By Long Shadows
2021 Columbia Valley Pirouette Red

Wine Details
Originally crafted in collaboration with Napa Valley Vintner Phillipe Melka, this old-world blend of select lots from Columbia Valley's best vineyards is produced by Long Shadows' Director of Winemaking, Giles Nicault.

Vineyard Notes
A selection of top Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards and a small amount of Stone Tree Vineyard Cabernet give Pirouette structure and ripe fruit character. Layered complexity builds with the addition of Red Mountain Merlot, bringing suppleness and texture. Petit Verdot from Dionysus Vineyard lends cassis, and finally, a small amount of Weinbau Vineyard Malbec contributes a dark, spicy note to the finished wine.

Vintage Notes
The 2021 vintage will be remembered for low yields and extreme temperatures stretching from late June to the beginning of July. The early summer heat wave was followed by ideal weather, with warm days and cool nights extending well into October. The combination of low yields and extra hang time allowed the grapes to reach full physiological maturity, resulting in a vintage marked by balanced wines with great concentration and flavor.

Winemaking Notes
Hand-harvested grapes were sorted and then underwent a variety of fermentation techniques to build layers of complexity and richness in the blend. Cabernet Sauvignon fermented in 400L French oak barrels was gently rolled throughout fermentation to integrate fruit and oak while developing rich, supple tannins. All other varieties were fermented in stainless steel tanks, with select lots enjoying longer skin contact to enhance the wine's dark color and rich mid-palate. Aged 22 months in all French oak barrels (80% new).

Technical Details
Blend: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec
Alcohol: 15.30%
pH: 3.89
TA: 0.54 g/100ml

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2021 Pirouette presents a strikingly deep and alluring color. Its bouquet is a harmonious blend of vibrant aromas, including ripe plums, cassis, violets, grilled herbs, and incense. On the palate, this wine reveals its full-bodied character, with a luxurious texture and sturdy backbone. Dark fruit flavors and refined tannins provide a wonderful balance of opulence and elegance. The finish is a testament to its sophistication, as the lingering notes of dark chocolate elegantly round off each sip, leaving a lasting impression.
[Information provided by Long Shadows]

Wine: Long Shadows 2021 Pirouette
Score/Rating: 98
Tasting Notes: The otherworldly 2021 Long Shadows Pirouette Red Wine is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon with 36% Merlot and the remainder Malbec and Petit Verdot. Very dark in the glass, this offers alluring black florals on the nose with tar, tobacco leaf, mocha, anise and shades of dark chocolate shavings. The stunning aromatics are simply head-turning. The palate is ultra-refined offering a seamless drinking experience. This is the finest edition of this wine that I have tasted since its inception back in 2003.

Wine: 2021 Long Shadows Vintners Pirouette
Score/Rating: 96+
Review Date: 07/10/2024
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Notes: The 2021 Pirouette is [...] based on 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, and 2% Malbec. Ripe black and blue fruits, leafy herbs, violets, tobacco, and a kiss of some chocolaty oak all emerge from this beauty, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a broad, layered mouthfeel, velvety tannins, and a stunning finish. It certainly makes the most of the vintage and it's up with the creme de la creme of this vintage.

Wine: LONG SHADOWS Red Wine, Columbia Valley ‘Pirouette’ 2021
Score/Rating: 96
Suggested Drinking Window: 2025-2035
Review Date: 05/2025
Reviewed By: Jeremy Young
Tasting Notes: The 2021 Long Shadows Pirouette Red Wine from the Columbia Valley is a masterful blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, and 2% Malbec [...]. It opens with a dark, inky core and a subtle garnet halo, drawing you in with an expressive bouquet of crushed blackberries, blueberry reduction, dried sage, graphite dust, and hints of violets tucked into warm cedar. Swirling deeper, aromas of espresso grounds and dark baking chocolate add complexity and allure. On the palate, this wine delivers medium to full-bodied concentration, unfurling with polished richness and an elegant sense of control. The structure is built on plush, integrated tannins and balanced acidity, carrying flavors of ripe plum, mulled currants, sweet pipe tobacco, and faint char. Its layered texture creates a seamless flow across the tongue, finishing with finesse and a touch of spiced oak. Highly recommended.

Wine: Long Shadows 2021 Pirouette Red (Columbia Valley)
Score/Rating: 94 - Editors' Choice
Review Date: 10/01/2025
Reviewed By: Michael Alberty
Tasting Notes: This elegant and balanced wine blends [...] Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec. Its marionberry and dried rose petal aromas meld seamlessly with earthy forest floor scents and touches of chocolate malt and graphite. The full-bodied wine's blueberry, blackberry, nutmeg and black tea flavors float on a silken texture, backed by gentle acidity and velvety tannins.

Wine: Long Shadows Columbia Valley Pirouette 2021
Score/Rating: 93
Suggested Drinking Window: Best from 2028
Review Date: 02/17/2024
Reviewed By: Jim Gordon
Tasting Notes: A layered and full-bodied, Bordeaux-style blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec. Bold, ripe black plums and black cherries are soothed by dark-chocolate, cinnamon and vanilla nuances. Very full but balanced, leading to a lingering finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2028.

Wine: Long Shadows Vintners 2021 Pirouette
Score/Rating: 92
Suggested Drinking Window: 2027 - 2032
Review Date: 10/2024
Reviewed By: Eric Guido
Tasting Notes: A sheen of toasty oak gives way cocoa and dried black berries as the 2021 Pirouette smolders up from the glass. This envelops the palate in creamy textural waves and ripe red and blue fruits energized by a core of zesty acidity. Dramatically long and spicy, the 2021 leaves the senses drenched in primary concentration, tapering off long and tart with a framework of edgy tannins.

Wine: 2021 Long Shadows Pirouette
Score/Rating: 91
Suggested Drinking Window: 2025 - 2032
Review Date: 04/03/2025
Reviewed By: Erin Brooks
Tasting Notes: The 2021 Pirouette is composed of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec. Initial tarry tones give way to black cherry fruit, soy sauce, coffee beans and baking spice from its 22-month elevage in 80% new French oak. The full-bodied palate offers concentrated, spicy flavors framed by firm tannins and just enough fresh acidity, and it has a long, gently warm finish.