Quilceda Creek's 2008 Columbia Valley Red Wine is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. Still a youthful deep ruby/red in color, it remains packed with dark bramble fruits, fig, anise, baking spices, bark, savory herbs and loamy earth. Full-bodied, fresh and with well-tamed alcohol (despite being listed as 15.2%), its oak and tannins have now beautifully integrated. The flavors build on the mid-palate and the finish is impressively long. This wine has evolved into something quite special. Decanted off of its sediment and sampled over a five-hour period from a bottle that had been purchased upon release and cellared in pristine fashion, this showed best after the first two hours in carafe. Be sure to serve at 60-65°F to ensure that the alcohol lurks quietly. Comparably cellared bottles will last longer than previously projected when last tasted 7/4/2015. Drink now-2030.
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Finally in a good place. Been drinking one bottle per year since release, waiting for the tannic edge to dissipate. Big fruit profile, oak has faded, really softened up with age.
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Not sure of the QPR being great but this wine was smooth as silk and disappeared fast. Decanted for 2 hours prior to drinking. No hint of the 15.2% ABV. Nicely integrated. Everything was in it's place and the wine was well made. I will say there wasn't alot of complexity. It was a very silky smooth, one note wonder. The one note was a darn good note though.
Would buy again.
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Purchased direct from winery. Decanted & poured back into bottle after 15 minutes. Heat on the nose reflecting alcohol from the warmer vintage. Palate of sweet fruit with fully resolved & smooth tannins. The oak that normally is off putting with this wine in its youth is fully integrated. Good balance despite a more brooding profile. Nice 2nd label by QC!
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Not as bright and rich as the 07 but still a spark of the greatness of the first label. Leather and tobacco and faded red fruit. Will be great with burgers. Good value for $35!
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No formal notes. However, I enjoyed the wine more towards the end of the bottle. Almost no sediment. Garnet Color. Long Finish. The alcohol level a little bit too high.
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Dark inky hue. Dark fruit, pencil lead, blackberry nose. Fruit forward, dark cherry, cassis, stone, dark fruits, slightly prune/raisin. Like others, believe this bottle is peaking or past peak. Drink up.
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Gave this a long ( 2hrs) decant in a big flat bottomed decanter. The wine was paired with a rib eye and did a fine job. Not much fruit, but nice leather, tobacco and slight pepper. Not robust or youthful however, and I therefore fear this wine might be approaching its end.
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Decanted and drank. Aromas of blackberry, currant, mint, black cherry and touch of iron. Flavors of currant, blackberry, iron, mint and black cherry. Ends with blackberry and iron infused finish of 25 seconds. Tad tight and needs air. Still drinkinging young.
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Big, rich and still on the youthful side. Oak is just starting to integrate. There is a liquor like consistency to the finish that probably has something to do with the 15.2% abv. No burn though, very smooth. Good depth of flavor and length o finish.
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My last bottle of this wine and it was really singing. Pop and pour and drank with spaghetti. Big nose and palate with dark fruits, licorice, and smoke. Tannin integrated. This is at peak. What a great value. Q creek is top drawer across the board.
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A pleasant enough drink, but not very interesting. I was hoping for a little more nuance given the age. Sandwiched between and '01 Chateau Peby Faugeres and a Hobbs Crossbarn. I appreciated more when I took a sip of the Crossbarn.
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Popped and poured through an elk head aerator. Sweet spot! Washington Bordeaux-style wine at 10 years old. Nose of barrel spices, black currant fruit, and tobacco. Flavors of black cherry, touch of oak and a finish of french vanilla bean. This has aged extremely well. Tannins are still evident, acid is lively, body is full. Drink now - 2023.
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This wine was number two out of three served at a dinner party. Lighter, a little stiffer, and not as round or robust than the third wine of the evening. It was very nice but maybe on the waning side of its drinking window.
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Well balanced and in a very good place, though appearing to be in the latter half of its peak window. No detailed notes as this was one of several bottles, but very good.
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Good wine, minerals, forest floor, black currant as well as dark blue fruit on nose and palate with nice balance and finish. Improved with time and food. The wine is drinking well and I suspect it nearing its peak or slightly past. I would drink in the next 2-4 years.
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Followed over two days, hooked up the nitrogen. Typical QC fruit and berry flavors, slightly tart. Fruit is definitely dominant with structure fading and indicating this wine is in the back nine of it’s life. Still an outstanding easy drinker, That’s in the last 1 to 2 years of its ideal window.
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Pop and poor, hooked up to nitrogen tank. Knows of muted blue and dark fruit, faint wood. Although a bit watery - as opposed to dance or chewy – this wine has good balance with full , Dark fruit flavors and enough tannins to provide death and layering that add some weight and length to the finish. Don't believe this will get much better but is a great easy drinker today
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I pumped off half of a bottle 8 days ago before going out of town and decided to try it tonight just for the heck of it. I can't believe it but it was still good. It had clearly faded a little but after 8 days in the fridge?? Pretty impressive. These wines are always good and this is the least expensive of the lineup.
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One hour decant. Cherry, cassis, red liquorice, balsam, cedar, nutmeg, clove, leather, mint, chocolate. Fully integrated tannins and sturdy backbone. Very balanced, never seemed overly extracted or too boozy (even tipping near 16%). My first experience with Quelcida Creek and I am impressed.
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The fruit is starting to go. Beautiful two years ago but now less fruit and more tannin. I would say drink up. Still a great deal on QC wines. Both the 2006 and 2008 Red Wine were better two years ago.
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I'm always somewhat concerned these QC wines will not actually age gracefully because of all the alcohol. Cork broke in half when I pulled it. Decanted. While this is my final bottle of the 2008, it was in an excellent place. Much more black-fruited and perfumed on the nose (my wife said it reminded her of a Comme des Garcons Kyoto fragrance, which is a bit musky). Good acidity on the palate with more black fruit and some damp earth/truffle flavors. Still some tannin on the finish. This is in an excellent place.
Day 2: After a night on the counter (unrefrigerated), this shows lots of oxidation. It's still drinkable, but...
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This wine never disappoints. Quite a value at the purchase price! Has enough up front fruit that last through its long legs. Lots of time still in the bottle.
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Wow, this is very good. It brings intensity, focused and bright fruit, acidity, length and complexity. Menthol, earth, leather, blueberry, cherry, subtle vanilla. A little age has heightened the experience, and I bet another 1-2 years will serve this wine very well. 15.2% alcohol so I wouldn't wait too long.
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Aroma of dark fruits, toasted oak and tobacco. Palate is dark fruit, tobacco and tar flavors shortly after. Finish is medium. This wine is drinking very well and should continue for several more years.
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Drank last bottle. Still an excellent wine. This was a pop and pour, which presented no issues. There is still nice red fruit on the palate. I didn't really catch any signs of an aged red, so I think this is what you are going to get. I'd say it's got at least another 2 years in the tank if you are storing bottles.
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Last bottle of this and this was the best one. Nose of plum, mocha, sour cherry, with hints of tobacco. On the palate, rich with red plum, black cherry, and hints of spicy oak. Nice long finish, still has a bit of grip and the acidity is decent. Drink over the next few years.
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Potentially past its prime/corked. Has been cellared at 57, bought from winery. Fruit was faded, a bit acidic, but not in an old world pleasant way. Not a bad wine but other vintages much more appealing.
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Abundance of oak overshadowed everything else. Nice fruit, complex and long on the palate, but needs alot of air to blow off the oak. I get that it is the QC style, but I think it would be much more approachable with a lighter touch on the new barrels. Glad I still have two bottles to allow for additional aging. Nevertheless, well liked at the table with folks who had no familiarity with QC.
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Popped several bottles at an event. Drinking very well but was best with 30+ mins in the decanter. Slight bottle variation had one bottle notably tighter and hevier than the others, but in retrospect I failed to confirm that they hadn't substituted a different vintage. Still has several years of life, no rush.
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Purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of thistle, black berries, roses and raspberries. Flavors of black berries, black cherries and raspberries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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Drank over two nights. Probably an 89 on night one and a 92 on night two. Initially didn't seem to be that integrated or interesting. Jumbled red and blue fruit. Morphed into a full bodied black and blue back of the tongue wine with a 20-30 second finish. Really good for a "pounder."
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Popped and poured. This bottle seemed to be in awkward spot. It lacked the exuberant fruit of its youth but has not yet taken on the complexities of age. Nose of plum, black cherry, rust, hints of pie cherry. On the palate, nice plum and cherry flavors with a mineral streak. Nice balanced finish with just a little bit of heat but not enough to distract. I will probably hold the rest of these another couple of years.
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Aromas of blackberry, iron, leather and cherry. Flavors of iron, mineral, pepper and currant. This has a lot going on although slightly less impressive than the last time I had it. Did not decant it so that may be the reason.
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Lovely second wine, better than most firsts. Powerful WA fruit is easy to love, and the balance against the tannins and acidity make this a great choice with steak or lamb. Big enough to drink on it's own, but not a monster. PDQ93
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Oak, blueberry, chocolate. Such a damned big drinker for being a label's 'Red Wine' entry. No one else could get away with it but QC. If only the wood & alcohol could be dialed back ... this could be a perennial favorite & a QPR champion. Compelling as always ... but bombastic.
