The 2006 Sequel is made by John Duval, former winemaker of Penfolds Grange. The wine is 96% Syrah and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 18 months in 65% new French oak. Aromas of cedar, smoke, game, bacon, and violets are alluring while leading to a round, layered, smooth-textured, full-bodied wine with several years of aging potential. This hedonistic effort will be at its best from 2013 to 2021. For the third straight year, every wine in this portfolio has achieved an outstanding rating. For this, the credit goes to Alan Shoup who put it all together and Gilles Nicault who handles the winemaking on a day-to-day basis. Long Shadows is the brainchild of Alan Shoup, former longtime CEO of Stimson Lane. It is a consortium of seven different labels, each with its own star winemaker who has a 25% share in the brand. The concept is that each “?is dedicated to producing a single Columbia Valley wine representing a ‘best of type’ that reflects the winemaker’s signature style.” Tel. (509) 526-0905; www.longshadows.com

Ripe berries, loaded with spice, concentrate the flavors of this exceptionally smooth, big-bodied Syrah. As is the custom with Sequel, the grapes are a blend of many vineyards and AVAs, which certainly enhances the polished mouthfeel, but at the expense of specificity. The acids stick out a little bit, but are soon covered in loads of chocolate and butterscotch barrel flavors. Drink soon.——P.G.(9/1/2009)—— 90