2016)
– decanted 1.25 hours before initial taste –
– tasted non-blind over 3-4 hours –
– 80% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc –
– pH: 3.77; TA: 0.52 g/L –

NOSE: oaky; black cherry; clean; hint of bubble gum; medium to medium+ expressiveness; maple candy.

BODY: full bodied; violet-garnet color of great depth; slight bricking at the edges; some sediment in the bottle.

TASTE: soft/plush mouthfeel; harsh tannins of years ago are resolved; very ripe/big; extremely oaky; tastes more like a big/concentrated/plush/oaky red wine than it does a Merlot-dominant blend; 14.7% alc. is mostly masked by the concentrated fruit and oak; for my preferences, this was better in its rough and tumble youth; it’s getting messy now, and I only see further decline in its future. Gut impression score: mid 80’s, with room for further failings in the future. Drink Now.