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Delicious well rounded cab with no, I repeat, no bricking around the edges. Balanced black fruit, in a maturity phase if not a little young. Last bottle, its a shame. But just goes to show that even with this QPR, give QC a few years in the cellar to really shine
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Decanted for 2 hours. Aromas of blackberry, currant, roasted meat and rose petal. Starting to show a few mature notes of dried cherry but let two of plum, kirsch liquor and blackberry. Tannins are very smooth and the finish went on for 20 seconds. One of the best showings of this wine I can remember.
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Decent intensity here, layered and semi-rich. Don't think it merits the $50 price tag but a fairly opulent, moderately complex Wash. red. Yeah, not overly impressed.
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There is no denying that Quilceda Creek is much more than a regional superstar when it comes to producing fine Cabernet-based wine. The Columbia Valley Red Wine is their "entry level" offering. The 2008 iteration is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. Opaque ruby and packed with black fruit, it adds nuances of anise, loamy earth, pickling spice and dried herbs. There is significant structure here, with fresh acidity and substantial firm tannins. The wine's listed alcohol is 15.2% but remains a non-factor as long as it is served at an appropriate temperature of approximately 60-65° F. Solid in the middle and impressively long on the finish, this bruiser is still a baby. While I wouldn't hesitate to open a bottle now, I suspect that it will see some improvement with patient cellaring. I have accordingly revised my drinking window for this wine. Drink now-2025.
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Aroma of dark fruits, toasted oak and tobacco. Palate is dark fruit, tobacco and tar flavors shortly after. Finish is medium. This wine is drinking very well and should continue for several more years.
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Drank most of it to drown my sorrows while watching Green Bay beat Seattle for three quarters. Consistent with my previous note, with black fruits, cassis, spice, smooth tannins. Noticed a kirsch note at the end this time.
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Consistent with earlier rating. The nose of this wine is just so incredible. Noticed strong tannins this time more than last. Very well connected. One long, enjoyable mouthful. 92+++
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multi-hour decant through venturi, really much better with the time and air. Well integrated, big, but smoothed out vs previous bottles. Finding it's own, but plenty of life left. Amazing wine for $35.
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My first Quilceda Creek, and I am impressed. This 81% cab blend manages to pull off the feat of being both full bodied with a firm structure yet silky smooth. Ripe fruit, yet not hot while still at 15.2% ABV. PnP into the decanter and I could smell the aromas from 2 feet away, yet over time they mellowed and faded. This is one of the few wines where I can say that I definitely enjoyed the flavor & structure of the wine far more than the aromas. Well balanced, with a lasting finish.
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Young and disjointed. Possibly flawed/ defective. First night revealed some nice smoke on the nose, but still a little hot. Tannins a little rough too. All this after a couple hours of decanting. Should have started the decant at lunch! Questioning the great "value" folks refer to with this red blend.
Night 3 it was worse. Thought some time after decanting would help mellow things out. Nope. Not corked, but pretty dang bad.
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This bottle still has several years left. Was surprised that it came in at 15.2%. Dark fruit with a hint of tobacco. Recommend decanting for an hour minimum before drinking.
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Popped and poured with grilled pork chops. Aroma has dark fruits, toasted oak and tobacco. Taste is nice dark fruit of blackberry right off the bat and it brings the tobacco and tar flavors shortly after on the palate. This is doing really well, and seems to have the legs to go on for quite awhile.
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Decanted the wine for 5 hours prior to drinking. Got a big nose when I decanted this but nose closed down a bit while drinking. Nevertheless, the wine is drinking nice with flavors of blackberry, cherry, leather and a touch of plum. Ends with a nice finish. Still one of the best deals around.
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This vintage has better acidity/balance than the generally warmer 05, 07 and 09 vintages, and overall is a more complete wine than the other wines mentioned. It's a classic Cabernet with dark fruits, good structure and balance. A nice wine that will reward most tasters over the next few years. It's probably not a long-term keeper, but a nice wine for now and a few years into the future. Excellent value for a quality Cabernet.
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Such a polarizing blend, the QC Red is. The heritage says these should be great - but they always come out tight and void of fruit character - no matter the age. This one showed better than previous vintages at such an "early" stage, but I still cannot say I've ever loved any of these bottles from the last decade. There are certainly more interesting, if not more affordable, WA wines out there for $36 and 90 pts.
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Dark garnet core and opaque with dense color. The smells are anise, bright cherry, currant, peppery spice, bell pepper, and earthy aromas. The tastes are also bright cherry, currant, licorice, spices, and dry leaves. The tannins are nice and powder like and the finish is nice and long.
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very nice wine, poured through venture into decanter, sat for about 45 minutes. deep and dark, still plenty of acid, and tannins, that can and will balance out of over more time. Good wine, solid medium finish
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Does this wine hold a candle to Quilceda Creek's flagship cabs? No. But it is a rock solid wine for about $100.00 less than the flagships of the line. Popped and poured, and felt a brief decant would have been beneficial.
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Well this was much better than a bottle I had in 2012 and now makes me wish I had bought more! What a difference 18 months in the bottle make. This was more developed without any harsh edges. Fruit, tobacco, graphite and a nice long finish.
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Big nose, alcohol and abundant black fruit! Full body with little tannins as wine is big and bold, almost hints of Syrah like quality. A nice wne with food and could stand up to most meat and pasta dishes. Don't see much more age benefiting this wine but still a great value.
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Inky in color, full nose with a bit of a chemical finish. Taste of blackberry and raisins. Medium body, smooth tannins. A satisfying, balanced, complex wine. Very, very nice!
Superb for the price.
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A pleasure to drink. Decanted 5 hours. Started off brash and strong and developed wonderfully. I was especially taken with the Left Bank minerals...pencil lead leading the way...that made an appearance on the front end of each taste. The fruit is well-balanced and in a great place after the decant. Overall dark, but always nicely focused, with some playful hints of redder berries. For the low $60s this indeed seems like a value!
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92-93: have to agree with the consensus on this wine: it's better than the flagship, better balance, less heat, less stewed fruit. This wine has more hints of Bordeaux, elegance, and a lasting finish. I have not been a fan of this winery in the past, but this wine seems to show there is something to their hype.
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Just wanted to note that this wine is showing much better than before, with more smoothness and less overall heat. I sort of wish I had held on to more of it.
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I actually like this vintage of Quilceda's second wine better than those from the warmer and more highly-regarded vintages such as '05, '07, '09. The warmer vintages were almost syrupy, while this vintage has better acidity/balance, and overall is a more complete wine. It's a classic Cabernet with dark fruits, good structure and balance. A nice wine that will reward most tasters over the next few years. It's probably not a long-term keeping, but a nice wine for new and a few years into the future.
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If this wine is served at the appropriate temperature (60-65 degrees Fahrenheit) it will dazzle the taster. It is a deep-to-opaque ruby blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. The nose shows intense aromas of cassis, blackberries, ganache, pickling spice and dry earth. It follows with a full-bodied, fresh palate characterized by similar flavors as for the nose. The generous tannins are fine-grained and the alcohol (listed as 15.2%) remains in check within the aforementioned temperature window. Solid in the middle, it concludes in smooth, lengthy fashion. You will never confuse this "Bordeaux blend" with Bordeaux, but you will definitely like it every bit as much as a quality left-bank offering from a good vintage! Drink now-2020.
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Very nice with red plum, bright cherry, mocha, and black fruits. On the palate very rich and full-bodied with black and red fruits. A bit walled off by tannins still, but shows promise. Nice balanced finish.
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Consistent with prior notes although this wine did not pop for me the same as last time, still a very nice mix of dark berry and plum with sweet spice, just not as vibrant.
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Coffee and vanilla oak frame the fairly powerful fruit on this wine. A touch of graphite and charcoal bitterness show on the palate as well. I was hoping this would improve with age but this feels even more disjointed this time. I suppose this could come together in maturity but I wouldn't bet on it. 87-88
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decanted only about 30 minutes as we brought to a party. Needs more time, lots more time as it was barely opening up by time it was finished. Years in bottle or hours in decanter needed
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A far cry from it's pricey sibling. Doesn't convey the smoothness of the QC Cabernet, or of most other Washington cab-based offerings. Interesting experiment for us, but not as good as we had hoped for.
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First impressions dominated by an inviting nose and quality complexion...started off tight but opened up nicely to feature a bouquet of red and darker fruit flavors. A well constructed red blend that is certainly worthy of praise...
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Very nice bottle of wine once it opened up. Needed about 6 hours of breathing, but stood out amongst others served that were served. Wonderful mouth feel and big bold fruit. Could easily age longer, but drinking nicely now with breathing.
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Drinking nicely right now. Didn't pay take great notes but decanting was needed to open it up. It sat for 45-60 min. It could age for maybe another 2-5 years pretty easily I'd say. Dark fruit, baking spice, tobacco/leather, oak but not overwhelming.
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Popped and poured at 63F. Fruity, slightly jammy nose. Some spirit on it after a couple of hours. Palate is powerful with some alcohol and classic Cabernet blackberry fruit. Medium-high tannin. This feels like it will be better with a few years of age when it doesn't hit you over the head so hard.
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This needs a couple hours being open to hit its stride. I am sure it would be even better giving it a nice decant. At hour 2, nice cassis and tobacco. Licorice on the finish. A little herbal edge.
