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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 95.2 pts. and median of 95 pts. in 128 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by CAWA on 2/13/2024 & rated 96 points: outstanding. enjoyed it with roast duck. incredible about an hour after opening. (1654 views) | | | Tasted by jhieb on 1/28/2024 & rated 98 points: 4 hour decant. 2nd favorite wine in a blind tasting. (1438 views) | | | Tasted by Elkcims on 1/2/2024 & rated 94 points: Drank over 2 days with 2 hours slo-ox to start. Enjoyable, big & bold classic QC cab; expected more. Black raspberry, black currants, plum, burnt toast. RP 100 maybe for Washington, but doesn't come close to the best out of Napa. 94+ (1826 views) | | | Tasted by jonanator on 12/31/2023 & rated 93 points: Still quite young and primary. Undeniably new world. Very restrained and elegant. A few more years should do wonders for this wine. (1641 views) | | | Tasted by WildeMeeuw on 12/27/2023 & rated 97 points: Kleur: Diep donkerrood. Aroma / bouquet: Weelderig bouquet, ook al direct na het openen. Vitaal, krachtig en opvallend jeugdig en fruitgedreven. Cassis, zwarte bessen. Stoer en robuust maar ook met aardse tonen. Leer. Smaak / Afdronk: Wow. Krachtige en stoere wijn. Aangename frisse zuurgraad, stoere tannines met een uitgesproken maar aangename bittertoon. En bij deze vulling draagt het zoetje (serieus alcoholisch!, 15,2%) bij aan de balans. Retronasaal vooral tonen van laurier, leer en Mon Cherie (pure chocola en geconfijte kers). Algemeen / potentieel: In deze fase prachtig drinkbaar, maar meer als 'eetwijn' dan als 'openhaardwijn'. Een wijn met een lange toekomst voor zich! 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 14 + Smaak / Afdronk: 19 + Algemeen / potentieel: 9 = 97/100
Colour: Deep dark red. Aroma / bouquet: Lush bouquet, even immediately after opening. Vital, powerful and remarkably youthful and fruit-driven. Cassis, blackcurrants. Tough and robust but with earthy tones too. Lether. Taste / Aftertaste: Wow. Powerful and sturdy wine. Pleasant fresh acidity, sturdy tannins with a pronounced but pleasant bitter note. And with this filling, the sweetness (seriously alcoholic!, 15.2%) contributes to the balance. Retronasal mainly notes of laurel, leather and Mon Cherie (dark chocolate and candied cherry). General / potential: Beautifully drinkable at this stage, but more as a 'food wine' than as a 'fireplace wine'. A wine with a long future ahead of it! 50 + Colour: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 14 + Taste / Aftertaste: 19 + General / potential: 9 = 97/100 (1605 views) | | | Tasted by Wine-ian on 12/3/2023 & rated 98 points: Incredible wine, at the 10 year sweet spot where it still has youthful fruit and incredible complexity. Velvety smooth, long lingering finish (1463 views) | | | Tasted by A&C on 11/20/2023 & rated 94 points: This was a lovely wine, which I think has started to fall off a bit. Maybe it was the fact that the 1997 Arietta was fantastic, but in comparison, this was clearly the lesser wine. Lovely addition to Friendsgiving, but not quite up to the magic of the 97 Arietta. Who knew? (1546 views) | | | Tasted by Montesquieu on 9/25/2023 & rated 93 points: Not my preferred style of Cab. Too much bright fresh fruit (strawberry, raspberry, plum), not enough earth/terroir. Enjoyable but not magical for me. That seems to be my takeaway with most Washington Cabs, this one included. Fresh fruit lovers will rate this much higher than I do. (2019 views) | | | Tasted by A&C on 9/15/2023 & rated 97 points: To celebrate my friend's 54th birthday today, we popped this beauty. This wine is just entering its drinkability window. I forgot how great Quilceda Creek wines are -- wow!! Big, rich, complex, smooth, silky and delicious. Paired incredibly well with slow cooked carnitas, a peach cobbler for dessert, and a gorgeous September night outside on my friend's patio. I really loved this wine. Drink now and for the next 5 years. Yummy!!! (1529 views) | | | Tasted by harmong on 8/12/2023 & rated 96 points: red fruit dominate, nicely integrated tannins, drinking perfectly right now after 4 hour decant (1660 views) | | | Tasted by PDXWineO on 8/5/2023 & rated 95 points: At 10 years old this QC is in a great window. 2 hour decant was all it needed to reveal a perfect balance of tannin and black fruits. I have 1 left and will not be in a rush to pop it as the 13s should be able to stay in this window for years. (1489 views) | | | Tasted by DoubleD1969 on 7/14/2023: PnP. Opaque, tar-eggplant color. Nose was a bit closed at first but with time, aromas of Hershey's cocoa and an open jar of Luxardo cherries come out. Palate is all sweet dark fruit, primarily cherries, with hints of vanilla. I didn't notice the 15+% ABV. Did not disappoint. (1517 views) | | | Tasted by jkwoodward on 7/12/2023 & rated 94 points: Still early in maturation, classic mocha notes, haven't had a bad bottle yet. Smooth palate, now-2035 (1390 views) | | | Tasted by Charlie C on 7/1/2023 & rated 97 points: Absolutely gorgeous. Bright red, faintly translucent. Cherries, warm spice and cedar on the nose. Dusty cherry notes on the palate, blackberry, leather, tobacco, hint of anise. Bittersweet chocolate notes on the mid-palate. Sweet tannins, lovely acidity, fabulous balance. Subtle oak notes. Finishes long and subtle with blackberry and tobacco notes. Beautiful wine, elegant and lovely. Drink next 10 to 12 years. (1407 views) | | | Tasted by jshufelt on 5/16/2023 & rated 94 points: Decanted one hour before service. In the glass, youthful, deeply saturated purplish-indigo. On the nose, currants, cherries, and potpourri. On the palate, smooth, silky cassis, pure fruit in abundance, and as the tannins begin to assert themselves on the finish, a delightful mix of black cherries and pine arrives to maintain balance. This is very approachable now (and if you have multiple bottles, you shouldn't hesitate to check in), but this performance is quite encouraging for what lies ahead in another 5-10 years... (1794 views) | | | Tasted by GaryHOhio on 5/7/2023 & rated 100 points: Superb (1377 views) | | | Tasted by spendergast on 4/27/2023 & rated 100 points: A fantastic wine with concentrated fruit, notes of cassis, raspberry jam, floral elements. The tannins are ripe and well integrated with a long satisfying finish. QC never disappoints and this is a great effort. Paired with grilled veal chops and port wine reduction sauce - fabulous! (1603 views) | | | Tasted by Stevethebeav on 4/16/2023 & rated 97 points: Stunning. Drinking beautifully right now but will last many more years. Rich red fruit, lots of structure and backbone. Balanced and long finish. (1751 views) | | | Tasted by GaryHOhio on 3/2/2023 & rated 100 points: Absolutely stunning Cab. Beautiful nose of cherries and blackberries.
