Long Shadows Poet's Leap Riesling 2023

Tasting notes

The 2023 Poet's Leap Riesling is a beautiful, vibrant wine showcasing aromas of white blossoms and ripe orchard fruits, complemented by subtle flinty notes. Exuding freshness and brightness on the palate, the wine unveils layers of flavor, notably white peach, green apple and a distinct minerality. The finish is long and satisfying, leaving a balanced impression of lively acidity and a subtle touch of sweetness.

Terroir

The 2023 Poet’s Leap was primarily sourced from the White Bluffs AVA, a growing region known for complex, balanced white wines. Old vine Riesling from Sagemoor’s Gamache Vineyard is notable for its bright acidity, kumquat, and appealing minerality. A German Riesling clone, grown at Bacchus Vineyard, has a slightly riper style, adding notes of white peach. A small amount of Yakima Valley’s DuBrul Vineyard Riesling completes the wine, adding minerality, stone fruit, and heightened aromatics.

Vintage Notes

The 2023 vintage was characterized by low yields, producing high-quality, intensely flavored wines. Spring's cool temperatures delayed bud break by 2-3 weeks, but a sudden May heatwave spurred growth. July and much of August saw consistent warmth, aiding grape maturation. However, veraison was slow, necessitating careful canopy management to ensure even ripening. A short, intense heatwave in late August led to an unusually early start to harvest, but by mid-September, the Columbia Valley settled into its classic fall pattern of warm days and cool nights that preserved the grapes’ acidity while developing optimal flavor. Temperatures stretched into late October, providing the extra hang time the grapes needed to finish ripening and develop full physiological maturity.

Vinification

Small lots of handpicked grapes underwent a gentle sorting process and were pressed as whole clusters to avoid bitterness. Fermentation occurred in stainless steel tanks at a cool 60°F to maintain fresh fruit aromas and flavors. Post-fermentation, winemaker Gilles Nicault assessed each lot thoughtfully, crafting a final blend to showcase the Riesling’s lively character, balanced acidity, sweetness, and aromatics.

Winery Description

Long Shadows Vintners was founded in 2002 by Washington wine visionary Allen Shoup, who was President and CEO of Chateau Ste. Michelle from 1984-2000 forged internationally acclaimed winemaking partnerships with Piero Antinori (Col Solare) and Dr. Ernst Loosen (Eroica Riesling).  Long Shadows Vintners now builds upon those successes by bringing an elite cadre of the world’s most celebrated winemakers from the finest wine regions around the globe to Washington in order to create world class wines that showcase the viticultural excellence of Washington State’s Columbia Valley. Each celebrated vintner partners individually with Shoup and resident winemaker Gilles Nicault on a distinct winemaking program to produce a single “best of type” wine under a unique label.  These include: Pedestal Merlot by Michel Rolland (international consultant and owner of Le Bon Pasteur, Pomerol); Sequel Syrah by John Duval (formerly of Penfold’s Grange, South Australia); Poet’s Leap Riesling by Armin Diel (Schlossgut Diel, Nahe, Germany); Pirouette by Agustin Huneeus (Quintessa, Napa Valley) and Philippe Melka (Bryant Family, Napa Valley); Chester-Kidder by Allen Shoup and Gilles Nicault (former winemaker at Woodward Canyon, Walla Walla Valley); and Feather by Randy Dunn (Dunn Vineyards, Napa Valley, formerly of Caymus), and Saggi by Ambrogio and Giovanni Folonari (A. & G. Folonari Tenute). Long Shadows is named in tribute to the stature of this select group of individuals, who continue to shape the wine industry with their benchmark wines and wineries.