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This is their entry level wine and a great value considering the flagship wine sells for $135 a bottle. I decanted this as soon as I got there and it sat in the decanter for about 2 hours before we poured it with steaks. This was definitely more open at this point than the 2007 I had last year. It had an interesting nose of smoked meat, vanilla, black cherry and spice. The palate revealed more of the same but ended with a nice long lingering finish. You get a little heat in there but not to the point where it is a detriment and it simmered down as the night went on.
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On vacation, so no formal notes. This is my first QC and i was all set not to like this but I thought it was great. Expressive nose. A very pure Cab profile with laser like intensity.
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Okay I am not an expert on QC wines having only consumed one 06 Galitzine and the 02 and 07 Reds while I wait for my big Cabs to age. However, I am not impressed with the style on the 07 and the 08, which we had last night. I did a pop 'n pour as we had my daughter and her friend pop in but the wine left me wanting more. It seemed to have this artificial vanilla smooth creaminess to it and I tend to like my wines rustic and earthy so for my palate it was not hitting the spot. I had a 2008 L'Ecole Cab at a restaurant the other night that I preferred. Maybe a decant or more cellar time is needed? Decision time now as the Fall allocation email arrived in my inbox and should I pony up again. Again I have been holding the big guns to get some age on them but a bit worried that even they may not match my tastes. Ah, the challenges of wine collecting!
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You can call me biased toward QC if you want; I really don't care. This is quality wine. I would put the red up against a number of more expensive Napa Cabs, and I would like my chances. The best part is that there is still plenty of gas in the tank.
I decanted this for about 90 minutes. There is sweet red fruit on the nose. You could even say it smelled of red licorice. A good blend of sweet and tart fruit on the palate with a medium-long finish. I will open another bottle in a year.
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Didn't live up to my high expectation (of low 90s) based on its 100pt cab cousin. It has a great nose...berry, smoked meat. But it tasted tight and still very young. Even after decanting for hours and also trying again the next day, it never really opened up. Still a good wine though. Sweet, berry flavors, well balanced. But lack any complexity or finish. Can probably sit for another 2-3 years. Tons of potential.
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With prime NY strip. 1hr decant. Still very young, nose closed with some dark fruit. Lots of wood/oak on the palate, dark fruits but somewhat restrained, hope this will integrate and open up in a few years.
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Day 2 - Leftovers after tasting and dinner with friends. Coming down with a slight cold, and palate is probably slightly impacted, so no score tonight. Oak, cherries, licorice and leather. The fruit is pretty subdued, but that might be my off palate.
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Popped and poured off half a glass and let sit for 20 minutes. Bouquet had a good whiff of alcohol and wood that blew off after a little bit. Not much else. Dark purple all the way to the rim. Dark fruit on attack with firm tannins and a tad of alcohol on the back end. Not bad, but needs a year or so to settle down. Was a decent pairing with mesquite smoked Waygu brisket.
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OK, so I didn't wait that long. Deep color, nearly black. Nose is mostly wood and herbs this time. Attack is smooth and silky with the tannins just right. Still a little closed up, and a bit hot on the [long] finish. Still think it's a great buy.
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Decanted one hour. Really showing more Merlot on the nose with plum, mocha, black cherry, vanilla, and spice. On the palate, blackberry, sour cherry, spice, cedar. Most of the fruit is walled off by oak and tannins, but you get a sense on the balanced finish that there will be some goodness in the future. 91 for now, might be some upside if the oak integrates well.
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pop&pour nose - cassis, blackberry, sweet&smoky oak mouth - big dark fruits with a rich midpalate, sweet oak noted though not overdone, and a long tannic finish. Has a round mouthfeel which is all the more impressive considering it's a baby. This is a most impressive showing for their 2nd wine, and beats the pants off plenty of similary priced napa cabs. Though i usually dismiss th hype, I am inclined to agree with the winery that this wine 'represents an exceptional value'. 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec
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We decanted this for two hours and it was better than the first bottle we opened...fruitier and less oaky. Nonetheless there was still more oak than I care for. The dominant flavor was blackberry but there was also a nice black cherry streak and some spice on the midpalate, with a fairly long finish. It isn't destined for greatness, but it's tasty.
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Tart / sour cherry on both the nose & palate, some vanilla and cassis hints too. Rather dry & tight - no different than all the previous QC Reds. These always give the impression that they are hiding something behind the curtains, but never deliver much more after initial pop & pour. A classic new world blend, appropriate for its QPR.
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Popped and poured for my wife to have while I was out, then came home and had a glass or so about 5 hours later. Even after all that time, very oaky. Had a lot of dark fruits, though, that were enjoyable. I think this could turn out to get a higher score in a year or more down the road.
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First QC I've tasted. Drank over three hours. Big wine, with dark fruit - blackberry, dark cherry, etc. Oak is pretty strong. Overall I thought this drank very well. A few tasters have suggested this needs substantial bottle aging, but I feel this is ready to drink now with a just a little air (and I really don't see it improving substantially with extended aging). Good QPR.
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Don't even think about drinking this wine now as it took 3 days to open and soften up enough to enjoy, or in other words, celler it for a few years. Got my allotment from QC and laid one down for 4 days and opened the cork into a decanter witha ground glass stopper and took an immediate sip and it was a little rough with notes of citrus and acid, but not horrible. After an hour I sampled 1 glass and the acid & citurs notes burned off to yield what was a lightly tannic sweet/tart flavor. Day 2, took another glass and it was a little better, but still not ready to be enjoyed. Day 3, took the final glass and the wine was finally approachable enough to be enjoyed. Notes of dark berry, leather, smooth acidity, and soft tannins on the pallet. I would give this a higher rating next year or two but we've only just begun LOL. If you want a 'drink now' wine, then you better pull a cork on a Caymus instead. BTW, my 2002 QC is drinking fine right now.
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Opened with 45 min air in bottle - not enough for this wine. Still youthful and tight on the palate. Dark ruby in the glass, and while constrained it displayed an enticing nose of black berries, oak and spice. On the palate - more dark berries, plum, oak, spice, very nice minerals, and hints of chocolate. moderately long smooth finish. The next bottle will receive at least 90 minutes in a decanter as the wine improved measurably over the course of 3 hours and what began as a 88+ score opened to a solid 90 points.
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Very much in the same style as its more expensive sibling, this wine immediately hits you on the nose with aggressive coconut oak aromas and lush full fruit. The palate is just as the nose promises - creamy vanilla framing dark cherry fruit flavors. For those who dislike big, oaky wines, don't bother trying this - it is the very definition of fruit bomb. For those who do like the style, the fruit does have an engaging, crowd-pleaser quality. A showy, obvious wine, but does bring some substance to support the flash. Once in a while, I am in the mood for a wine like this, and I can certainly see paying the tariff for this wine but I'm not a big enough fan of the style to pay the cost of the QC top wine. That said, fans of this style could get a lot of the same pleasure and profile out of, say, a bottle of Juan Gil for much less cost. 89-91
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Interesting but probably needed a 2 hour decant (did a splash decant for 45 minutes). Dark fruit and some chocolate notes on the nose. Palate was quite stacked but couldn't tease out much beyond dark, muddled fruit. Solid tannins and acidity for good balance. Revisit again in a year.
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A really excellent "second growth" blend than is better than many premium offerings. The nose is somewhat subdued probably due to its youth. Decanting brought it around a bit to show some black fruits and a noticeable mineral influence. The palate closely follows the nose with forward black fruit, leather and chocolate coming to the fore but backed up by a very nice spine of minerality and very good acidity. The finish was of medium length and the whole experience screamed of quality. Quality fruit and quality wine making. Excellent wine.
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This bottle is really tight. Recommend a two hour decant. There's a lot going on here, multilayered goodness. Going to wait at least another year for the next bottle
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Smells of chocolate mint and spicy red berries. A brooding darkness prevails as this wine unravels. Full body with crunchy tannins provide the perfect vehicle for this layered wine. Cherry, plum, cocoa, coffee bean, raspberry, and wintergreen (I may be crazy) mingle and marry. A saturated wine with excellent complex value. The finish lingers for minutes. This will evolve with time spent but drinking fine now.
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Almost opaque crimson color. Nose is very Old World with pencil, flower and a bit of barnyard at first. A smooth attack with hints of deep red fruit, but right after that there is a big oaky tannic finish that seems closed up. So, I am going to wait on the next one. Still, great value -- something you might pay 4-5 times more for if it said "Oakville" on the label.
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Opened but not decanted for 2 hours before drinking. Excellent if evidently a young wine. Still quite tight, rough silky tannins are prominent through the body of a nicely-balanced fruit-forward wine. Blueberry and oak on the nose, medium-heavy in weight, tannins and oak as mentioned, a very slight sourness. This will grow up to become a memorable wine, espeically at its price-point.
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Excellent, and still very young. Needed about 3-4 hours of decanting to hit its sweet spot. Lots of dark and blue fruit - blueberry, blackberry, cassis, and blackcurrant. Silky tannins. Medium-long finish. Dark, dark purple color.
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Prototypical Quilceda creak red wine. Big and bold, with nice nose. Body is a bit rambunctious, I would let it age a few years before opening the next one. Lots to like, but lacking a bit of refinement.
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Dark fruit, a hint of licorice, and lots of alcohol on the nose. A blast of dark fruit and toasty oak with plenty of alcoholic heat on the palate. I expected more, but the finish is long and enjoyable.
