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Long Shadows Chester Kidder
Long Shadows Vintners
United States - Washington - Columbia Valley

Allen Shoup named this wine in honor of his grandfather, Charles Chester, and his grandmother, Maggie Kidder. He selected Long Shadows' director of winemaking and viticulture, Gilles Nicault, to craft this New World blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and other classic Bordeaux varieties.

Tasting Notes: Deep and dark in color with an intensely aromatic profile of blackberry jam, sweet spice, dark chocolate and hints of earth. Dark cherry and subtle oak flavors integrate nicely to create an enticing layer that adds complexity and depth. Its firm structure, yet refined texture, balances well with a vibrancy that extends throughout a lengthy finish.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah grapes from Candy Mountain give the wine its firm structure and wonderful intensity. Walla Walla Valley vineyards contribute Cabernet that adds depth and rich textures. Petit Verdot sourced from Sagemoor Vineyards provides layers of ripe, fresh flavors and refined tannins.

Specifications
Appellation
Columbia Valley
Wine Type
Red
Varietal(s)
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Syrah, 15% Petit Verdot (2015)
Vinification
Select Cabernet Sauvignon lots underwent an extended maceration of 40 days to produce supple yet firm tannins that stand up to 30 months of barrel aging in tightgrained French oak barrels (85% new). The extra time in barrel helped to integrate the fruit, enhance the mid-palate with an extra layer of complexity, and provide an appealing earthiness to the finish.
Production
1,995 (9-liter cases)

Reviews and News

2017 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Chester Kidder - 92+ PTS - VINOUS

2017 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Chester Kidder - 92+ PTS - VINOUS

vinous logo"Brooding aromas of cassis, blackberry, licorice, espresso and violet, plus a whiff of iodiney minerality. Dense, sweet and deep, conveying a youthful medicinal quality to its dark fruit, menthol, licorice and mineral flavors. This seriously mouthfilling wine shows very good mineral energy and finishes with substantial tongue-coating tannins. - Stephen Tanzer."
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (December 2020), 92+ pts

2016 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Chester Kidder - 92 PTS - VINOUS

2016 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Chester Kidder - 92 PTS - VINOUS

vinous logo"Sexy violet lift to the aromas of cassis, blackberry and kirsch, along with medicinal mint and an herbal pyrazine element. Plush, broad and classic on the palate, with dense black fruit, licorice, violet and tobacco leaf flavors lifted by herbs. - Stephen Tanzer."
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2019), 92 pts

2014 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Chester Kidder - 94 PTS - JD

2014 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Chester Kidder - 94 PTS - JD

jeb dunnuck logo 250"More cassis, cedary spice, and dried flower notes emerge from the 2015 Red Wine Chester Kidder. It's medium to full-bodied, beautifully complex, and layered, with more upfront charm and approachability than most 2015s. Nevertheless, it's going to evolve gracefully on its balance and harmony. Made from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Syrah, and 15% Petit Verdot that spent a full 30 months in oak, hats off to winemaker Gilles Nicault for another terrific vintage for this wine."
- Jeb Dunnuck (April 2019), 94 pts

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2013 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Chester Kidder - 94 PTS - IWRep

2013 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Chester Kidder - 94 PTS - IWRep

international wine report logo"The 2013 Long Shadows 'Chester Kidder' Red Wine is an impressive release by head winemaker Giles Nicault. This inky colored wine is a blend of 58% Cabernet, 34% Syrah, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc and weighs in at 15.2% alcohol. The wine begins with a bouquet of cedar, mocha, black cherry, black pepper and hints of blackberry cobbler. There are concentrated flavors reminiscent of black cherry, anise, crème de cassis and mocha with suggestions of graphite. This layered wine has a gorgeous plush texture and is impossible to resist right now. (Best 2016-2030) - O.B."
- International Wine Report (September 2016), 94 pts

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2013 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Chester Kidder - 93+ PTS - WA