Amazing depth and integration of fruit on the palate, 30 second finish. Glad I have 4 left. Fully integrated. Amazing value at $140 on release. (1689 views) | | | Tasted by danielbleier on 12/30/2022 & rated 95 points: Firmer than the Kathryn Hall 2012 of the same night, this was mainly red cherry, currant, licorice and a touch of herb. Still a touch tight, letting it breathe for a few hours helped smooth this out...this wine will hit its peak in 5-7 years and should drink well for a long time after (2020 views) | | | Tasted by mflesh on 12/25/2022: Pop and pour. Nose and palate of warmer red fruits, tobacco leaf and black tea. Very balanced medium+ density wine with a satisfying, even keel finish. This wine would go very well with quail, duck, or turkey, so basically this is the time of year for this wine to shine with food accoutrement! :). Delicious wine. (2031 views) | | | Tasted by SMHalps on 12/20/2022 & rated 93 points: High End Wine Night (Charlie Palmer Steak NYC): Decanted for over 45 minutes before pouring. Nice nose, but somehow slightly disappointing. It seemed to be missing some of the fruit notes that I pick up in other wines made by Quilceda Creek. Not quite as smooth as I would have expected from their flagship wine in a great vintage. If I was tasting it blind, I think I would have scored it either 92 or 93. I'm going with the higher score here. (1963 views) | | | Tasted by krhaugh on 12/14/2022 & rated 88 points: Opened and let breathe for a couple of hours. Paired with grilled NY Strips. I was very excited to try this based on other user reviews and ratings and experience with QC, especially the Galatzine vineyard Cabs. Very disappointed in this wine. The nose seemed fine but there was something off in the mouth. It didn't have that WA state cabbiness that I like. Maybe it was a one off. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I have 2 more still cellaring. (1943 views) | | | Tasted by T.E.D. on 10/15/2022 & rated 95 points: My first memorable quilceda in a while. This was a beautiful representation of Washington State. The nose was flawless with cedar, forest floor, moss, and rustic backs fruits. Palate was lush and almost chalky yet very balanced and nuanced. Long finish hints of coco, coffee and milky berry. Shows that these can really integrate with a decade unde them (2185 views) | | | Tasted by mdvillaverde on 8/21/2022 & rated 96 points: 15.2% abv. Didnt have the highest expectationa but this one overperformed. Poured out across 7 glasses at around 100ml each. Left thrm alone at room temp for 45 min. Perfectly balanced, polished, ripe and dense. (2429 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, Focus on Washington: Hot Times in the Desert (Nov 2016) (11/1/2016)
(Quilceda Creek Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon Washington) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (2/23/2016)
(Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon) Dark red violet color; appealing, tart red currant, graphite, cedar nose; tasty, suave, red currant, black currant palate with fine, sweet tannins; needs 2-plus years; medium-plus finish (15.2% alcohol) 93+ points 93 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Quilceda Creek Producer websiteCabernet SauvignonCabernet Sauvignon is probably the most famous red wine grape variety on Earth. It is rivaled in this regard only by its Bordeaux stablemate Merlot, and its opposite number in Burgundy, Pinot Noir. From its origins in Bordeaux, Cabernet has successfully spread to almost every winegrowing country in the world. It is now the key grape variety in many first-rate New World wine regions, most notably Napa Valley, Coonawarra and Maipo Valley. Wherever they come from, Cabernet Sauvignon wines always seem to demonstrate a handful of common character traits: deep color, good tannin structure, moderate acidity and aromas of blackcurrant, tomato leaf, dark spices and cedarwood.
Used as frequently in blends as in varietal wines, Cabernet Sauvignon has a large number of common blending partners. Apart from the obvious Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the most prevalent of these are Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere (the ingredients of a classic Bordeaux Blend), Shiraz (in Australia's favorite blend) and in Spain and South America, a Cabernet – Tempranillo blend is now commonplace. Even the bold Tannat-based wines of Madiran are now generally softened with Cabernet SauvignonUSAAmerican 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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