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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 348 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by jshufelt on 12/26/2023 & rated 89 points: Consistent with previous tasting notes. (637 views) | | | Tasted by rmalloy on 8/5/2023 & rated 89 points: Tasted/reviewed blind. Tastes like New World cabernet. Pyrazines and dark fruit = cabernet. Jammy, low tannin New World style. Probably around 6 years old. Napa I suppose? Rating: 89. (1052 views) | | | Tasted by Sour Grapes on 6/2/2023 & rated 86 points: Not as extracted and over-oaked as the 2010 but the oak is noticeable. Opened up after only 15 minutes in glass. Medium tannins and acidity. (1197 views) | | | Tasted by hiker_guy on 10/23/2022: 1 hour open and vigorous glass swirling .
Nose has slight alcohol burn , strong vanilla/oak notes, red strawberry and raspberry notes
Palate is smooth , still primary . With lots of rich oak, ripe fruit , big but well balanced all around
Very true to the house style. (1985 views) | | | Tasted by Jzboxtas on 10/4/2022 & rated 92 points: Solid wine. Great for under $60. Drank with family on Rosh (1824 views) | | | Tasted by spineguy on 9/23/2022 & rated 93 points: Last and best of the 6 but higher score. Similar notes. Just as (very) big with complexity and better integrated then before. Pepper, spice, anise, and darker fruits. Stood up to hangar steak frites just fine. Wish I had more. (1403 views) | | | Tasted by Acohen on 8/16/2022 & rated 91 points: Dark plum, currant and graphite (1393 views) | | | Tasted by TallMikeWine on 6/29/2022 & rated 91 points: Needs air, needs time.... (1268 views) | | | Tasted by derrington on 2/12/2022 & rated 93 points: 4 hour decant. Silky smooth, round, rich, deep flavored, cassis, violets, blueberry, vanilla, and a hint of eucalyptus. Drinking beautifully. Really enjoying experiencing has this evolves over the years. Thus was bottle 17...7 more to go.Temperature controlled cellar since release. Easily has 7 years ahead of it. (1315 views) | | | Tasted by johnnyo on 12/22/2021 & rated 93 points: Excellent representation of Washington red blend! (1374 views) | | | Tasted by JScanHunt on 11/25/2021 & rated 91 points: A lighter tasting wine, but very good. Went well with the turkey dinner (1343 views) | | | Tasted by bjamesclark on 11/23/2021 & rated 92 points: Decanted of the above moderate sediment and left to breathe briefly.
Aromas show a great fruit presence still and almost liqueur like with notes of crème de cassis, dark brandied cherry, slightly dehydrated blueberry, and Chambord that bring in the scents of vanilla Chantilly, oak spice, cigar box, pencil shavings, leather and hints of herbs, floral pastilles and the warmth of the abv finalizing.
The palate is extremely smooth, creamy in texture with the tannins completely integrated. Berry like acidity is still mouthwatering and the abv is warming. Rich flavors of crème de cassis, Chambord, super-ripe blueberry and Luxardo cherry bring in the notes of vanilla bean crème anglaise, candied violets, spice, cedarwood, leather and hints of herbs, earth and cigar tobacco. The finish is smooth letting the sneaky tannins come into focus and the fruit play out on the palate. (1366 views) | | | Tasted by ikkaariainen on 10/21/2021 & rated 93 points: Drinking superbly, will benefit from a short 30-60 minute decant, highly recommend and time to drink up any remaining holdings. Beautiful, elegant, soft, mature, very well integrated with plenty of fruit left but oak and tannins essentially all gone at this point. Dark purple with some peripheral bricking noted. Aromatic nose of dark plum, rose and blueberry with flavors of dark fruit, cassis and earth evolving into earthier forest floor, mushrooms and tobacco. Superb QPR wine, very consistent year to year and hard to believe this is anyone's entry level wine. (1502 views) | | | Tasted by Take Two on 10/3/2021 & rated 87 points: Over the hill. No more fruit left. (1272 views) | | | Tasted by no leashes on 9/9/2021 & rated 91 points: delicious, silky, medium to full bodied dark fruit, coffee and a hint of earth. Drink now. (1183 views) | | | Tasted by Neecies on 8/30/2021: Party pour. Good fruit and some secondary development, very ready to go and at or past peak but as someone else noted: 15.3% alcohol, and in a very cool year like 2011? How'd that happen? (1267 views) | | | Tasted by BobbaWA on 6/19/2021 & rated 91 points: Noticeably more fruit and flavor than a same-evening 2009 vintage. (1307 views) | | | Tasted by jshufelt on 6/16/2021 & rated 91 points: Consistent with previous tasting notes. (1249 views) | | | Tasted by sean7711 on 4/9/2021 & rated 93 points: Tasted blind against a 2011 Pulido Walker Melanson. This dominated the higher price Napa wine. I actually thought this was the Napa choice in the tasting. Plenty of life left in this. A year in and year out value wine if there ever was one. (1935 views) | | | Tasted by Jaws4096 on 3/23/2021 & rated 92 points: Coravinned two glasses. The fruit is prominent to the point of being a bit unbalanced, but this is an easy drinking crowd pleaser. Wish I had bought more back in 2013. (1465 views) | | | Tasted by Noelle H on 3/6/2021 & rated 80 points: Even with 2011 being a cooler vintage, at 15.2% abv - this came in hot. The heat dominated the finish and overwhelmed the flavors. Rather disappointing (1350 views) | | | Tasted by Cadby on 1/24/2021 & rated 92 points: Silky & settled. Right in the 9 year wheelhouse.
++++ $45 (1397 views) | | | Tasted by BobbaWA on 11/7/2020 & rated 91 points: Stone, teensy dash of pepper, green grass, licorice, cassis. Put 'em in a blender. Serve. Enjoy. (1659 views) | | | Tasted by snowingfun on 11/1/2020 & rated 93 points: Delicious. Bold and smooth, excellent bouquet (1426 views) | | | Tasted by BobbaWA on 10/20/2020 & rated 94 points: This one seemed to hit the spot; big, full, fruit forward and yummy. Normally 2011 seems to be a lesser vintage, but this one resonated. (1381 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, New Releases from Washington State (Dec 2014) (12/1/2014)
(Quilceda Creek Vintners Red Wine Columbia Valley Columbia Valley) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous. (manage subscription channels) |
| 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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