2013 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Chester Kidder - 93+ PTS - WA

wa93"Made by Gilles Nicault, the 2013 Chester Kidder (58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Syrah, 5% Petit Verdot and the rest Cabernet Franc) sports an inky color as well as rich, serious notes of blackcurrants, scorched earth and chocolate. Deep, rich and concentrated, with beautiful purity and fine tannin. - Jeb Dunnuck"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #231, June 2017), 93+ pts

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2013 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Chester Kidder - 92 PTS - VINOUS

2013 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Chester Kidder - 92 PTS - VINOUS

vinous logo 250"Clean aromas of cassis, black cherry and spices lifted by a floral top note and a hint of dried herbs.Wonderfully suave and pliant on the palate, with plum, cassis and black raspberry flavors complemented by sweet oak tones. Finishes with noble tannins and superb length and floral lift. - Stephen Tanzer."
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2016), 92 pts

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2012 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Red Chester Kidder - 93 PTS - IWRep

2012 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Red Chester Kidder - 93 PTS - IWRep

international wine report logo"The Long Shadows Chester-Kidder is a red blend from Winemaker Gilles Nicault, who changes his blend each year. In 2012 he opted for 66% Cabernet with 23% Syrah and 11% Petit Verdot. This is focused around herbaceous aromatics, with green bell pepper, black pepper, raspberry ganache and oak. On the palate this offers a lush texture with flavors suggesting cassis, anise, black cherry and boysenberry. Today, this is very appealing, but should be even better with another year or so of bottle age. (Best 2016-2025) - OB."
- International Wine Report (July 2015), 93 pts

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2012 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Chester Kidder - 94 PTS - WA

2012 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Chester Kidder - 94 PTS - WA

wa94"The finest vintage for the cuvee to date. It’s a serious, age-worthy beauty that sports an inky purple color to go with notes of ripe black currants, toast oak, spice-box and espresso roast. Full-bodied, luxuriously textured and concentrated, it has ample underlying tannin and will see its 30th birthday in fine form!"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #225, June 2016), 94 pts

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2012 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Chester Kidder - 92+ PTS - VINOUS

2012 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Chester Kidder - 92+ PTS - VINOUS

vinous logo 250"Bright, deep ruby-red. Brooding aromas of dark berries, espresso, violet and graphite convey a youthfully medicinal quality. Very smooth but very tight, with cassis and bitter chocolate flavors dominating. Tough, granular Petit Verdot tannins give the finish a slight toughness. This very concentrated, layered wine will need time to unfold. - Stephen Tanzer."
- Vinous (November 2015), 93 pts

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2010 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Chester Kidder - 93 PTS - WA

2010 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Chester Kidder - 93 PTS - WA

wa93"Made by the Long Shadow's manager, Gilles Nicault, the 2010 Chester Kidder is a smoking blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petit Verdot. Pure, voluptuous and rich, with fantastic blackberry fruit, crushed rock like minerality, lead pencil and graphite, it's a serious, age worthy red that will evolve gracefully for 10 to 12 years or more. - Jeb Dunnuck"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #213, June 2014), 93 pts

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2010 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Chester Kidder - 92 PTS - VINOUS

2010 Long Shadows Columbia Valley Chester Kidder - 92 PTS - VINOUS

vinous logo"(15.1% alcohol; a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Syrah and 5% petit verdot; aged in 90% new oak barrels whose staves were air-dried for 36 months; bottled in March of 2012; made by winemaker/estate manager Gilles Nicault): Deep ruby-red. Aromas of dark berries, graphite and sexy oak lifted by violet and licorice notes reminded me a bit of Napa Valley. Supple, broad and attractively gentle, conveying an impression of superb breadth without any excess weight. The flavors of black cherry, cassis and flowers carry through on the long finish, which features very fine tannins and excellent length. I never would have guessed the octane level here. - Stephen Tanzer."
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (December 2014), 92 pts

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Producer Information: Long Shadows Vintners

Long Shadows Vintners is a collection of elite Washington State wineries comprised of internationally acclaimed winemakers from major wine regions around the world. Founded by Washington wine pioneer Allen Shoup ...
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