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A friend and I tasted this at the 3/20/11 release party. It had a very expressive and intriguing bouquet of blueberry, cassis, burnt toast, black cherry and spice. The palate was extremely approachable…very well integrated and balanced with flavors of blueberry, cassis, sour cherry, burnt toast and spice. The blueberry component was huge! This was extremely nice and I’m planning on buying some.
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tried at the winerie's release party. this version of the red wine seems to be a bit more integrated than last years and does not have the disjointedness of the 07. the nose showed less than the 07, but has plenty of dark fruit with the absence of the minerality i remember from 07. however the palate has a very nice core of fruit including plum, currant, and blackberry. to me the most noticable difference this year is the smoothness of the wine and corresponding lack of heat. this may be more of a crowd pleaser than earlier vintages, but i'm not sure if it will develope as well. still a great qpr i will be buying, and still showed a bit better than the flagship cab today as did the 07 imo. not to say that the cv cab isn't the better wine...
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2/27/2024 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 93 Points
Quilceda Creek's 2008 Columbia Valley Red Wine is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. Still a youthful deep ruby/red in color, it remains packed with dark bramble fruits, fig, anise, baking spices, bark, savory herbs and loamy earth. Full-bodied, fresh and with well-tamed alcohol (despite being listed as 15.2%), its oak and tannins have now beautifully integrated. The flavors build on the mid-palate and the finish is impressively long. This wine has evolved into something quite special. Decanted off of its sediment and sampled over a five-hour period from a bottle that had been purchased upon release and cellared in pristine fashion, this showed best after the first two hours in carafe. Be sure to serve at 60-65°F to ensure that the alcohol lurks quietly. Comparably cellared bottles will last longer than previously projected when last tasted 7/4/2015. Drink now-2030.
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9/22/2023 - Rhone Rick Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking very well. Same consistent profile.
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11/7/2021 - DaneM Likes this wine:
Finally in a good place. Been drinking one bottle per year since release, waiting for the tannic edge to dissipate. Big fruit profile, oak has faded, really softened up with age.
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3/5/2021 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:
Not sure of the QPR being great but this wine was smooth as silk and disappeared fast.
Decanted for 2 hours prior to drinking.
No hint of the 15.2% ABV. Nicely integrated.
Everything was in it's place and the wine was well made.
I will say there wasn't alot of complexity. It was a very silky smooth, one note wonder. The one note was a darn good note though.
Would buy again.
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1/20/2021 - no leashes wrote: 91 Points
Really delicious, drinking beautifully, smooth and velvety with long finish. Unfortunately last bottle of the 2008, can't wait to try to Cab.
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12/6/2020 - akpace wrote: 93 Points
Complete wine, great nose, peppery and spice some berry and toast
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11/12/2020 - gbbwino wrote: 91 Points
Purchased direct from winery. Decanted & poured back into bottle after 15 minutes. Heat on the nose reflecting alcohol from the warmer vintage. Palate of sweet fruit with fully resolved & smooth tannins. The oak that normally is off putting with this wine in its youth is fully integrated. Good balance despite a more brooding profile. Nice 2nd label by QC!
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9/7/2020 - Rhone Rick Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking well per prior note....
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3/23/2020 - BobbaWA Likes this wine: 90 Points
Velvety, plums. That's it. Velvety plums. Oh, and earthy. Kind of Middle Earthy. More dwarvish than elf-like.
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1/26/2020 - Rhone Rick Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking beautifully. Others describe the profile well, just seems to be fuller.. more leather and graphite than light red fruit and light wood.
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1/19/2020 - BobbaWA Likes this wine: 90 Points
Leather, flint, guts, and love.
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12/17/2019 - BobbaWA Likes this wine: 93 Points
Blackberry bramble, blueberry, lead pencil. Round and jammy, some stony tannins. I'd do that again.
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11/22/2019 - jfkwines wrote: 89 Points
Better than the June bottle. Still has a strong backbone with a hint of tannin, leather but still nice fruit like berries and plums. Drink now I think
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11/1/2019 - Rhone Rick Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not as bright and rich as the 07 but still a spark of the greatness of the first label. Leather and tobacco and faded red fruit. Will be great with burgers. Good value for $35!
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8/19/2019 - noni15 Likes this wine: 92 Points
No formal notes. However, I enjoyed the wine more towards the end of the bottle. Almost no sediment. Garnet Color. Long Finish. The alcohol level a little bit too high.
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8/6/2019 - williamswhine wrote: 91 Points
Dark inky hue. Dark fruit, pencil lead, blackberry nose. Fruit forward, dark cherry, cassis, stone, dark fruits, slightly prune/raisin. Like others, believe this bottle is peaking or past peak. Drink up.
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7/10/2019 - halgeo wrote: 88 Points
Pnp. Bright and peppery during first hour, then faded into perfume, berry, maybe touch sweet.
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6/28/2019 - jfkwines wrote: 89 Points
Gave this a long ( 2hrs) decant in a big flat bottomed decanter. The wine was paired with a rib eye and did a fine job. Not much fruit, but nice leather, tobacco and slight pepper. Not robust or youthful however, and I therefore fear this wine might be approaching its end.
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2/19/2019 - jfkwines wrote:
Pop and poured.. Definetly needs air. Not at the finish line yet. I will post a further notes after drinking one properly decanted
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12/7/2018 - slywka7 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted and drank. Aromas of blackberry, currant, mint, black cherry and touch of iron. Flavors of currant, blackberry, iron, mint and black cherry. Ends with blackberry and iron infused finish of 25 seconds. Tad tight and needs air. Still drinkinging young.
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9/15/2018 - johnnyo wrote: 92 Points
I agree with WAWINEFAN!
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9/14/2018 - WAWINEFAN wrote: 92 Points
Delicious- very smooth and well rounded.
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9/4/2018 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:
Big, rich and still on the youthful side. Oak is just starting to integrate. There is a liquor like consistency to the finish that probably has something to do with the 15.2% abv. No burn though, very smooth. Good depth of flavor and length o finish.
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9/3/2018 - johnnyo wrote: 91 Points
Still quite youthful. Full bodied with rich black fruit and firm tannins. Very nice mouth feel and finish.
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8/23/2018 - SeaSmoke wrote: 92 Points
Dark fruits, toasted oak and tobacco on the nose and palate. Finish is medium. This wine is drinking beautifully now.
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8/15/2018 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 94 Points
My last bottle of this wine and it was really singing. Pop and pour and drank with spaghetti. Big nose and palate with dark fruits, licorice, and smoke. Tannin integrated. This is at peak. What a great value. Q creek is top drawer across the board.
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7/13/2018 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 92 Points
Just keeps getting better and better, big black cherry with subtle oak, long finish, round and full bodied. Best wine for the price bar none.
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7/7/2018 - nittanyjack wrote:
A pleasant enough drink, but not very interesting. I was hoping for a little more nuance given the age. Sandwiched between and '01 Chateau Peby Faugeres and a Hobbs Crossbarn. I appreciated more when I took a sip of the Crossbarn.
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5/20/2018 - winepaw Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still youthful with bright "Bordeaux like" fruit and ample structure for further evolution in the bottle. Try again 2010.
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4/29/2018 - Deryl Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was spectacular. I think it's peaked and can all be drunk now or over the next year.
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4/24/2018 - akpace wrote: 92 Points
Aged well, smells of earth and spice, red fruits initially finishing peppery
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4/16/2018 - RPerro Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped and poured through an elk head aerator. Sweet spot! Washington Bordeaux-style wine at 10 years old. Nose of barrel spices, black currant fruit, and tobacco. Flavors of black cherry, touch of oak and a finish of french vanilla bean. This has aged extremely well. Tannins are still evident, acid is lively, body is full. Drink now - 2023.
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3/24/2018 - WineJunkieWest Likes this wine: 89 Points
This wine was number two out of three served at a dinner party. Lighter, a little stiffer, and not as round or robust than the third wine of the evening. It was very nice but maybe on the waning side of its drinking window.
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3/4/2018 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 92 Points
Well balanced and in a very good place, though appearing to be in the latter half of its peak window. No detailed notes as this was one of several bottles, but very good.
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3/3/2018 - no leashes wrote: 91 Points
drinking beautifully
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11/10/2017 - D3S Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good wine, minerals, forest floor, black currant as well as dark blue fruit on nose and palate with nice balance and finish. Improved with time and food. The wine is drinking well and I suspect it nearing its peak or slightly past. I would drink in the next 2-4 years.
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10/2/2017 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 91 Points
Followed over two days, hooked up the nitrogen. Typical QC fruit and berry flavors, slightly tart. Fruit is definitely dominant with structure fading and indicating this wine is in the back nine of it’s life. Still an outstanding easy drinker, That’s in the last 1 to 2 years of its ideal window.
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9/28/2017 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pop and poor, hooked up to nitrogen tank. Knows of muted blue and dark fruit, faint wood. Although a bit watery - as opposed to dance or chewy – this wine has good balance with full , Dark fruit flavors and enough tannins to provide death and layering that add some weight and length to the finish. Don't believe this will get much better but is a great easy drinker today
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7/3/2017 - no leashes wrote: 90 Points
Rich, mouth filling dark fruit and glycerin, smooth and delicious.
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6/19/2017 - rojoloco wrote: 91 Points
I pumped off half of a bottle 8 days ago before going out of town and decided to try it tonight just for the heck of it. I can't believe it but it was still good. It had clearly faded a little but after 8 days in the fridge?? Pretty impressive. These wines are always good and this is the least expensive of the lineup.
