This has the excellent acidity to support the ripe, super-concentrated fruit. Dense raspberry, cherry compote, baking spices, cola and licorice all come into play, with a streak of dried tobacco adding further interest. Editors' Choice. —P.G.
Wine Enthusiast Buying Guide - November 2013
"Bright, dark ruby-red. Musky, high-toned, wonderfully expressive aromas of cassis, blueberry, black cherry, licorice, olive tapenade and meat. Pliant and sweet, boasting terrific spicy intensity to the flavors of black raspberry, blueberry and black olive. Finishes with resounding length and lift, and a powerful structure for aging. - Stephen Tanzer"
- Vinous (November 2015), 93+ pts
"The 2013 Syrah Sequel gives up a big, rich, decadent style as well as lots of ripe black fruits, caramelized meats, licorice and wood-smoke like aromas and flavors. In a vintage that too often comes up short on texture and richness, this beauty delivers in spades. It should drink nicely right out of the gate."
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #225, June 2016), 91-93 pts
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2016), 93 pts
"Made by John Duval, the 2014 Syrah Sequel is a sexy beast of a Syrah (there’s a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend) that was brought up all in small barrels. Deep, inky colored, with a huge nose of black fruits, chocolate, smoke meats and licorice, it's a powerhouse on the palate and gives up full-bodied flavors, ripe, polished tannin and a great finish. - Jeb Dunnuck"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #231, June 2017), 94 pts
"The 2014 'Sequel' Syrah is a stunning release from Long Shadows. This gorgeous Syrah is made by eminent Aussie winemaker John Duval, the former winemaker on the Penfolds Grange project. The Syrah wine opens with dense aromatics of smoked brisket, white pepper, black olive and hints of mocha and blackberry jam. There are layered flavors of black cherry, mocha, anise, crème de cassis and blackberry cobbler. This is intense, extracted and remains balanced from start to finish. This is one the best Sequel wines I've tasted in the past ten years. (Best 2016-2027) - O.B."
- International Wine Report (September 2016), 95 pts
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2019), 92 pts
