Long Shadows Vintners ‘Feather’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Columbia Valley, Washington

Napa Valley vintner, Randy Dunn, brings his artistry and expertise to Washington State to produce small quantities of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Columbia Valley’s finest vineyards. Hand-picked grapes were sorted, lightly crushed and fermented in small stainless steel tanks. Once fermentation was underway, the cap was pumped over aggressively 2-3 times per day to extract color and structure. As fermentation neared completion, pump-overs were handled more gently to continue to extract delicate tannins and texture without imparting harsh tannins. The finished wine was aged 22 months in 90% new Vicard French oak barrels. 2019 vintage: Dark and concentrated in color with depth that’s consistent with its intense flavor profile and texture. A generous wine that offers ripe black fruit character, notes of fresh plums and a hint of dried herbs. The mouthfeel has structure and richness that mingles with elegant tannins to create a complex, fully integrated impression. The 2019 Feather combines three distinct Washington state Cabernet Sauvignon growing regions to create a complex, layered wine. Weinbau (Wahluke Slope) and Dionysus (White Bluffs) vineyards comprise the majority of the finished blend. Weinbau gives the wine structure, and Dionysus lends a lush, dark character. The remaining quarter of the blend is from a handful of top Horse Heaven Hills vineyards selected for refined, silky tannins and appealing earthiness.