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5/29/2017 - Winefeld wrote: 92 Points
One hour decant. Cherry, cassis, red liquorice, balsam, cedar, nutmeg, clove, leather, mint, chocolate. Fully integrated tannins and sturdy backbone. Very balanced, never seemed overly extracted or too boozy (even tipping near 16%). My first experience with Quelcida Creek and I am impressed.
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3/11/2017 - rojoloco Likes this wine: 91 Points
The fruit is starting to go. Beautiful two years ago but now less fruit and more tannin. I would say drink up. Still a great deal on QC wines. Both the 2006 and 2008 Red Wine were better two years ago.
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1/20/2017 - jfkwines wrote:
Not as good as the last bottle a few weeks back.
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1/12/2017 - rojoloco Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not as good as my last bottle. Fine but not as much depth nor as delicious as my previous bottle.
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12/16/2016 - kgh wrote: 90 Points
This is approachable and drinking very well right now.
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11/29/2016 - Aravind Asok wrote:
I'm always somewhat concerned these QC wines will not actually age gracefully because of all the alcohol. Cork broke in half when I pulled it. Decanted. While this is my final bottle of the 2008, it was in an excellent place. Much more black-fruited and perfumed on the nose (my wife said it reminded her of a Comme des Garcons Kyoto fragrance, which is a bit musky). Good acidity on the palate with more black fruit and some damp earth/truffle flavors. Still some tannin on the finish. This is in an excellent place.
Day 2: After a night on the counter (unrefrigerated), this shows lots of oxidation. It's still drinkable, but...
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10/16/2016 - mokadamn wrote: 92 Points
This never disappoints. Huge value!!
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10/11/2016 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 92 Points
Like everything Quilceda produces. Excellent! And quite a nice QPR.
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9/23/2016 - depdoc wrote: 92 Points
It's ready! This wine is so good for its price point.
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9/16/2016 - ralstenm Likes this wine: 91 Points
Big tannins, nice fruit with intensity. Lots of alcohol. First.experience with Quilceda. Big wine, great drink!
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9/4/2016 - mokadamn wrote: 92 Points
This wine never disappoints. Quite a value at the purchase price! Has enough up front fruit that last through its long legs. Lots of time still in the bottle.
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9/4/2016 - lirvingham wrote: 92 Points
Wine of the nite! Tasting great now.
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9/3/2016 - jeffal66 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow, this is very good. It brings intensity, focused and bright fruit, acidity, length and complexity. Menthol, earth, leather, blueberry, cherry, subtle vanilla. A little age has heightened the experience, and I bet another 1-2 years will serve this wine very well. 15.2% alcohol so I wouldn't wait too long.
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7/20/2016 - rojoloco Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful wine. Tastes like cabernet candy though the sweetness fades a few minutes in and then it is just delicious. A stunner for the price.
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5/16/2016 - SeaSmoke wrote: 92 Points
Aroma of dark fruits, toasted oak and tobacco. Palate is dark fruit, tobacco and tar flavors shortly after. Finish is medium. This wine is drinking very well and should continue for several more years.
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5/6/2016 - Troon wrote: 92 Points
Drank last bottle. Still an excellent wine. This was a pop and pour, which presented no issues. There is still nice red fruit on the palate. I didn't really catch any signs of an aged red, so I think this is what you are going to get. I'd say it's got at least another 2 years in the tank if you are storing bottles.
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4/17/2016 - GalvezGuy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Last bottle of this and this was the best one. Nose of plum, mocha, sour cherry, with hints of tobacco. On the palate, rich with red plum, black cherry, and hints of spicy oak. Nice long finish, still has a bit of grip and the acidity is decent. Drink over the next few years.
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4/4/2016 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Potentially past its prime/corked. Has been cellared at 57, bought from winery. Fruit was faded, a bit acidic, but not in an old world pleasant way. Not a bad wine but other vintages much more appealing.
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3/29/2016 - no leashes wrote: 91 Points
What a delicious bottle of wine. Rich, smooth mouth filling, with plum, ripe cherry and mineral flavors.
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2/11/2016 - skinut Likes this wine: 91 Points
Abundance of oak overshadowed everything else. Nice fruit, complex and long on the palate, but needs alot of air to blow off the oak. I get that it is the QC style, but I think it would be much more approachable with a lighter touch on the new barrels. Glad I still have two bottles to allow for additional aging. Nevertheless, well liked at the table with folks who had no familiarity with QC.
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1/11/2016 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped several bottles at an event. Drinking very well but was best with 30+ mins in the decanter. Slight bottle variation had one bottle notably tighter and hevier than the others, but in retrospect I failed to confirm that they hadn't substituted a different vintage. Still has several years of life, no rush.
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12/19/2015 - lirvingham wrote: 92 Points
Wow!!
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11/26/2015 - miker02 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pop 'n poured with cheese before Thanksgiving dinner. Dark red. Drinking very well now, bright fruit. Excellent.
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11/9/2015 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
WIML91
Tasted non blind.
Purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of thistle, black berries, roses and raspberries. Flavors of black berries, black cherries and raspberries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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11/6/2015 - SeaSmoke wrote: 92 Points
Similae notes to March 2015. Drinking so well currently.
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11/6/2015 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank over two nights. Probably an 89 on night one and a 92 on night two. Initially didn't seem to be that integrated or interesting. Jumbled red and blue fruit. Morphed into a full bodied black and blue back of the tongue wine with a 20-30 second finish. Really good for a "pounder."
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10/28/2015 - kgh wrote: 89 Points
Nice depth and richness of fruit, moderate tannins but a pleasure to drink. This is a well-structured wine, just lacks complexity to score higher.
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10/19/2015 - GalvezGuy Likes this wine:
Popped and poured. This bottle seemed to be in awkward spot. It lacked the exuberant fruit of its youth but has not yet taken on the complexities of age. Nose of plum, black cherry, rust, hints of pie cherry. On the palate, nice plum and cherry flavors with a mineral streak. Nice balanced finish with just a little bit of heat but not enough to distract. I will probably hold the rest of these another couple of years.
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10/9/2015 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Aromas of blackberry, iron, leather and cherry. Flavors of iron, mineral, pepper and currant. This has a lot going on although slightly less impressive than the last time I had it. Did not decant it so that may be the reason.
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9/6/2015 - pdemaio wrote: 93 Points
Lovely second wine, better than most firsts. Powerful WA fruit is easy to love, and the balance against the tannins and acidity make this a great choice with steak or lamb. Big enough to drink on it's own, but not a monster.
PDQ93
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8/26/2015 - fitchbuck Likes this wine: 92 Points
Oak, blueberry, chocolate. Such a damned big drinker for being a label's 'Red Wine' entry. No one else could get away with it but QC. If only the wood & alcohol could be dialed back ... this could be a perennial favorite & a QPR champion. Compelling as always ... but bombastic.
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8/25/2015 - WStucker wrote: 92 Points
Delicious well rounded cab with no, I repeat, no bricking around the edges. Balanced black fruit, in a maturity phase if not a little young. Last bottle, its a shame. But just goes to show that even with this QPR, give QC a few years in the cellar to really shine
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8/2/2015 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Aromas of blackberry, currant, roasted meat and rose petal. Starting to show a few mature notes of dried cherry but let two of plum, kirsch liquor and blackberry. Tannins are very smooth and the finish went on for 20 seconds. One of the best showings of this wine I can remember.
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7/4/2015 - jeffal66 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decent intensity here, layered and semi-rich. Don't think it merits the $50 price tag but a fairly opulent, moderately complex Wash. red. Yeah, not overly impressed.
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7/4/2015 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 93 Points
There is no denying that Quilceda Creek is much more than a regional superstar when it comes to producing fine Cabernet-based wine. The Columbia Valley Red Wine is their "entry level" offering. The 2008 iteration is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. Opaque ruby and packed with black fruit, it adds nuances of anise, loamy earth, pickling spice and dried herbs. There is significant structure here, with fresh acidity and substantial firm tannins. The wine's listed alcohol is 15.2% but remains a non-factor as long as it is served at an appropriate temperature of approximately 60-65° F. Solid in the middle and impressively long on the finish, this bruiser is still a baby. While I wouldn't hesitate to open a bottle now, I suspect that it will see some improvement with patient cellaring. I have accordingly revised my drinking window for this wine. Drink now-2025.
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6/7/2015 - brettlaurvick wrote: 92 Points
Drinking very nicely right now. Well balanced and smooth finish
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5/15/2015 - SoCal wrote:
For me this wine is in a very disjointed place right now. I suggest hold.
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4/4/2015 - mclanew wrote: 90 Points
Nice medium bodied cab. good concentration and flavors of black fruit, tobacco leaf, and coffee. Drink in the next few years.
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3/27/2015 - Stevethebeav Likes this wine: 92 Points
My last bottle of '08. Just popped and poured which was a mistake. This wine still needs to breath for a bit.
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3/23/2015 - SeaSmoke wrote: 92 Points
Aroma of dark fruits, toasted oak and tobacco. Palate is dark fruit, tobacco and tar flavors shortly after. Finish is medium. This wine is drinking very well and should continue for several more years.
