Today we share one of the famed brands out of Washington. It is always a pleasure speaking with and tasting with Quilceda Creek’s Paul Golitzin. One of North America’s great winemakers, Golitzin took over winemaking for Quilceda more than two decades ago. I have been fortunate enough to taste every vintage of Quilceda Creek. Golitzin got his start in wine when he was very young, and was particularly inspired following a trip to France at age 15. Mentored by his father Alex Golitzin and his great Uncle Andre Tchelistcheff, Paul took what he had learned and developed his own style that has been the most consistently great Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington State. The wines are deep and concentrated regardless of vintage. I am amazed what they have accomplished in the most challenging of vintages — years like 2019 and 2020.
I am honored to be the first critic to taste the new 2022 Quilceda Creek wines. This vintage could have been disastrous for red varietals but a warm fall really stole the show and saved things from ripening issues. 2022 also marked the first vintage that new winemaker Mark Kaigas worked on the wines with Golitzin. Once again Quilceda Creek has crafted several 100 point wines. I adored the 2022 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) which is a show-stopping wine that will need more time to fully evolve than the 2021 edition. Make sure to give this beauty a few more years in the cellar. Similarly stunning but very divergent in terms of flavors and aromatics, the head-turning 2022 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) like the ’21 edition will easily cellar for twenty years. This is a dense, hedonistic beast that really needs a few more years in the cellar. Your patience will be rewarded! Learn more about these incredible wines at quilcedacreek.com and here are my reviews of the sensational 2022 pre-release Cabernet Sauvignon wines by Quilceda Creek.
2022 Quilceda Creek ‘CVR’ Red Wine- This 2022 edition of the CVR has 5% Cabernet Franc blended in from the Champoux Vineyard as well as 3% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. Beautiful dark florals mark the nose alongside crème de cassis, Asian spices and shades of sagebrush. Silky and soft on the mouth, this shows good flavor density with its core of mocha and dark fruits. Despite the coolness of the vintage this has plenty of stuffing. Delicious now, enjoy over the next ten years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 94
2022 Quilceda Creek Merlot- The mesmerizing 2022 Quilceda Creek Merlot has a large portion of Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) blended in. In blending trials the winemaking team felt that Cabernet added depth to the wine. Jet black in the glass this delivers drop-dead gorgeous red and dark floral aromatics alongside espresso grounds and suggestions of tar and mountain huckleberry. The palate is a sensational expression of weight, depth and minerality, as this glides throughout the drinking experience. The finish just won’t quit. A total stunner, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2045- 99
2022 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The head-turning 2022 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon has 10% Mach One Vineyard fruit blended in, with the remainder coming from the famed Champoux Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. The nose is beyond alluring with toasted walnut and gorgeous purple rose petals that combine with boysenberry cordial, Turkish coffee and shades of dark licorice. The crazy complex aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. Pillowy and opulent on the mouth, the seamless texture leads alongside outstanding weight and finesse. This is a perfect wine in a vintage that shows what can be accomplished in a slightly cooler year. Savor this remarkable achievement over the next twenty plus years to come. Drink 2026-2050- 100
2022 Quilceda Creek ‘Palengat’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 100% Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Palengat’ is a single vineyard and single clone wine from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Violets and creosote with wet rock and wild blackberry compote mark the nose. The palate is plush with serious concentration and underlying finesse. Silky tannins line this stunning wine that is going to age so gracefully. The balance here is world-class. Enjoy over the next two decades. Drink 2026-2045- 100
2022 Quilceda Creek ‘Tchelistcheff’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The monumental 2022 Quilceda Creek ‘Tchelistcheff’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Mach One Vineyard utilizing clone 412 Cabernet Sauvignon. Very brooding in the glass, this shows off dense crème de violette, tar, Turkish coffee and heady black and purple fruits on the palate. A massive beast that really needs some air for taming, give this a few years in the cellar before uncorking. Drink 2026-2046- 100
2022 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Hailing from Red Mountain, this 2022 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a next level effort from this slightly cooler vintage. Once in the nose this takes on scorched earth and menthol notes alongside purple rose petals and suggestions of exotic spices. The palate is very powerful and dense with crazy food finesse and texture. Enjoy this world-class Cabernet Sauvignon bottling over the next twenty plus years. Drink 2026-2046- 100