WTN: 2004 Long Shadows Wineries Syrah Sequel

Knowing that John Duval made this gave me the extra motivation to pick some of these up.

2004 Long Shadows Wineries Syrah Sequel - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (3/11/2008)
I picked up a few bottles of this and decided, despite its probable youth, that I should give it a sniff and taste. This is very impressive bottle of syrah. I already knew how capable the hands that made it were and my few experiences with Washington syrah had been positive. The nose is very complex although slightly reduced at this stage. Slightly stinky but lots going on. A mixture of asphalt, blue fruits and little bit of tomato. At first the acid was too much at the fore but then everything started to balance. Once we had food the really smoothed out. Despite the viscous mouth feel the wine worked really well with food. Everything became more pure. It will be many years before I revisit this. Lots of concentration mixed with medium tannin and fairly high acid. I heavy but not flabby wine. (93 pts.)

Peace,

Jason

[Jenise]

I'm delighted to read a positive report on what I think is one of my adopted home state's finest and most distinctive wines. The entire Long Shadows series is worth looking at, but the Sequel is for me is the jewel of the bunch. And I'm actually anything but a fan of new world syrah, yet I've bought this one every year and even stepped up to a case for the 05.

Jenise, thanks for the info. Does John make any other wines for them? Do you buy direct?

What do you think of Washington syrah as compared to Cali syrah.

Jason

[Jenise]

Jenise, thanks for the info. Does John make any other wines for them? Do you buy direct?

What do you think of Washington syrah as compared to Cali syrah.

Jason

No, the Sequel is John's only wine. Some of the other winemakers, each making their own "label" consisting of just one wine, as you probably know, are Philippe Melka, Michel Rolland, and Randy Dunn. There's a Super Tuscan type and a Reisling too, and a blend called Chester Kidd or Kidder that is made by I'm-not-sure-who. I have bought most of mine locally or from Pete's Market in Seattle.

As for the second question, dunno. Because I don't seek out syrah, I don't taste that many, but that said the two best Washington syrahs I've had, the Sequel and an artist label Lewis Vineyard from Dunham, were both better than the best California syrahs I've had so far. Have yet to have a California syrah I felt had that kind of exceptional-ness about them. But as I said, my experience is probably too limited to make an educated case either way.