2014 Saggi
Among Tuscany's oldest and most prestigious wine families, Ambrogio and Giovanni Folonari teamed with Allen Shoup to produce a wine that showcases Washington state's terroir with plenty of Italian character. Saggi (meaning "wisdom") is a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah.
A warm, dry spring arrived early in 2014 and set the stage for another hot summer season. Temperatures were consistently warm throughout June and July without any notable heat spikes, hastening an early start to harvest. But the Columbia Valley's trademark balmy fall days and cool autumn nights allowed the grapes to reach full physiological maturity while preserving the fruits' natural acidity and yielding high quality grapes across the board. In short, 2014 was a picture-perfect vintage that produced remarkably rich, flavorful wines.
Hand-harvested grapes were brought to the winery in small lots and crushed, then using a technique known as saignée, 5-10% of the juice was removed from the tank to enhance concentration. Extended maceration in small, two-ton tanks for an average of 30 days provided for optimal extraction and helped broaden the finished wine's mid-palate. Aged 18 months in 100% French oak barrels, 55% new.
An intensely colored wine with red current and cassis aromas wrapped around a core of licorice. Soft and silky on the entry, the 2014 Saggi is a flavorful package loaded with wild berries, fresh plums and hints of oak spice complemented by the wine's lively acidity and firmly textured mid-palate that turns silky on the finish.
94 POINTS - WINE ADVOCATE
| Download Wine Notes |
| Vintage | 2014 |
| Varietal | Sangiovese |
| Varietal Composition | 52% Sangiovese
32% Cabernet Sauvignon
16% Syrah |
| Appellation | Columbia Valley |
| Acid | .60 grams/100 ml |
| PH | 3.66 |
| Alcohol | 14.90% |
| Wine Style | Red Wine |
| Volume | 750 ml |
2014 SAGGI - 94 POINTS
"The 2014 Saggi is gorgeous. Black cherry, black currants, licorice, graphite and spice characteristics all give way to a rich, full-bodied, yet incredibly elegant and seamless stye on the palate. Given its purity and overall balance, it's going to cruise in the cellar, but it's already hard to resist as well."
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2014 SAGGI - 90 POINTS
"Cherry and raspberry fruit aromas are complicated by a floral quality; showing its Sangiovese side. Shapely and concentrated, with red fruit and menthol flavors displaying good energy and definition. The wine's substantial dusty tannins need a year or two to resolve."
2014 SAGGI - 91 POINTS
"Aromas of bittersweet chocolate, herb, pencil lead, smoke, cranberry and dark fruit lead to palate-coating black-fruit flavors that display depth and density. It shows a lovely sense of balance and detail."
Like previous vintages, the 2014 Saggi is a blend of our two favorite Sangiovese vineyards, each contributing distinct characteristics to the finished wine. Candy Mountain Sangiovese brings dark, ripe cassis aromas and flavors. Dick Boushey’s Yakima Valley Sangiovese is bright and lively. Cabernet Sauvignon from Stone Tree Vineyard was chosen for its refined tannins that add structure to the finished wine without overshadowing the Sangiovese. Finally, Syrah from the Yakima Valley added complexity and spice.
The father-son team of Ambrogio and Giovanni Folonari, one of Italy’s oldest and most prestigious Tuscan wine families, joined Long Shadows in 2006 to create Saggi, a Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese blend, bringing their winemaking expertise from A. & G. Folonari Tenute, a collection of small, ultra-premium wines from the family's numerous Tuscan estates.
Since the beginning, Long Shadows director of winemaking and viticulture Gilles Nicault has collaborated with the Folonaris on Saggi's vineyard sourcing, winemaking and blending. In the fall of 2016, Gilles assumed complete winemaking responsibilities for Saggi after the Folonaris found it increasingly challenging to make the numerous trips overseas that the project requires.
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.
