Long Shadows, Pedestal, Columbia Valley

3L large format has aged gracefully and still drinking well. Close to past its prime.

2011 vintage

Dark inky in color with a reddish rim. Very pretty nose with black fruits, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, Indian spices, cola and light black tea. Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs. Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, chocolates, toast, light vanilla, dark coffee, Indian spices, light cola licorice and peppercorn. Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries. This is a delicious 9 year old Merlot from Columbia Valley. Rich …

2016 vintage

blue fruits. Went well with braised short ribs

2016 vintage

Dark Inky in color with a reddish/ purplish rim. Fruity nose of black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, light dried fruits, cedar, light vanilla, herbs, licorice, spices, dark chocolates and light cola notes. Full bodied and elegant, with medium acidity. Dry and fruity on the palate with plums, black cherries, black currants, bitter herbs, earth, chocolates, cedar, eucalyptus, tobacco leaf, peppercorn and light vegetables. Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries. This is a wonderful Merlot from Columbia …

2016 vintage

Good after a few hours, but much better after opened 2 days.

2016 vintage

wonderful. wish I had a case!

2016 vintage

Corked.

2011 vintage

Beautiful, silky merlot from Rolland. Lovely with a few years on it.

2016 vintage

Wonderful with a steak

2016 vintage

Terrific, lots of structure and tannins... decant or cellar for up to a decade.

2016 vintage

No longer the hearty QPR it once was, I struggle to even want to pay 50 for these 2nd-hand. MSRP has swelled to a ridiculous 70 bones... 91-92 for this iteration.

2016 vintage

Plumbs and chocolate. Dark rich fruit nicely balanced. Lots of life left.

2016 vintage

Fantastic after about an hour in the decanter

2011 vintage

If only all merlot tried for this style: good depth, fruit/acid balance, some tannins. I’ve yet to have a Pedestal (in a dozen vintages) that didn’t impress. This one is drinking really well, right now. Lots of life left, too.

2016 vintage

the bottle started out better, but went considerably down hill.

2011 vintage

Plum and blackberry with coffee bean notes. Well integrated and structured, if a little overproduced. Tasty for certain.

2016 vintage

Unfortunately the cork on this wine was very dry and not sure why as the wine was stored properly in a wine fridge. It seems this led to the wine spoilage. It happens.

2011 vintage

Lush, dark fruits, blackberry, dark cherry, currants, brambles, long finish, really nice wine

2011 vintage

Not a wimpy Merlot! The Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot add nice structure and taste. Excellent food wine. Full mouth feel. Soft tannins. Long finish.

2016 vintage

This is a dry red wine. The color is medium ruby with a medium intensity bouquet of dark black fruit, baking spice and sweet oak. Medium plus acidity is well balanced by the fruit and smooth tannins. The body is full but the relatively high 14.9% alcohol is not prominently noticeable. The finish is medium plus. This is a well balanced outstanding wine.

2016 vintage

Great stuff, I've always loved this merlot, along with the Feather Cab my faves from the portfolio. There was a moment when I was getting slight void on the mid-pallet, so perhaps this won't last more than a few years, but it depends what you want from the wine. Solid, delicious.

2016 vintage

96 All night long. Reminded us of France. Full body. Great with Beef BOURGUIGNON.

2016 vintage

Used to cook beef cheeks. Tasted before for QA very pleasant .

2011 vintage

Still holding well likely due to large format .

2006 vintage

Very respectable wine. All three grapes make themselves known without a fight. Medium to full mouth feel. Sustained finish. Dark claret color. A little Eucalyptus nose. Nice chord, but not a symphony. Great food wine.

2016 vintage

Nose did not jump out and seemed to quickly fade but classic columbia valley fruit dark cherry with some sage and maybe flint or matchstick initially. Palate silky smooth, moderate cherry, light cranberry, cocoa, and warm finish that ends with very slight bitterness but not over powering. Not super hot (14.9) and is a nice drinking walla walla merlot.

2016 vintage

With spaghetti losing fruit ,still sound

2006 vintage

Had the wine with Turner. Very good

2016 vintage

A rainmaker as it achieves remarkable consistency through the years.

2016 vintage

Following 2016 L’Orage Cab Sav, this merlot couldn't hang. Seemed hot and a bit sharp by comparison. Some baked notes, even apple pie which was different. But lacking structure to support the alcohol.

