The 2006 Saggi is made by Ambrogio and Giovanni Folonari of the well-known Tuscan family whose winemaking history dates back to the late 1700s. The wine is made up of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Sangiovese, and 19% Syrah sourced and blended from several AVAs. It was aged for 19 months in 60% new French oak. This purple-colored wine offers aromas of pain grille, spice box, earth notes, cassis, and cherry. Smooth-textured, layered, and ripe, this well-balanced, elegant effort has ample savory fruit, excellent depth and concentration, and a lengthy finish. It should be in its prime from 2012 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

There are signs that Saggi is gaining complexity, as it enters with good texture and a mix of berries and spice. But it tails off quickly, fading gently into simple strawberry and cherry flavors, accented with the flavors of French oak, 60% new.——P.G.(9/1/2009)—— 89