Quilceda Creek
A Washington winery with no equal, Quilceda Creek has achieved more 100 plus scores from Robert Parker than any other Washington winery. There’s a reason for such excellence. The meticulous attention to detail that I noticed during my trip to the winery is surely a part of the equation.
I was hugely impressed with the quality of winemaking during my winery visit. One wine that continues to impress for the money is the CVR, formerly known as their ‘Red Wine.’ The 2012 CVR is a rich and viscous product of an incredible vintage. At the 40 dollar retail price point, it serves as an incredible value and a great special occasion wine. The real knockout was the 2012 Columbia Valley Cabernet. The wine was so incredibly complex and rich that I had a hard time not giving it 100 points. This is a memorable and ageworthy wine that is drinking incredibly well in its nascent phase. Also look for the 2012 Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet which was viscous and masculine with graphite edges. This one the best Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet that I’ve had yet. Superstar winemaker Paul Golitzen is hitting his stride with the 2012 releases. He must have been as happy as I was with the end results. Here are the new releases from Quilceda Creek winery. #quilcedacreek
2012 Quilceda Creek CVR- The CVR is Quliceda Creek’s entry level wine that is made from fruit that didn’t quite make the grade for their Columbia Valley Cabernet. Their 2011 version was my wine of the year last year. The wine is composed of 91% Cabernet, 7% Merlot and 3% Cab Franc, in a blend that changes each year. Fruity and complex aromas of cedar, cassis, mocha and black olive. This is a rich and dense palate that persists and has flavors of anise, creme de cassis, black olive, black olive and blackberry. Rich and refined wine that's open but can also benefit from many years in the cellar. Impressive minerality with a long finish that will drink well for another 10 years. Drink 2015-2025. -94 $36/bottle
2012 Quilceda Creek ‘Palengat’ Proprietary Blend- This 1k case production wine is sourced from an 8 acre vineyard that Alex Golitzin and John Ware bought a few years back. Comprised of 53% Merlot, 29% Cabernet, 7% Cab Franc and 5% Petite Verdot, this wine has elegant aromas of dill, red cherry, cassis, and mocha. This offers a more herbaceous nose than any other the other releases. The winemaker is experimenting in new territory, as this is a Merlot dominant wine when the Palengat has historically always been a Cabernet based wine. The wine bring intense flavors of anise, black olive, black cherry, dried herbs, crime de cassis and vibrant acidity. The mouthfeel is thick, layered and viscous. The wine really needs some time in the bottle but has developed an incredible identity with vibrant acidity along moderate tannins and a long lingering finish. This is unlike any other Quilceda wine I’ve had in more than 10 vintages. Drink 2017-2030. -96 $95/bottle
2012 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet- 100% Cabernet. Dense color, made from 97% Champoux Vineyard fruit with 3% Wallula Vineyard. Lovely creme de cassis, anise and mocha. Slightly herbaceous nodes as well like red bell pepper. Rich and viscous mouthfeel that has a silky texture and is unparalleled in Washington. This wine is so delicious that it is hard to put down and cellar, even though the wine will improve, as this wine is Washington Cabernet at its finest. Intense flavors of anise, creme de cassis, blueberry, mocha, graphite and black olive in this monstrosity of a wine. Incredibly layered but will improve further with bottle age. 4225 cases of this wine were made for some very fortunate people. This wine is up there with the 2005 and 2006 in terms of the best Quilceda Creek Cabs I’ve had. Drink 2017-2030. -99 $140/bottle