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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 90.3 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 152 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by BobbaWA on 1/14/2023 & rated 92 points: I figured 20 years was long enough to wait from vintage to opening this bottle. It exceeded expectations! Lots of fruit and structure, with cassis and plum. Stone and cedar flavors as well. Last one, and quite enjoyed it! (453 views) | | | Tasted by ayalao3 on 3/1/2022 & rated 90 points: Declining or past it’s prime. Drinkable, long decant may help. (980 views) | | | Tasted by buckeye76 on 8/13/2017 & rated 91 points: Blackberries, currants, and a touch of floral in the nose. Blackberries, black cherries, plums, and a hint of spice in the flavor. Medium body and a medium to long finish. (2797 views) | | | Tasted by mebarry on 8/10/2017 & rated 92 points: Deep dark color, dark stone fruit and cassis flavors. Balanced and lasting on the pallette. (2288 views) | | | Tasted by King of all vines on 6/19/2017 & rated 90 points: A couple of years left to enjoy. (2723 views) | | | Tasted by hanasowner on 2/5/2017 & rated 87 points: On the decline in my opinion. (2687 views) | | | Tasted by jwebtx on 10/26/2015: Sweet red cherry candy. Simple. Medium body. Strong oak smell. Tongue numb after a few sips. Glad it was my last one. Drain. (3777 views) | | | Tasted by wine4ever on 9/23/2015 & rated 88 points: Last one. Same notes as previous bottle. (2632 views) | | | Tasted by JayAAllen on 4/15/2015 & rated 88 points: Tannins were well integrated. Some fruit still evident, with a hint of leather on the finish. Time to drink up. (2873 views) | | | Tasted by hanasowner on 9/7/2014 & rated 87 points: Popped and poured...dark cherries on the nose, but also more than just a whiff of alcohol...medium body...decent mouthfeel, but also with some funk...almost Bordeaux-like in that respect...okay finish. Have had much better QC Red Wine. (3070 views) | | | Tasted by wine4ever on 8/29/2014 & rated 88 points: Not much change since last year. The 2003 is better than the 2004, but not by much (the balance is better in the 2003 as is the nose). The first glass was the best and subsequent glasses slowly decline. Bricking on the edges, medium body, dark cherry, vanilla, smoke and pepper. Hot finish, still a touch of tannins. It's not bad, it's just not worth $35. Drink within next 12-15 months - or hold for 5 years and see if a miracle happens. (2867 views) | | | Tasted by dkstar1 on 8/8/2014 & rated 86 points: meh. maybe an 87 a few years ago. (1943 views) | | | Tasted by marka on 4/10/2014 & rated 88 points: A nice wine that is finally, after 10 years, in balance. A great price at 35 or whatever, but it doesn't seem like a good deal to have to hang on to a wine for 10 years just to get rid of the oak, and have a qpr. (2248 views) | | | Tasted by galewskj on 12/22/2013 & rated 88 points: Not horrible, but I was expecting more balance. This wine seems very new world, oaky and fruity. Other people at the tasting liked it even less than me. (2407 views) | | | Tasted by rocknroller on 12/21/2013: Annual Tasting Group Holiday Party (Porter Creek, Mpls, MN): Very dark, purple-red color. Followed 1 glass over 60 minutes. Even though this is not the flagship wine, I have to admit I expected more from a somewhat iconic producer with 10 years of bottle age. The fruit seemed to have faded and left us with a lot of oak, wood spice, and alcohol, that I had a hard time with. I have to hope and believe that this would have been better 3 or 4 years ago. Based on other's recent tasting notes, it appears this is not likely a bottle variation issue. Score withheld, disappointing. (2573 views) | | | Tasted by GA_Seattle on 11/30/2013 & rated 86 points: Faintly floral nose. Very little fruit remaining, somewhat austere, probably over the hill. Don't hold any longer. (1871 views) | | | Tasted by wine4ever on 9/3/2013 & rated 89 points: Not as good as it use to be. Losing fruit. I'd like these more if they had more complexity. Enjoyable, but a tad 'boring'. Drank over 2 nights...no improvement. Drink by 2015. (2511 views) | | | Tasted by marka on 7/6/2013 & rated 87 points: Smooth, but underwhelming. I am quite certain I got caught up in the QC hysteria a few years ago. Hopefully, the QC Cabs shows better than the RTW when I open them. For the price, a good deal if one wants to wait 10 years for a 38 dollar wine to show decent. Personal preference.... (2186 views) | | | Tasted by greenblanket on 11/6/2012: Big and full of dark cab primary and secondary flavors. Ripe but time is proving that it's not ripe to an extreme. No obtrusive oak sticking out anywhere. Things seem to be only improving and Greenblanket is starting to suspect that this big boy might be able to cross over to the other side. (3024 views) | | | Tasted by SeaSmoke on 8/10/2012 & rated 90 points: Big wine with plenty of "stuff" to keep going for sometime. Others tasting agreed that we had drunk this young and it was still coming together. Very smooth, tannins are mild but it definitely needed time after having been decanted for 2 hours. Wait if you can. (3160 views) | | | Tasted by BonnieM on 2/11/2012: Dark fruit, cocoa powder, I think this has years left in it. Drinking very well now, great with meat but you can hold. Lots of stuffing to go to the distance. (3827 views) | | | Tasted by davidandrose on 10/11/2011 & rated 94 points: Inadvertantly popped another one of