One of the famed world producers of Cabernet Sauvignon, Quilceda Creek, crafts brilliant, age-worthy wines that drink marvelously in their youth but also show massive cellaring potential. I was first exposed to the wines of Quilceda Creek in the late 1990s and I have been amazed with how these wines age, regardless of vintage. Only recently I enjoyed the 1999 Quilceda Creek with friends and was moved by its complexity and Bordelaise feel.
It had been quite some time since I had sat for a proper vertical tasting of Quilceda Creek and I was due a revisit of some of the great wines of the 2000s. Our tasting was vintages 2004-2010, with the one cold vintage being 2010 and the rest of vintages being warm. Superstar Paul Golitzin made some magical wines and we were absolutely blown away with the 2004 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 99) which is an absolutely decadent wine that is drinking marvelously at this fifteen year mark. This wine had quite pronounced blue fruits whereas many other vintages did not offer that same blueberry note. Just as good was the 2006 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 99) which is even more massive and has more tertiary notes of tar and earthy tones that make this absolutely impossible to resist. One thing is quite evident — the wines of Quilceda Creek are a revelation after some time in the bottle. While patience with these wines might be a challenge, I would encourage any serious collector of Washington wine to keep a few in the cellar for ten years to revisit these gorgeous Cabernets. Learn more about these very special wines at quilcedacreek.com Here are my tasting notes for our vertical tasting of Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon.
2004 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2004 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon is a scintillating wine that is showing marvelously at this juncture. The nose is gorgeous and intense right out of the gate with bright red and dark fruits with chocolate, sagebrush, cherry tomato and blueberry compote that all collide in the glass. Lighter herbal tones come into play after the bottle has been opened more than two hours. The palate takes on an incredible elegance and silky mouthfeel. While obviously rich, this is quite well-balanced. The texture gives the err of decadence. With refined tannins, the wine has tremendous richness, yet relies on great finesse with blueberry cordial, black tea, exotic spices and mocha flavors. The exceedingly long finish lingers in this exciting fifteen year old Cabernet. This incredible wine is peaking now so enjoy it over the next five years as there is no reason to wait on this heavyhitter. Drink 2019-2023- 99
2005 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2005 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon is a monumental effort from this warm vintage in Washington. Right away this brilliant wine shows intense aromatics right away as this flamboyant Cabernet evokes creosote, Turkish coffee, blackberry pie, anise and creme de cassis that all build on this gorgeous nose. The palate is silky smooth with refined tannins as the wine unveils blackberry cordial, smoke, leather, black tea, and mocha flavors that build momentum. While marvelous now, this will have a long life ahead of it. Drink 2019-2029- 98
2006 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon- This warm vintage Cabernet Sauvignon by Quilceda Creek is a refined wine that is aging gracefully at the thirteen year mark. On the nose this takes on lovely red bell pepper with black fruits, espresso bean, sagebrush and Asian spices with a touch of damp earth. The complex and downright gorgeous nose brings you back to the glass for more pleasure. The mouthfeel and texture to the wine is refined, elegant and downright silky. The palate shows rich creme de cassis, anise, tar, blackberry compote and shades of black raspberry cordial and light vegetal undertones. Expressive, exotic and the best of its kind, this gorgeous wine flirts with perfection. The exceedingly long finish lingers long. Enjoy this stunning wine over the next eight years. Drink 2019-2027- 99
2007 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2007 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon is a dazzling wine from this stunning vintage in the Columbia Valley. The richness and intensity literally leaps right out off the glass with Turkish coffee, exotic spices, blueberry compote, tar roasted dates and creme de cassis notes that give this wine a hedonistic edge on the nose. The palate is dazzling with a bright sense of minerality with great richness and tension with light tannins that frame the wine. There is a seamless quality to this wine as it gracefully glides across the mid-palate. Dense and decadent dark fruits with combine with roasted figs, chocolate and shades of sagebrush that all brilliantly combine on the palate. While gorgeous now, this has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2019-2029- 99
2008 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2008 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon is a powerful and hedonistic wine that is showing marvelously at this juncture. The nose shows gorgeous blueberry compote with red bell pepper, red rose petal, exotic spice, with black tea and blackberry cordial flavors that all combine brilliantly in the glass. The palate is decadent and highly refined, showing both incredible poise and tension. Like the ’07 the ’08 effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. Dark plum, blueberry compote, Turkish coffee, and Earl Grey tea with Asian spice flavors all marvelously combine on the palate. Layered and complex, this is heaven in a bottle. Enjoy this fantastic bottling one the next seven to ten years. Drink 2019-2029- 99
2009 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2009 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning wine that is drinking marvelously at one decade of age. The nose is quite evocative with red bell pepper and exotic spices that combine with blueberry cordial and espresso bean notes that all shine brightly in the glass. The palate has incredible decadence, taking on a hedonistic bent. Black tea, blueberry pie, blackberry pie, and shades of wild huckleberry that give this round wine a wonderful sense of softness and plush texture. Given more than an hour of air this continues to evolve gracefully. Outstanding now, this beautiful wine will continue to evolve well over the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 98
2010 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon- This cold vintage bottling is one of the wines of the vintage. Showing more herbal tones fill the nose the as wine mingles with tar and shades of fresh blueberry and creosote tones that all build in the glass. The palate is highly refined and shows a Bordealaise character, unveiling Earl Grey tea, wild blackberry and Black Forest cake that all build momentum on the palate. Showing good freshness and poise, this has another decade ahead of it. But why wait? Drink 2019-2029- 94