October 29, 2023 - Last of the case and right out of the bottle this had a beautiful nose with leather and aged wood over a hint of flowers, but this very quickly blew off. After an hour there's a faint mustiness with leather and cigar lingering far back.
As Genghis commented in his recent note, the tannins have largely dissipated but there is just enough structure to keep the soft fruit in balance. Black tea, leather, and aged barrel dominate.
This 17 YO wine looks burgundian on its edges but still has a solid grip on the stems. While it has aged gracefully and longer than anything at this price point, it's time to put away the keys and drink this up.
After 2.5 hrs did a side-by-side comparison w sommelier stems, which really added to the nose while bringing more weight and complexity to the palate, bumping to 93. However after 3.5 hrs the wine is fading fast, now 89. Mrs DandR poured some more to sample w tonight's wood-grilled filets but quickly poured her glass into mine out of indifference, rare for her w an aged wine.
Bottom line - drink up within 2 hrs of opening and don't decant.
October 19, 2023 - Dark burgundy, full bodied. Three hour decant.
Faint nose. Some dark fruit and leather but faint.
Sips..this is where the magic happens.
Still holding on to some youth. Some dark fruit residual notes, but mostly tertiary. Leather, baking spice, some oak, super smooth. Tannin has disappeared. Medium plus finish. Just an amazing wine. In it's zone right now. Drink or hold for two years. LOVE this wine.
Pizza and ribs by Britt....
June 6, 2023 - Dark ruby-colored, medium to full-bodied, concentrated but nicely integrated and balanced sweet black currant fruits with note of cola, cassis, mocha, tobacco leaf, graphite and floral violets with a moderate smooth polished soft tannins on the finish.
At seventeen years, the fill level, label, foil, and importantly, the cork were in ideal conditions. This was a the apex of its drinking window, but likely nearing the end and won't improve with further aging. Enjoy it in the next few years.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2023/06/quilceda-creek-columbia-valley-red-wine.html
March 18, 2023 - Still in very good shape. Full resolved but will continue to age. Tons of sediment. Decant. Did not taste like a 17 year old wine. Lots of chocolate.
May 20, 2022 - Pop n pour was tannic and bitter. Much improved on day 2 and 3.
February 16, 2022 - DNF - we opened four bottles of QC Red Wine, a 2005, 2006, 2010, and 2011 and tasted side by side. While the 2010 was the favorite, the 2006 was deemed 2nd best, but guess what, we never finished the bottle. Fruit, but maybe diminishing.
December 25, 2021 - Really excellent and drinking great at this point. Blackberries cherries and a melange of dark fruit. Robust but not overpowering. Smooth and polished with a good long finish. Has the '16 a day before which was certainly too young, this one is fully resolved and ready to go.
January 25, 2021 - Classic WA cab with cassis, leather, mocha and minerality
November 28, 2020 - Uncorked and hooked up to a nitrogen tap. These notes are during the course of night one. Classic QC aromas when first pouring, But indicative of the age, with muted blue fruit and some vibrant pine on the nose.
3 hrs in there’s lavender along w blue fruit on the nose. Fruit is secondary to structure on the palate, but candied red fruit kicks in on the finish. I’d say it’s time to drink up any remaining bottles, with great appreciation for a wine that only cost $36 on release and drinks this well 12 years later.
June 3, 2020 - Holding up nicely, darker red fruits, but still fresh, smooth tannins. Not a lot of complexity, but an easy drinker. Enjoyed with ribs. Not a great value however.