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3/12/2015 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 93 Points
Best wine at this price point - rich, complex, great finish
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2/7/2015 - lirvingham Likes this wine: 92 Points
We loved this. QPR through the roof. Tasting really well right now but has millions of years.
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1/24/2015 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 92 Points
Earthy on the nose, deep black cerry flavor, solid oak, medium finish
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1/18/2015 - skifree wrote: 92 Points
Drank most of it to drown my sorrows while watching Green Bay beat Seattle for three quarters. Consistent with my previous note, with black fruits, cassis, spice, smooth tannins. Noticed a kirsch note at the end this time.
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12/29/2014 - Stevethebeav wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with earlier rating. The nose of this wine is just so incredible. Noticed strong tannins this time more than last. Very well connected. One long, enjoyable mouthful. 92+++
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11/19/2014 - Stevethebeav Likes this wine: 92 Points
Hugely fragrant, spicy nose. nice silky texture. Full mouth, long experience with cocoa and dark berries. As with all QC wine...great, long finish.
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9/11/2014 - buckeye76 wrote: 92 Points
BLACK CURRANTS, BLACKBERRIES, SPICE, AND A TOUCH OF EARTHINESS IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
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9/10/2014 - skifree wrote: 92 Points
Good classic WA structure to this wine, lots of spice, blackberry, and tobacco. This is just so good for a second wine.
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9/3/2014 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rich, smooth, and lucious.
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9/1/2014 - W2WineGuy Likes this wine: 91 Points
multi-hour decant through venturi, really much better with the time and air. Well integrated, big, but smoothed out vs previous bottles. Finding it's own, but plenty of life left. Amazing wine for $35.
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8/25/2014 - ravbik wrote: 93 Points
Rich well balanced red. Great value. Somewhat tannic . Dark red fruits.
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8/24/2014 - GoBlue2002 Likes this wine: 92 Points
My first Quilceda Creek, and I am impressed. This 81% cab blend manages to pull off the feat of being both full bodied with a firm structure yet silky smooth. Ripe fruit, yet not hot while still at 15.2% ABV.
PnP into the decanter and I could smell the aromas from 2 feet away, yet over time they mellowed and faded. This is one of the few wines where I can say that I definitely enjoyed the flavor & structure of the wine far more than the aromas. Well balanced, with a lasting finish.
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8/23/2014 - Snowryeder Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking well. Needs 1 hour+ decanting.
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7/25/2014 - kwn70 wrote: 82 Points
Young and disjointed. Possibly flawed/ defective. First night revealed some nice smoke on the nose, but still a little hot. Tannins a little rough too. All this after a couple hours of decanting. Should have started the decant at lunch! Questioning the great "value" folks refer to with this red blend.
Night 3 it was worse. Thought some time after decanting would help mellow things out. Nope. Not corked, but pretty dang bad.
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7/19/2014 - MemorialWineFan wrote: 90 Points
This bottle still has several years left. Was surprised that it came in at 15.2%. Dark fruit with a hint of tobacco. Recommend decanting for an hour minimum before drinking.
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5/30/2014 - Jax Likes this wine: 92 Points
exceptional wine. decanted for about an hour before serving.
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5/24/2014 - gesusser Likes this wine: 92 Points
2 hour decant allowed this WA red blend to open up..excellent accompaniment with veal Parm and veal marasla
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5/13/2014 - Wine Sparty wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured with grilled pork chops. Aroma has dark fruits, toasted oak and tobacco. Taste is nice dark fruit of blackberry right off the bat and it brings the tobacco and tar flavors shortly after on the palate. This is doing really well, and seems to have the legs to go on for quite awhile.
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4/26/2014 - Justinwine wrote: 89 Points
Evolving.
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4/19/2014 - typ993 Likes this wine:
Great wine for the price. Still a little raw, but excellent fruit.
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4/19/2014 - Brsed wrote: 91 Points
In a nice place. Deep intense dark cherries with leather but the fruit is very precise.
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3/28/2014 - davidandrose wrote:
Taken by the earthquake gods
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3/25/2014 - slywka7 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted the wine for 5 hours prior to drinking. Got a big nose when I decanted this but nose closed down a bit while drinking. Nevertheless, the wine is drinking nice with flavors of blackberry, cherry, leather and a touch of plum. Ends with a nice finish. Still one of the best deals around.
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3/23/2014 - ewsds wrote: 91 Points
This vintage has better acidity/balance than the generally warmer 05, 07 and 09 vintages, and overall is a more complete wine than the other wines mentioned. It's a classic Cabernet with dark fruits, good structure and balance. A nice wine that will reward most tasters over the next few years. It's probably not a long-term keeper, but a nice wine for now and a few years into the future. Excellent value for a quality Cabernet.
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3/11/2014 - Tom Myers Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking very well now and likely to improve in the next 5+ years
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2/27/2014 - W2WineGuy Likes this wine: 91 Points
nice wine, needs time, time, time to tame and integrate. Deep, dark, acidic, medium/long finish, will be better over time
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2/26/2014 - fitchbuck wrote: 90 Points
Such a polarizing blend, the QC Red is. The heritage says these should be great - but they always come out tight and void of fruit character - no matter the age. This one showed better than previous vintages at such an "early" stage, but I still cannot say I've ever loved any of these bottles from the last decade. There are certainly more interesting, if not more affordable, WA wines out there for $36 and 90 pts.
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2/23/2014 - hackey37 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark garnet core and opaque with dense color. The smells are anise, bright cherry, currant, peppery spice, bell pepper, and earthy aromas. The tastes are also bright cherry, currant, licorice, spices, and dry leaves. The tannins are nice and powder like and the finish is nice and long.
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2/8/2014 - lirvingham Likes this wine: 92 Points
I don't recommend drinking this wine next to the cab, but, on its own, it's a gem. Decanted for 3+ hours.
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1/19/2014 - leadpencil wrote: 93 Points
Cherry, bakers chocolate, eucalyptus
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1/18/2014 - W2WineGuy Likes this wine: 90 Points
very nice wine, poured through venture into decanter, sat for about 45 minutes. deep and dark, still plenty of acid, and tannins, that can and will balance out of over more time. Good wine, solid medium finish
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1/1/2014 - phantphant wrote: 89 Points
Delicious and holding up well!
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12/30/2013 - WineGeneral wrote: 92 Points
Does this wine hold a candle to Quilceda Creek's flagship cabs? No. But it is a rock solid wine for about $100.00 less than the flagships of the line. Popped and poured, and felt a brief decant would have been beneficial.
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12/21/2013 - Justinwine wrote: 92 Points
Hit all the right notes. Have drank this wine lots of times and this was its best showing.
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12/14/2013 - Arch57 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Well this was much better than a bottle I had in 2012 and now makes me wish I had bought more!
What a difference 18 months in the bottle make. This was more developed without any harsh edges. Fruit, tobacco, graphite and a nice long finish.
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12/6/2013 - phantphant Likes this wine: 92 Points
OH YEAH...that's EARTH all right!
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11/29/2013 - West Coast Wine Likes this wine: 88 Points
Big nose, alcohol and abundant black fruit! Full body with little tannins as wine is big and bold, almost hints of Syrah like quality. A nice wne with food and could stand up to most meat and pasta dishes. Don't see much more age benefiting this wine but still a great value.
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11/21/2013 - Justinwine wrote: 89 Points
Good tasting wide.
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11/12/2013 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened up nicely, full bodied, great with Italian food
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10/29/2013 - rhialto wrote: 93 Points
Inky in color, full nose with a bit of a chemical finish. Taste of blackberry and raisins. Medium body, smooth tannins. A satisfying, balanced, complex wine. Very, very nice!
Superb for the price.
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10/27/2013 - Brsed wrote: 92 Points
Blackberries and other black fruits. Good grip and great precision. Should age well.
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10/25/2013 - gesusser wrote: 93 Points
one hour deacnt allowed this smooth red blend to open; well balanced w/ a very nice finish
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10/25/2013 - Dmax808 wrote: 92 Points
Potentially damaged. Still great.
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10/18/2013 - phantphant wrote: 92 Points
YES..this is terrific.
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10/5/2013 - csklsc wrote: 89 Points
Little hot and tannic for my taste on first night. Opened up a little on day 2 with dark fruits. Can't get past the heat.
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8/16/2013 - goodbertgrapes wrote: 92 Points
Better on day two. Initial opening like mom's Kool menthols. With time, softened out and developed tertiary flavors and greater interest. Very good.
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8/5/2013 - DaddyNeedsPow Likes this wine: 93 Points
A pleasure to drink. Decanted 5 hours. Started off brash and strong and developed wonderfully. I was especially taken with the Left Bank minerals...pencil lead leading the way...that made an appearance on the front end of each taste. The fruit is well-balanced and in a great place after the decant. Overall dark, but always nicely focused, with some playful hints of redder berries. For the low $60s this indeed seems like a value!
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7/4/2013 - Cadby Likes this wine: 92 Points
2008 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Red Wine ++++ $35
Copious spice box, currant. Licoriceish, generous, needs overnight.
http://8wordsonwine.blogspot.com/2013/07/2008-quilceda-creek-columbia-valley-red.html
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6/23/2013 - BBinSC wrote: 93 Points
92-93: have to agree with the consensus on this wine: it's better than the flagship, better balance, less heat, less stewed fruit. This wine has more hints of Bordeaux, elegance, and a lasting finish. I have not been a fan of this winery in the past, but this wine seems to show there is something to their hype.
