Long Shadows Feather Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Long Shadows Feather Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Columbia Valley, Washington, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. This vintage earned 97 points from Jeb Dunnuck and a Double Gold medal at the Oregon Wine Awards, cementing its reputation as one of Washington State's most acclaimed Cabernet bottlings.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Columbia Valley, Washington State  |  Vintage: 2021  |  Winery: Long Shadows Vintners

Production & Heritage

Long Shadows Vintners was founded in Walla Walla by Allen Shoup, the visionary behind the modern Washington wine industry, with a singular concept: invite world-class winemakers to craft wines from the state's finest vineyards. Feather is the creation of Randy Dunn, a Napa Valley legend with more than four decades of Cabernet experience — and this is the only wine he produces outside of California. The 2021 draws primarily from Weinbau and Dionysus Vineyards in the White Bluffs AVA, with additional fruit from Horse Heaven Hills, and was matured for 22 months in 85% new French oak barrels. That extended oak regimen and Dunn's unapologetically structured style give Feather a density and architecture rare among Columbia Valley Cabernets.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The wine opens with an inky purple-black core and a brilliant nose of cassis and blueberry, layered with new leather and graphite. Deeper in the glass, truffly earth, aniseed, lavender, and dark chocolate emerge, lending complexity that rewards patient nosing.

Taste: The entry is dense and concentrated, led by blackcurrant and black fig flavors shaded by charred oak and graphite. At mid-palate the texture reveals itself — silken, polished, nearly creamy — while fresh acidity provides lift and tension. Complicating notes of dark chocolate, cola, dusty rose, and lavender pastille build through the peak, giving the wine a layered, multidimensional quality.

Finish: Long, firm, and finely structured, carried by fine-grained tannins that grip without harshness. Lingering cassis and graphite echo for well over a minute, suggesting significant aging potential.

How to Drink Feather Cabernet

This is a wine built for the glass, not the shaker — serve it at cellar temperature (60–65°F) in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass, and consider decanting for 45 minutes to an hour to fully unwind its layers. A simple pour, neat, is the best way to appreciate the 2021's density and aromatic complexity. If pairing with food, think of the wine as the centerpiece: grilled prime ribeye capitalizes on the graphite and char notes; braised short ribs with dark fruit reduction mirror the wine's cassis intensity; and a plate of aged Comté or Gruyère draws out the earthy, truffle-laced undertones.

Best For

• Adding a collectible Washington Cabernet to a serious cellar
• Gifting a wine enthusiast who appreciates Napa-level structure from an unexpected region
• Anchoring a special-occasion dinner with grilled or braised red meats
• Vertical tastings alongside prior Feather vintages to track evolution

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Feather Cabernet taste like? The 2021 is dense and concentrated, dominated by blackcurrant, graphite, and black fig flavors, with complicating notes of dark chocolate, cola, and lavender wrapped in silky, fine-grained tannins. It strikes a balance between power and elegance uncommon in this price tier.

How does Feather Cabernet compare to Quilceda Creek? Both are top-tier Columbia Valley Cabernets frequently mentioned in the same breath by critics, but Feather leans toward a more structured, Napa-inflected style reflecting Randy Dunn's background, while Quilceda Creek tends toward a richer, more opulent expression of Washington fruit. The 2021 Feather's 97 points from Jeb Dunnuck places it firmly in the same conversation.

Is Feather Cabernet good for aging? Yes — the 2021's firm tannin structure, fresh acidity, and dense core suggest a drinking window that extends well beyond a decade, with peak complexity likely arriving between 2027 and 2038.

Where is Feather Cabernet made? Feather is produced by Long Shadows Vintners, based in Walla Walla, Washington, using Cabernet Sauvignon sourced primarily from the White Bluffs AVA and Horse Heaven Hills AVA within the broader Columbia Valley appellation.

What foods pair well with Feather Cabernet? Grilled prime ribeye plays off the wine's graphite and char; braised lamb shanks complement its dense fruit; aged hard cheeses like Comté echo its earthy depth; dark chocolate truffles mirror the cocoa notes on the finish; and mushroom risotto highlights the truffle-laced aromatics.

What sizes does Feather Cabernet come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Feather Cabernet worth the price? Feather positions as a premium to ultra-premium Washington Cabernet, and the 2021's critical reception — 97 points from Jeb Dunnuck, 96 from Owen Bargreen, 94+ from Vinous — supports its standing among the best values at this level, particularly when compared to similarly scored Napa Valley Cabernets that often command significantly higher prices.

Why Feather Cabernet?

The defining differentiator here is Randy Dunn himself — a winemaker synonymous with mountain-grown Napa Cabernet who chose Columbia Valley as the only other region worthy of his name. That conviction shows in the 2021, which earned 97 points from Jeb Dunnuck and 96 from Owen Bargreen, placing it alongside Washington's most celebrated bottlings from producers like Quilceda Creek and Andrew Will. The 22 months in 85% new French oak deliver structure without masking the distinctive graphite-and-cassis signature of the White Bluffs and Horse Heaven Hills fruit. For collectors and serious drinkers seeking a world-class Cabernet from outside Napa, the 2021 Feather makes one of the strongest cases in Washington State.