2002 Chester-Kidder Proprietary Red

A member of the Long Shadows consortium, Chester-Kidder is named after Elizabeth Chester (Allen Shoup’s mother) and Maggie Kidder (his father’s mother). Unlike the other Long Shadows wineries, each of which is under the guidance of an internationally acclaimed winemaker, Chester-Kidder is run by Allen Shoup and winemaker Gilles Nicault. “My philosophy is to extract a lot and then polish the wine for 27 months in French oak,” explained Nicault. A 300-case blend of 47% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2002 Chester-Kidder explodes from the glass with spices that are reminiscent of wines made in American oak (though all the oak was French). Its cedary, dark-fruit-laced personality is firm, structured, and boasts loads of exotic spice flavors. This concentrated wine will benefit from cellaring to civilize its tannin. Projected maturity: 2010-2019. Tel. (206) 396-9628; www.longshadows.com