Long Shadows Saggi BYOB at Angeli's Italian
Son Alec and d-in-law Vivianna treated us to a Anniversary celebration dinner at Angeli's Italian, our customary favorite neighborhood trattoria. I took BYOB from our cellar this Sangiovese Blend, one of our favorite best drinking bottles in our cellar right now for an Italian cuisine dinner.
Long Shadows Vintners Series Saggi Sangiovese Red Blend 20162016
Long Shadows was founded in 2003 by Washington State wine legend Allen Shoup, former Chairman and CEO of Chateau St Michelle, one of the premiere wine producers in the State. There he evangelized Washington Wines and championed collaboration with notable winemakers from around the world. Upon retiring, he started Long Shadows with a vision to produce the best, art of the possible wines showcasing/featuring the region's grapes, each produced by a world renowned winemaker reputed for producing grapes of that varietal. Each vintner had access to Washington State's best grapes and a winery to outfitted to accommodate a their exacting cellar specifications. The idea was a resounding success as the wines have received critical acclaim that grown with each vintage. The Long Shadow collection went on to win numerous awards, including recognition as Food & Wine magazine's "Winery of the Year."
The Saggi label is a Sangiovese blended from top Washington State vineyards, from Candy Mountain, a warm area of the Columbia Valley adjacent to Red Mountain that produces fruit with ripe, black currant aromas and flavors. From the cooler growing conditions in the Yakima Valley, the Boushey Vineyard produces Sangiovese that is lively red currant with bright strawberry notes. Saggi also contains Cabernet Sauvignon, from the Weinbau Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA, which contributes structure and texture. Also in the blend is Syrah from the Bacchus and Den Hoed Dutchman vineyards, that add depth and complexity.
We talk about Den Hoed and their wines and our family connection in an earlier blogpost from our Seattle, Woodinville trip.
Long Shadows founder Allen Shoup originally met the Folonaris through mutual friend Piero Antinori. It was Allen who introduce Piero to Washington State while at the helm of Chateau Ste. Michelle, and it was Piero's regard for the vineyards of the Columbia Valley that piqued the Folonaris interest in creating a wine true to Washington terroir with plenty of Tuscan character. Gilles continues that tradition, honoring the quality and style of wines the Folonairs inspired.
From 2006, Long Shadows director of winemaking and viticulture Gilles Nicault collaborated with the Folonaris on Saggi's vineyard sourcing, winemaking and blending. For this 2016 release , Gilles assumed complete winemaking responsibilities for Saggi.
We replaced this bottle with the current latest release from our most recent Club allocation shipment from the winery. We're members of the Long Shadows wine club and hence get regular Vault Key Club release allocation shipments of their top labels of which we share our case lot with Alec and fellow Pour Boy wine buddy, Dr Dan. We've written in these pages about the Vintners Collection wherein Long Shadows collaborates with world class winemakers to craft varietal compositions from Washington State fruit.
Tonight's tasting was consistent with earlier tastings of this label, earlier this year and back in 2019.
In January of this year -https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2022/01/saggi-long-shadows-sangiovese-red-blend.html ... and previously back in June of 2019 ....
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/06/american-sangiovese-for-italian-dinner.html
Vibrant and lively, this weighty Sangiovese-dominant blend offers
enticing aromas and flavors of red berries and currants with an
appealing hint of nutmeg and sweet spice. An elegant and refined wine,
its bright acidity pops on the palate with expressive red fruit
character that echoes across a long-lasting finish.
The 2016 Saggi is mostly Sangiovese at 60%, but has 29% Cabernet Sauvignon and
11% Syrah.
Bright ruby-colored, medium bodied, nicely balanced and polished, black cherry fruits are accented by with notes of spice box,
dried flowers and hints of cedar and vanilla, smooth sweet tannins linger on a clean,
graceful finish.
RM 92 points.
This was rated 94 points by James Suckling and 92 points by Wine Advocate, 91 points by Wine Enthusiast, and 90 points by Vinous.
Wine Advocate Jeb Dunnuck gave it 92 points noting, "It's certainly one of the best expressions of
Sangiovese from Washington."
https://www.cellartracker.com/barcode.asp?iWine=3096196
http://longshadows.orderport.net/product-details/0536/2016-Saggi