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6/18/2013 - joefouche wrote: 92 Points
Just wanted to note that this wine is showing much better than before, with more smoothness and less overall heat. I sort of wish I had held on to more of it.
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6/11/2013 - ravbik wrote: 91 Points
Still going strong. Wonderful blend. Similar to before.
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5/12/2013 - ewsds wrote: 90 Points
I actually like this vintage of Quilceda's second wine better than those from the warmer and more highly-regarded vintages such as '05, '07, '09. The warmer vintages were almost syrupy, while this vintage has better acidity/balance, and overall is a more complete wine. It's a classic Cabernet with dark fruits, good structure and balance. A nice wine that will reward most tasters over the next few years. It's probably not a long-term keeping, but a nice wine for new and a few years into the future.
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4/27/2013 - phantphant wrote: 92 Points
Awesome Washington red wine. LOVEEEELY.
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4/15/2013 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 93 Points
If this wine is served at the appropriate temperature (60-65 degrees Fahrenheit) it will dazzle the taster. It is a deep-to-opaque ruby blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. The nose shows intense aromas of cassis, blackberries, ganache, pickling spice and dry earth. It follows with a full-bodied, fresh palate characterized by similar flavors as for the nose. The generous tannins are fine-grained and the alcohol (listed as 15.2%) remains in check within the aforementioned temperature window. Solid in the middle, it concludes in smooth, lengthy fashion. You will never confuse this "Bordeaux blend" with Bordeaux, but you will definitely like it every bit as much as a quality left-bank offering from a good vintage! Drink now-2020.
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4/14/2013 - GalvezGuy Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice with red plum, bright cherry, mocha, and black fruits. On the palate very rich and full-bodied with black and red fruits. A bit walled off by tannins still, but shows promise. Nice balanced finish.
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3/31/2013 - raggedy1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good, solid level of bright fruits. Felt it lacked complexity, but for the price it's a fair buy. I don't expect this to improve with age.
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3/30/2013 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 90 Points
Consistent with prior notes although this wine did not pop for me the same as last time, still a very nice mix of dark berry and plum with sweet spice, just not as vibrant.
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3/9/2013 - gesusser wrote: 92 Points
One hour decant allowed this blend to begin to open;still young but approachable= no need to rush to pop another; great qpr @ $36/btl
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3/4/2013 - brianngibson wrote: 92 Points
Cassis and tobacco. Velvety. A hint of eucalyptus. Finishing with vanilla.
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2/22/2013 - phantphant Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely subtle palate-pleasing taste and finish. Just the right amount of velvet in this beauty.
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2/17/2013 - bonedoc wrote: 90 Points
Limited notes, spicy, hot, slightly over the top style - best paired w intense food like charred steak.
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2/9/2013 - wineberg Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted but then poured immediately...followed over a couple days though.
Blackberry, plum, cassis, eucalyptus, cedar, vanilla. The eucalyptus disappears fairly quickly, but I get a slightly herbacious note still.
Pretty good bottle, still going strong on Day 2, and definitely smoothed out in that time. Not sure I'd say it improved, but it's still enjoyable.
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2/5/2013 - amateurwino wrote: 87 Points
Coffee and vanilla oak frame the fairly powerful fruit on this wine. A touch of graphite and charcoal bitterness show on the palate as well. I was hoping this would improve with age but this feels even more disjointed this time. I suppose this could come together in maturity but I wouldn't bet on it. 87-88
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2/3/2013 - Don and Pam Likes this wine: 94 Points
let the "on board the ship" sommelier give this a taste. very impressive and lot's of time to improve. decanted for one hour.
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1/19/2013 - W2WineGuy Likes this wine: 90 Points
decanted only about 30 minutes as we brought to a party. Needs more time, lots more time as it was barely opening up by time it was finished. Years in bottle or hours in decanter needed
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1/15/2013 - EJKIII wrote: 89 Points
austere and sharp. perhaps still young, but i expected more of this wine, given it's pedigree
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12/31/2012 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice...deep berry and plum flavors, balanced by some earthy tones and an overlay of sweet spice. Good length and body.
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12/15/2012 - ravbik wrote: 90 Points
Medium body, cherries, cocoa, leather, oak, medium tannins, not bad for everyday wine.
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12/9/2012 - crazedmountainbiker Likes this wine: 92 Points
really needs some time to open, several hours?
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11/17/2012 - EJKIII wrote: 90 Points
A far cry from it's pricey sibling. Doesn't convey the smoothness of the QC Cabernet, or of most other Washington cab-based offerings. Interesting experiment for us, but not as good as we had hoped for.
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11/2/2012 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 90 Points
Extremely young and tanic. Seemed a bit flat and watery. Open up a bit to ripe cherry, oak, and red licorice. Very dry mouthfeel Good but forgettable.
See more detail at
http://maximumsatisfaction.tumblr.com/post/34872641416
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10/18/2012 - sirswami wrote: 91 Points
First impressions dominated by an inviting nose and quality complexion...started off tight but opened up nicely to feature a bouquet of red and darker fruit flavors. A well constructed red blend that is certainly worthy of praise...
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10/14/2012 - ronscottf Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice bottle of wine once it opened up. Needed about 6 hours of breathing, but stood out amongst others served that were served. Wonderful mouth feel and big bold fruit. Could easily age longer, but drinking nicely now with breathing.
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9/21/2012 - russdan60 wrote: 92 Points
Progressively better as the evening of Jazz at the Bistro in St. Louis went on. Better than I anticipated.
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9/18/2012 - ntrubee wrote: 90 Points
Good. Needs more time. Second day really opened
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9/16/2012 - vinoceros wrote: 92 Points
Drinking nicely right now. Didn't pay take great notes but decanting was needed to open it up. It sat for 45-60 min. It could age for maybe another 2-5 years pretty easily I'd say. Dark fruit, baking spice, tobacco/leather, oak but not overwhelming.
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9/15/2012 - sjkm Likes this wine:
Definitely needed an hour or so to open up. Not great to start, but give it time and then it's wonderful!
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9/11/2012 - winelover1986 wrote:
Popped and poured at 63F. Fruity, slightly jammy nose. Some spirit on it after a couple of hours. Palate is powerful with some alcohol and classic Cabernet blackberry fruit. Medium-high tannin. This feels like it will be better with a few years of age when it doesn't hit you over the head so hard.
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9/9/2012 - brianngibson wrote: 92 Points
This needs a couple hours being open to hit its stride. I am sure it would be even better giving it a nice decant. At hour 2, nice cassis and tobacco. Licorice on the finish. A little herbal edge.
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8/31/2012 - Troon Likes this wine: 92 Points
Magic in a bottle for its price. This wine gets better with every bottle. Really shined after 3 hours. I am still a big fan.
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8/26/2012 - Pinot Evil wrote: 93 Points
Lush floral and a hint of red licorice. A well constructed red blend drinks well now.
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8/18/2012 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is their entry level wine and a great value considering the flagship wine sells for $135 a bottle. I decanted this as soon as I got there and it sat in the decanter for about 2 hours before we poured it with steaks. This was definitely more open at this point than the 2007 I had last year. It had an interesting nose of smoked meat, vanilla, black cherry and spice. The palate revealed more of the same but ended with a nice long lingering finish. You get a little heat in there but not to the point where it is a detriment and it simmered down as the night went on.
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8/1/2012 - Bandonista wrote: 91 Points
More restrained, balanced, and less hot than older QC Red Wine vintages. I like it a lot.
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7/25/2012 - Brsed wrote: 93 Points
On vacation, so no formal notes. This is my first QC and i was all set not to like this but I thought it was great. Expressive nose. A very pure Cab profile with laser like intensity.
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7/22/2012 - Zinlady wrote: 93 Points
- Full body with a long finish - Had with steak and it was delicious. Nice thick body. Nice finish. Violets. Lovely.
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7/21/2012 - Arch57 wrote: 86 Points
Okay I am not an expert on QC wines having only consumed one 06 Galitzine and the 02 and 07 Reds while I wait for my big Cabs to age. However, I am not impressed with the style on the 07 and the 08, which we had last night. I did a pop 'n pour as we had my daughter and her friend pop in but the wine left me wanting more. It seemed to have this artificial vanilla smooth creaminess to it and I tend to like my wines rustic and earthy so for my palate it was not hitting the spot. I had a 2008 L'Ecole Cab at a restaurant the other night that I preferred. Maybe a decant or more cellar time is needed?
Decision time now as the Fall allocation email arrived in my inbox and should I pony up again. Again I have been holding the big guns to get some age on them but a bit worried that even they may not match my tastes. Ah, the challenges of wine collecting!
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7/19/2012 - Troon Likes this wine: 92 Points
You can call me biased toward QC if you want; I really don't care. This is quality wine. I would put the red up against a number of more expensive Napa Cabs, and I would like my chances. The best part is that there is still plenty of gas in the tank.
I decanted this for about 90 minutes. There is sweet red fruit on the nose. You could even say it smelled of red licorice. A good blend of sweet and tart fruit on the palate with a medium-long finish. I will open another bottle in a year.
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7/15/2012 - ClubTerry wrote: 93 Points
Great wine for the $$
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7/14/2012 - "H" wrote:
Drank on Alaskan cruise. Delicious.