2016 vintage

So good. Soft and round but rich and full. The flavors have melded well so nothing really jumps out but I’d say leather, cocoa, a little mellon, and a hint of cranberry. The residual tannins are there for presence but not bitter or sour at all. …honestly, I have no idea what I am talking about so read someone else’s review for how it tastes. I definitely like it and am thrilled I have a couple more bottles. These can …

2016 vintage

Extremely dark color, no bricking yet. Loads of merlot black cherry, dark chocolate cocoa, and a hint of floral. Finishes with blue berry and wet forest leaves. Kept improving as it opened up.

2016 vintage

When first opened, a little hot and acidic, but once decanted, the wine was balanced with primary aromas of plum, hints of chocolate, and a little dried fruit. Faint (in a good way) barrel spice on the finish, full bodied, medium tannins, medium+ acidity- a nice treat for a weeknight.

2016 vintage

This wine probably could have used decanting as it was dominated by acids and tannins. However the fruit was still plentiful. 2nd day it was much better

2011 vintage

Pnp. Nice version of WA Merlot. In a good place, pretty nose of chocolate, dark fruits and baking spices. Palate of cassis, kirsch and dark fruits. Tannins notable but gave the wine a good backbone. Pared with tri tip. In a good place.

2006 vintage

This is a decent merlot, but slightly not worth the money. It is good, but not great. Tannins are high, complexity is nice, medium fruit, and good acidity. It probably needs 10 years before touching. I was hoping for me, but it was not as good as I was expecting. 92 points.

2016 vintage

well balanced, with delicious cherry notes. Perhaps in decline so maybe best to drink soon. -or maybe it wasn't stored well as I bought it in 2019. -watch out for that high alcohol at 15.2%!

2011 vintage

Balance still towards tannins and oak, might still benefit from a few more years of age

2011 vintage

PnP and this wine is ready to drink! The nose is dark fleshy fruit with lots of woodiness. It swirls around on the palate with dark black cherry, some cola, and chewy tannins. It lacks the earthiness that I was hoping for, but this is an amazing bottle of Merlot. This is a great wine in a great place an it's singing right now, so go for it.

2006 vintage

Beautiful Merlot in honor of watching Sideways at the Robinson Film Center with friends.

2006 vintage

Nice, smooth. Didn't quite meet our expectations given that this is a Michel Rolland wine. Great bouquet. Palate of cherry, sandalwood, mineral, spice. Not much depth yet, a bit low on acidity, and some tannins on the backend to resolve. It was enjoyable and overall very good wine. 89-90 pts

2006 vintage

All aspects in great harmony. A solid merlot.

2011 vintage

Never really felt this met expectations for price and ratings. Decent, maybe a bit overripe with muted cherry, saddle, tannin and pepper bite.

2006 vintage

Simply beautiful Merlot from Washington by Michel Rolland. Soft tannins with supple mouthfeel and light oak. Very Bordeaux like in profile. Excellent alone or with food.

2011 vintage

Solid beautiful silky merlot. Blackberry and ripe dark cherry dominate the nose and the palate has more of the same with just a bit of earthiness... misplaced this for about 3 years, awesome to discover in the cellar

2006 vintage

Needs a longer decant. Based on this bottle, peak drinking window probably 3-5 years from now.

2011 vintage

This aged like a champ and drank like a dream. Still plenty of dark fruit, hints of granite and smoke, roasted broccoli and a little molasses on the finish. Sadly, last bottle, but savor, I will.

2011 vintage

Thought i had taken a note on this. Drank a week or so ago, from memory very good. Nicely balanced with ripe fruit, juicy dark cherry and currant fruit, hints of chocolate on finish, but not overly ripe. Drinking well.

2006 vintage

After having the ‘15 about two weeks ago, this is more Bordeaux style. The power has mellowed out and shown more leather, cherry, blackberry and anise. Some oak here with toasted cherries and blackberry, but the finish showed some underripe blueberry. Surprisingly young but ready to drink. Drink now.

2011 vintage

Oddly I had this Pedestal cataloged as a 2012 since purchase 4 years ago - and was rather pissed to see it was a 2011 when pulled [CT scores, I'm looking at you]. Splash decant, and Whammo! This juice over-delivered on all fronts ... again strangely, as I'd just had the '11 from magnum in January, and it was merely 'decent'. Extremely smooth & integrated, with a linear purity that just sang the merlot grape's perfection. Perhaps the best Pedestal …

2011 vintage

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Long Shadows, Pedestal, Columbia Valley

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