2005 Chester-Kidder - 1.5L
Allen Shoup named this wine in honor of his grandfather, Charles Chester, and his grandmother, Maggie Kidder. He has a purpose in mind; a vision really, and that is to make a wine that says, "this is how good Washington wine can be." Allen selected Gilles Nicault, former winemaker for Woodward Canyon, to bring the vision to fruition.
Loaded with dark fruit, bright cherries and a hint of vanilla and espresso, the 2005 Chester Kidder is lively, vibrant and rich on the palate. Layers of fruit and spice lead to a lengthy finish laced with delicate notes of cedar.
93 POINTS - WINE ADVOCATE
| Download Wine Notes |
| Vintage | 2005 |
| Varietal | Red Blend |
| Varietal Composition | 55% Cabernet Sauvignon
40% Syrah
5% Merlot |
| Appellation | Columbia Valley |
| Acid | 0.61g/100ml |
| PH | 3.77 |
| Aging | Drink now through 2022 |
| Alcohol | 14.70% |
| Wine Style | Red Wine |
| Volume | 1.5 liter |
2005 CHESTER-KIDDER - 93 POINTS
"Opaque purple-colored, it reveals an alluring nose of brooding black fruit, pencil lead, mineral, and spice box. Round and ripe on the palate, it borders on opulence while concealing enough tannin to support another 6-8 years of cellaring. The sweet, savory fruit carries through into the lengthy finish."
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2005 CHESTER-KIDDER - 92 POINTS
"Surprisingly expressive on the nose in light of the recent bottling, offering cassis, sappy spices, espresso, black pepper and wisteria. Dense, sweet and spicy, displaying an uncanny combination of fleshiness and vibrancy. Appears to gain in breadth and thickness toward the back, finishing with fine, palate-saturating tannins and lingering flavors of cassis and minerals." |
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2005 CHESTER-KIDDER - 90 POINTS
"Supple and appealing for its plum, currant and spice flavors, floating nicely over the fine-grained tannins, finishing with hints of pepper and black olive." |
2005 CHESTER-KIDDER - 91 POINTS
"Velvety and supple, this is a modulated mix of bright, sassy blackberry and currant fruit, spiced up with the peppery highlights of Syrah. Vanilla and espresso streaks enhance the finish." |
Winemaker Gilles Nicault devotes much of each summer visiting a diverse collection of Columbia Valley vineyards before selecting grapes from some of his favorite blocks to create a richly layered, complex wine. Roughly half the grapes for the ’05 Chester-Kidder were sourced from vineyards in the Tri-Cities, on the Wahluke Slope and a handful of other excellent Columbia Valley sites to give the wine its wonderful structure and densely packed, rich fruit. Yakima Valley grapes (25%) contribute great acidity and vibrant, fresh character. Walla Walla fruit (25%) adds darkness and spice.
Gilles Nicault has served as director of winemaking and viticulture since Long 
Shadows inception in 2003. As resident winemaker overseeing daily operations at Long Shadows' state-of-the-art winery in Walla Walla, Gilles works with a group of celebrated vintners from around the globe. It is his job to ensure that each winemaker's vision is realized in the vineyard and the cellar.
While many winemakers would find this proposition a daunting task, French-born Nicault describes the position as his "dream job." Those who know Gilles best say it is his insatiable curiosity and desire to learn something new every day as well as his winemaking skills that make him uniquely qualified for the position. In addition to executing daily operations at the winery, Gilles is the winemaker for Long Shadows' acclaimed Chester-Kidder, a Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah blend that carries his signature.
Gilles grew up in southern France and graduated from the University of Avignon with a degree in Viticulture and Enology. He honed his craft in the fabled hillside vineyards and wineries of Cotes Du Rhone, Provence and Champagne. On 1994, already a vintner of rising fame in his homeland, Gilles traveled to Washington State to expand his winemaking skills.
Impressed by Washtington State's vineyards and the opportunity to be part of a growing wine community, he stayed in the Columbia Valley, working for Staton Hills and Hogue Cellars before joining Woodward Canyon in 1996, where he stayed until moving to Long Shadows in June 2003. Sharing Woodward Canyon's passion for world-class wine, Gilles soon found Woodward Canyon's founder Rick Small was his ideal mentor and biggest champion. In 1999, Woodward Canyon named Gilles head of enology and production.
Gilles is married to winemaker Marie-Eve Gilla of Forgeron Cellars, also an acclaimed winemaker. The couple llves in Walla Walla with their two children.