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6/8/2012 - chimpanzee29 wrote: 92 Points
Consistent and delicious, always a treat. Nice glycerin mouthfeel, fruit and spice. Moderate tannins.
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5/11/2012 - sjkm Likes this wine:
Love it! Instantly a beautiful bottle and got better after an hour of decanting. Smooth and delicious!
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4/17/2012 - B-Love wrote: 92 Points
So easy to suck down.
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4/15/2012 - WineDominus Likes this wine: 86 Points
Didn't live up to my high expectation (of low 90s) based on its 100pt cab cousin. It has a great nose...berry, smoked meat. But it tasted tight and still very young. Even after decanting for hours and also trying again the next day, it never really opened up. Still a good wine though. Sweet, berry flavors, well balanced. But lack any complexity or finish. Can probably sit for another 2-3 years. Tons of potential.
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4/8/2012 - B-Love wrote: 92 Points
Getting better
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4/6/2012 - DrewWyman Likes this wine: 91 Points
With prime NY strip. 1hr decant. Still very young, nose closed with some dark fruit. Lots of wood/oak on the palate, dark fruits but somewhat restrained, hope this will integrate and open up in a few years.
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3/18/2012 - brianngibson wrote:
Day 2 - Leftovers after tasting and dinner with friends. Coming down with a slight cold, and palate is probably slightly impacted, so no score tonight. Oak, cherries, licorice and leather. The fruit is pretty subdued, but that might be my off palate.
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3/5/2012 - stormygirl wrote: 90 Points
still young but a really pretty wine with depth of flavor. dark fruit and a hint of leather.
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2/29/2012 - tonysmith72 wrote: 88 Points
This was a little cloudy when I poured it. Flavor was good but not great. Very tight and I hope it opens up in a few hours.
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2/15/2012 - B-Love wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured off half a glass and let sit for 20 minutes. Bouquet had a good whiff of alcohol and wood that blew off after a little bit. Not much else. Dark purple all the way to the rim. Dark fruit on attack with firm tannins and a tad of alcohol on the back end. Not bad, but needs a year or so to settle down. Was a decent pairing with mesquite smoked Waygu brisket.
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2/6/2012 - joefouche wrote: 91 Points
OK, so I didn't wait that long. Deep color, nearly black. Nose is mostly wood and herbs this time. Attack is smooth and silky with the tannins just right. Still a little closed up, and a bit hot on the [long] finish. Still think it's a great buy.
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2/3/2012 - dionysis wrote: 92 Points
Such a good value -- the best cab-based blend under $40 IMO.
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1/29/2012 - GalvezGuy wrote: 91 Points
Decanted one hour. Really showing more Merlot on the nose with plum, mocha, black cherry, vanilla, and spice. On the palate, blackberry, sour cherry, spice, cedar. Most of the fruit is walled off by oak and tannins, but you get a sense on the balanced finish that there will be some goodness in the future. 91 for now, might be some upside if the oak integrates well.
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1/15/2012 - soyhead wrote: 92 Points
pop&pour
nose - cassis, blackberry, sweet&smoky oak
mouth - big dark fruits with a rich midpalate, sweet oak noted though not overdone, and a long tannic finish. Has a round mouthfeel which is all the more impressive considering it's a baby. This is a most impressive showing for their 2nd wine, and beats the pants off plenty of similary priced napa cabs. Though i usually dismiss th hype, I am inclined to agree with the winery that this wine 'represents an exceptional value'.
81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec
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1/14/2012 - mreinitz wrote: 91 Points
We decanted this for two hours and it was better than the first bottle we opened...fruitier and less oaky. Nonetheless there was still more oak than I care for. The dominant flavor was blackberry but there was also a nice black cherry streak and some spice on the midpalate, with a fairly long finish. It isn't destined for greatness, but it's tasty.
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1/10/2012 - fitchbuck wrote: 91 Points
Tart / sour cherry on both the nose & palate, some vanilla and cassis hints too. Rather dry & tight - no different than all the previous QC Reds. These always give the impression that they are hiding something behind the curtains, but never deliver much more after initial pop & pour. A classic new world blend, appropriate for its QPR.
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1/10/2012 - Wine Sparty wrote: 88 Points
Popped and poured for my wife to have while I was out, then came home and had a glass or so about 5 hours later. Even after all that time, very oaky. Had a lot of dark fruits, though, that were enjoyable. I think this could turn out to get a higher score in a year or more down the road.
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1/9/2012 - B Paul wrote: 91 Points
First QC I've tasted. Drank over three hours. Big wine, with dark fruit - blackberry, dark cherry, etc. Oak is pretty strong. Overall I thought this drank very well. A few tasters have suggested this needs substantial bottle aging, but I feel this is ready to drink now with a just a little air (and I really don't see it improving substantially with extended aging). Good QPR.
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1/9/2012 - aerosol wrote: 91 Points
Don't even think about drinking this wine now as it took 3 days to open and soften up enough to enjoy, or in other words, celler it for a few years. Got my allotment from QC and laid one down for 4 days and opened the cork into a decanter witha ground glass stopper and took an immediate sip and it was a little rough with notes of citrus and acid, but not horrible. After an hour I sampled 1 glass and the acid & citurs notes burned off to yield what was a lightly tannic sweet/tart flavor. Day 2, took another glass and it was a little better, but still not ready to be enjoyed. Day 3, took the final glass and the wine was finally approachable enough to be enjoyed. Notes of dark berry, leather, smooth acidity, and soft tannins on the pallet. I would give this a higher rating next year or two but we've only just begun LOL. If you want a 'drink now' wine, then you better pull a cork on a Caymus instead. BTW, my 2002 QC is drinking fine right now.
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12/31/2011 - chimpanzee29 wrote: 92 Points
Served through vinturi, which helped soften the wine and bring out the fruit. Score from memory, no note.
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12/27/2011 - CMz wrote: 90 Points
Opened with 45 min air in bottle - not enough for this wine. Still youthful and tight on the palate. Dark ruby in the glass, and while constrained it displayed an enticing nose of black berries, oak and spice. On the palate - more dark berries, plum, oak, spice, very nice minerals, and hints of chocolate. moderately long smooth finish. The next bottle will receive at least 90 minutes in a decanter as the wine improved measurably over the course of 3 hours and what began as a 88+ score opened to a solid 90 points.
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12/21/2011 - amateurwino wrote: 90 Points
Very much in the same style as its more expensive sibling, this wine immediately hits you on the nose with aggressive coconut oak aromas and lush full fruit. The palate is just as the nose promises - creamy vanilla framing dark cherry fruit flavors. For those who dislike big, oaky wines, don't bother trying this - it is the very definition of fruit bomb. For those who do like the style, the fruit does have an engaging, crowd-pleaser quality. A showy, obvious wine, but does bring some substance to support the flash. Once in a while, I am in the mood for a wine like this, and I can certainly see paying the tariff for this wine but I'm not a big enough fan of the style to pay the cost of the QC top wine. That said, fans of this style could get a lot of the same pleasure and profile out of, say, a bottle of Juan Gil for much less cost. 89-91
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12/20/2011 - SUN-J wrote: 90 Points
Interesting but probably needed a 2 hour decant (did a splash decant for 45 minutes). Dark fruit and some chocolate notes on the nose. Palate was quite stacked but couldn't tease out much beyond dark, muddled fruit. Solid tannins and acidity for good balance. Revisit again in a year.
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12/17/2011 - parathesis wrote: 93 Points
Gave it lots of air and it was the QPR by far. Everyone loved this wine including the beer drinkers.
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12/17/2011 - D.Callahan Likes this wine: 91 Points
A really excellent "second growth" blend than is better than many premium offerings. The nose is somewhat subdued probably due to its youth. Decanting brought it around a bit to show some black fruits and a noticeable mineral influence. The palate closely follows the nose with forward black fruit, leather and chocolate coming to the fore but backed up by a very nice spine of minerality and very good acidity. The finish was of medium length and the whole experience screamed of quality. Quality fruit and quality wine making. Excellent wine.
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12/16/2011 - ptelgenh wrote: 90 Points
This bottle is really tight. Recommend a two hour decant. There's a lot going on here, multilayered goodness. Going to wait at least another year for the next bottle
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12/5/2011 - ntrubee wrote: 93 Points
fabulous. lots going on. chocolate on the back of the mouth to start a medium length finish. cant wait to see how this progresses
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12/3/2011 - GreatLibations wrote: 92 Points
Smells of chocolate mint and spicy red berries. A brooding darkness prevails as this wine unravels. Full body with crunchy tannins provide the perfect vehicle for this layered wine. Cherry, plum, cocoa, coffee bean, raspberry, and wintergreen (I may be crazy) mingle and marry. A saturated wine with excellent complex value. The finish lingers for minutes. This will evolve with time spent but drinking fine now.
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11/21/2011 - RCS73 wrote: 91 Points
Solid but unexceptinal at this point. Fruity with vanilla overtones. Will improve with age
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11/19/2011 - Tlkemph wrote:
Excellent
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11/16/2011 - joefouche wrote: 92 Points
Almost opaque crimson color. Nose is very Old World with pencil, flower and a bit of barnyard at first. A smooth attack with hints of deep red fruit, but right after that there is a big oaky tannic finish that seems closed up. So, I am going to wait on the next one. Still, great value -- something you might pay 4-5 times more for if it said "Oakville" on the label.
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11/16/2011 - