It is my great pleasure to share one of the world’s great producers of Cabernet Sauvignon. Yesterday marked my yearly pilgrimage to Quilceda Creek to review their pre-release 2024 wines [release date Spring 2027]. I had the chance to visit for the first time their 2024‘CVR’ Red Wine which along with the ’23 is one of the finest, if not the finest’CVRs’ made. Sitting with director of winemaking Paul Golitzin he explained how bullish he is on the 2024 vintage. “The consistency of the Columbia Valley is remarkable. A viticultural paradise in 2024” he explained.
“We see the 2024 vintage like the ’18 vintage on steroids” said Paul Golitzin. “We missed out on the freeze and some people were wiped out in some lower areas but this was a beautiful, clean vintage.” The wines themselves shined with ebullient black and even blue fruit profiles. 2024 was a warm vintage with few heat spikes like 2023. Most wines that I have already visited from this vintage show amazing depth and power. They might have a touch less tension than the ‘22s, but show much better weight and flavor density. While I love the wines made in 2018, the ‘24s that I have tasted so far have serious promise.
While no Merlot was produced at Quilceda Creek for their ’23 vintage, they have a new Merlot in their ’24 vintage, their ‘Sasha’ who is named after Paul’s father. The Merlot is unlike anything made in Washington State with a very Pomerol feel and great soil character. A small amount of Merlot was also blended into their 2024 ‘CVR.’
Paul Golitzin is one of the great North American winemakers, taking over for his father decades ago. Mark Kaigas joined their team from Colgin and has been a revelation. He works closely with President and Director of Winemaking Paul Golitzin and Vineyard Manager Dan Nickolaus.
Do not miss out on the 2024 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) which is a knockout new bottling that is pillowy and soft, with exceptional smoothness and flavor density. Definitely more towards power than the ‘Columbia Valley’ the 2024 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) is a decadent treat to consume in its heady youth. This beauty has decades of life in front of it. Learn more about these incredible wines at quilcedacreek.com and here are my reviews of the sensational 2023 pre-release Cabernet Sauvignon wines by Quilceda Creek.
2025 Quilceda Creek ‘Quilceda Blanc’ White Wine- The 2025 ‘Quilceda Blanc’ is all Sauvignon Blanc from a site that neighbors the Champoux Vineyard. The wine was farmed at a meagre 1.25 tons an acre and only 215 cases were produced. Mostly stored in new French oak puncheons, the wine takes on amazing aromatic range that pushes melon, citrus and tropical fruits. It comes off silky and elegant on the mouth and stands extremely bright in the glass. The palate is powerful and deep on the tongue with amazing weight and length, brimming with mouth-watering acidity. A stunning wine that has a long life in front of it, enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2026-2040- 98
2024 Quilceda Creek ‘CVR’ Red Wine- The 2024 ‘CVR’ Red Wine is primarily all Cabernet Sauvignon (90%) with small parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot blended in, both coming from the Champoux Vineyard. Showing off an inky core this opens with toffee and mocha tones that combine with red and black florals alongside creme de cassis notes. The palate is deep and voluptuous on the mid-palate, with terrific volume and underlying finesse. A complex, hedonistic treat to enjoy now, savor this beauty over the next decade. Drink 2026-2036- 95
2024 Quilceda Creek ‘Sasha’ Merlot- The 2024 ‘Sasha’ combines 79% Merlot with 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and the remainder Cabernet Franc. The nose shows toasted walnut and gorgeous red florals that combine with fresh sage and shades of Turkish coffee. The palate is dense, plush and elegant with a silky texture, good salty character, and refined tannins. Mocha, tar, milk chocolate coated black cherry and cassis flavors mingle well with shades of black licorice on the palate, with stony soil nuance. Lush and round on the mouth, with incredible length, enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2026-2044- 99
2024 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2024 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes nearly all from the Champoux Vineyard (90%) with the remainder sourced from the Mach One Vineyard.The wine was aged in all new French oak barrels before bottling. The nose is mesmerizing with a hedonistic bouquet of black rose petals, oud and dark currants that mingle well with sagebrush, creme de violette and anise. The palate is seamless throughout the drinking experience as this effortlessly glides through the mid-palate. A total stunner, enjoy this heavyhitter now and over the next twenty years. This is nothing short of perfection in the bottle. Tasted twice with consistent notes. Drink 2026-2046- 100
2024 Quilceda Creek ‘Palengat’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2024 ‘Palengat’ is entirely comprised of Clone 685 Cabernet Sauvignon. Purple florals and wet stone mark the nose alongside scorched earth and fresh sage notes on the nose. The palate is silky and opulent throughout the drinking experience. It offers a glorious core of Arabica bean, dark chocolate shavings and black currant cordial flavors that connect with a bright beam of tension. A stunning wine that is already beautifully evolved, savor this beauty over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2026-2046- 100
2024 Quilceda Creek ‘Tchelistcheff’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The otherworldly 2024 Quilceda Creek ‘Tchelistcheff’ Cabernet Sauvignon was entirely sourced from the Mach One Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Aged in all new French oak barrels, this delivers tar, anise and creme de cassis on the nose with roasted date notes. The seductive nose brings you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The palate is pillowy and deep with a massive core of black and blue fruits. The salty minerality and concentration creates an amazing perception of mouth-watering acidity on the mid-palate. Gorgeous now, enjoy this heady beauty and over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2026-2046- 100
2024 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The next-level 2024 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a total masterclass that is your quintessential iron fist in a velvet glove. Cedar wood and blackberry blossom meld with dark chocolate shavings on the nose. It is velvety and soft on the approach. A glorious combination of black and blue fruits fill the palate alongside a graphite edge and refined tannins. This is a polished masterpiece that has many decades of life in front of it. Drink 2026-2050- 100