these not realising that the last bottle was only 2.5 months ago. This was again an extremely enjoyable and pleasant wine, with floral notes upfront and a very smooth, approachable palate. Really smooth and silky, this possesses a sound balance between structure that indicates several years of life before this peaks, and both red and dark fruits. Really enjoying this, and you should too. (4075 views) | | | Tasted by phantphant on 8/11/2011 & rated 92 points: LOVELY ...this is really tasting great. Deep, intense, earthy....yumm. (4227 views) | | | Tasted by davidandrose on 7/23/2011 & rated 92 points: Decanted and drunk over 4.5 hours. Cherry, violets and a whiff of blueberry were evident on the nose upon opening; as the evening progressed the nose was floral with wood and alcohol. Very smooth, and with airtime exceptionally smooth, with a silky layer of coating tannins giving way to ripe red fruit, some blackberry and a mild tartness. Oak is evident in the finish, but this is a great wine that goes well with food, and still has many years ahead of it. (3474 views) | | | Tasted by Knicksfan on 7/3/2011 & rated 91 points: Pleasantly surprised by this wine. Big cab flavor of cherry and raspberry but good structure and long finish. (3573 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| Quilceda Creek Producer websiteRed Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.Washington Washington Wine Commission | Credit to Washingtonwine.org for this article
Washington Wine
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Wineries
With 30,000+ acres planted, the state has ideal geography and conditions for growing premium vinifera wine grapes. Primarily grown on their own root stocks, the vines produce grapes of consistent quality, resulting in strong vintages year after year. While its focus is on Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the region also produces a wide range of other spectacular whites and reds.
Growers
Winemakers from all over the world have chosen to establish themselves in Washington, where they can create wines reflecting this region's unique characteristics. Their hand-crafted wines are receiving wide acclaim from critics regionally, nationally and internationally for their consistently high quality. Many of them have received scores of 90 and above from the major wine media. Overall this is a higher percentage than other leading wine regions.
Regions
As the state's fourth largest fruit crop, the Washington wine industry is an important contributor to the long-term preservation of Washington agriculture. The industry is committed to sustainable agricultural practices and conservation of water resources.
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Varieties
Washington produces more than 20 wine grape varieties - a ratio of 56 percent white to 44 percent red. As the industry matures and experiments, it finds many grape varieties that thrive throughout Washington's microclimates. There are more than 16,000 vineyard acres of red wine varieties statewide.
History & Vintages
Washington's wine future is limitless. As consumers discover the quality of Washington wines, demand continues to grow nationally and internationally. New acreage and wine varietals are being planted and new wineries are opening at a remarkable pace. Washington State is recognized as a premium viticultural region around the world.
State Facts
Washington's wine industry generates more than $3 billion to the state economy. It employs more than 14,000 people, directly and indirectly, with projections to add nearly 2,000 more jobs by 2006. In terms of tax revenues accrued to the state and federal government, wine grapes are among the highest tax generators of any agricultural crops. Furthermore, Washington wine tourism attracts nearly two million visitors annually contributing to the positive growth of local and regional economies.
Washington State - the perfect climate for wine = ideal growing conditions, quality wines, business innovation, lifestyle, and social responsibility. All are key elements of this world-class wine industry.
Vintages
"2008 and even more so 2010 and 2011 were cool, even cold vintages (think: 2002 in the Barossa) without the extreme ripeness, extract and higher alcohol that had become the norm in the state’s post 1995 world. 2008 was manageable but the duo of 2010/2011 nearly caused a “great depression” in Washington State." - Jon RimmermanColumbia Valley Columbia Cascade Winery Association
The Columbia Valley AVA lies mostly in Washington state, with a small section in Oregon. The Cascade Range forms its western boundary with the Palouse regions bordering the area to the east. To the north, the Okanogan National Forest forms a border with the AVA and Canada. It encompasses the valleys formed by the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Walla Walla River, the Snake River, and the Yakima River. The Columbia valley stretches between the 46th parallel and 47th parallel which puts it in line with the well known French wine growing regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy. The northern latitude gives the areas two more hours of additional daylight during the summer growing season than wine regions of California receive. The volcanic and sandy loam soil of the valley offers good drainage and is poor in nutrients, ideal in forcing the vine to concentrate its resources into the grape clusters.Columbia Valley Columbia Valley Winery Association |
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