On a festive Friday afternoon in mid-December I gathered my belongings and headed north to Quilceda Creek winery in Snohomish. Waiting for me was superstar winemaker, Paul Golitzin, a man who requires no introduction. Paul is a delight to chat wine with. He regularly samples the best wines of the world, including first growths, which gives him a litmus for how to craft what are consistently the best Cabernet Sauvignon wines in Washington that rival the upper echelon in North America. Quilceda Creek has received more 100 point scores by Robert Parker than any other North American winery which is a simply astounding feat. I first began tasting these wines in the late 1990s and fondly recall some of my all-time favorite bottlings. These are special wines that mark celebrations, graduations and anniversaries. Regardless of vintage, Quilceda Creek produces absolutely remarkable Cabernet wines.
The new lineup I tasted came from the warm, 2017 vintage. Fires from this vintage kept temperatures rather moderate, creating a layer of smoke that limited sunlight for roughly one month. The more moderate and consistent temperatures led to good phenolic ripeness in the wines. The harvest was particularly long, which suited Cabernet Sauvignon well. Winemakers have been quite optimistic about this vintage for both red and white wines. Golitzin mentioned that he feels these are the best wines across the board that he has made, including the best ‘CVR.’ Having had every vintage of ‘CVR’ (formerly ‘Red Wine’) back to 2001, I can say that the ’17 ‘CVR’ is truly one of the best that I have tried (WWB, 94). The wine has incredible density and tension that runs through the core of dark and blue fruits. The wine is also a spectacular value buy for Washington red wines. The 2017 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 98-100) is simply magical. It needs a bit more time to finally come together but this wine is every bit as good as the best Cabernet Sauvignons from this house that I have tried. I feel entirely the same way about the 2017 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 98-100) which is dense, massive and a downright sexy rendition that also needs some time for me to make my final assessment. I am absolutely thrilled by these wines. Learn more about these beautiful wines at quilcedacreek.com Here are the new wines by Quilceda Creek.
2017 Quilceda Creek ‘CVR’ Red Wine- The 2017 ‘CVR’ is a seductive blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon with small portions Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The wine was aged in roughly 50% new French oak before bottling. The nose has exotic appeal with its dense blue and black fruit aromatics that meld with Asian spices and shades of dusty terroir that all take their shape in the glass. The mouthfeel and texture of the wine is superb and this shows plenty of richness and a bright acid backbone. Deep blackberry cobbler, mocha, tar and blueberry compote flavors all come together marvelously on the palate. Marvelously structured and showing good poise, the 2017 ‘CVR’ is up there with the best ever made from this storied Washington estate. Drink 2019-2029- 94
2017 Quilceda Creek ‘Palengat’ Red Wine- The 2017 ‘Palnegat’ Red Wine is a stunning new bottling by superstar winemaker Paul Golitzin. A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Cabernet Franc, this opens with dense Turkish coffee aromas that meld with shades of tar, anise and creme de cassis, that give off an err of seduction. Once on the palate you are consumed by the wonderful combination of verve and freshness that combines with a plush texture and light tannins. Mocha, creme de cassis, anise, espresso bean and shades of creosote and a touch of blueberry pie. The seamless quality through the mid-palate is gorgeous. Stunning in its youth, this wine is showing beautifully with several hours of air as the wine is best enjoyed in a few years. This is truly one of the great ‘Palengat’ Red Wines ever made. Drink 2021-2040- 96
2017 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- (98-100)— Re-taste in summer 2020.
2017 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (98-100)— Re-taste in summer 2020.