2011 Pedestal Merlot
Michel Rolland, Pomerol vintner and consultant to many of the world's top wineries, teamed with Washington State wine visionary Allen Shoup to produce this limited release wine.
The 2011 Pedestal offers the ripe fruit character of previous vintages, with an elegance that reflects the growing season. Credit a cool spring, moderate summer and warm September for producing a wine not only enjoyable in its youth but also one that makes a fine candidate for aging. The temperate spring and summer conditions that defined most of the season developed fresh, intense black fruit character in the grapes. September’s warm days allowed the fruit to reach maturity and finish ripening perfectly. Cool fall evenings offset the warm days to preserve acidity and ripe tannins, giving the wine excellent structure.
Expressive aromas of wild berry and black currant combine with elegant oak spice to reveal a wine with dense texture and refined structure. Hints of espresso and chocolate on entry are complimented by an earthy spiciness that persists across the mid-palate and throughout a lengthy finish. A balanced wine with vibrant, beautifully integrated flavors.
94 POINTS - WINE ADVOCATE
| Download Wine Notes |
| Vintage | 2011 |
| Varietal | Merlot |
| Varietal Composition | 87% Merlot
9% Cabernet Sauvignon
4% Petit Verdot |
| Appellation | Columbia Valley |
| Acid | 0.54 grams/100ml |
| PH | 3.72 |
| Alcohol | 14.90% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
2011 PEDESTAL - 94 POINTS
"The Merlot-dominated 2011 Pedestal incorporates a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon and gives up ripe, full-throttled aromas and flavors of plum liqueur, licorice, smoked herbs and hints of blackground meatiness to go with a full-bodied, up-front, layered and downright sexy feel in the mouth. Showing good concentratin and an already delicious style, enjoy bottles over the coming decade or so."
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2011 PEDESTAL - 91 POINTS
"Bright ruby-red color. Wild berries and bitter chocolate on the nose, lifted by a floral quality. At once sweet and savory in the mouth, with the dark berry flavors accomanied by subtle notes of wild spices, earth and minerals."
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Weinbau, Conner Lee and Dionysus Vineyards all contributed to the 2011 Pedestal’s rich, dark fruit and wild berry character. Candy Mountain added structure and dimension. Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Mountain’s Tapteil Vineyard contributed to the wine’s bold flavors, richness and structure. Dionysus Petit Verdot gives the wine its vibrant character.
Michel Rolland is considered by many to be one of the most influential winemakers in the field. A graduate of the esteemed Bordeaux Faculty of Oenology, he continues to build upon this practical source of knowledge through observations in his own laboratory in Pomerol, France. He consults for over 100 vintners and vineyards worldwide, producing wines with an alluring style recognized as the “Rolland Method”.
Rolland also maintains partnership interests in far-flung regions of the globe, including his involvement with Long Shadows Vintners. His home, however, is in Pomerol, where he owns and manages a number of holdings and fine wine estates: Chateau Le Bon Pasteur in Pomerol, Chateau Bertineau Saint-Vincent in Lalande-de-Pomerol, Chateau Rolland-Maillet in Saint-Emilion, and Chateau Fontenil in Fronsac. In addition, Michel manages the Chateau La Grande Clottee in Lussac-Saint-Emilion under a vineyard lease system.
Vineyard management techniques championed by Rolland include effeuillage (thinning of leaves), and eclaircissage (pruning of clusters), both used to encourage the advent of perfectly ripened grapes. Aging on the lees in new oak barrels and in-barrel malolactic fermentation are also Rolland’s trademarks.
However, those who view the “Rolland Method” as a craftsman’s book of recipes have missed the mark. Rolland is not a technician – he is, first and foremost, an observer. He studies the surround, that is, the blend of personality traits that distinguishes the vintner, the vineyard, and the grower. In uncanny fashion, Rolland understands the unique culture of the wine - and therefore the nuances that separate an unexciting wine from something quite extraordinary. It is this ability to understand the wine that makes him such an amazing oenologist.
Michel is usually winging his way to a vineyard in some far corner of the world. However, he makes a point of returning home each year to celebrate the birthdays of his two daughters, Marie and Stephanie, and grandchildren, Camille, Arthur, Theo and Raphael.
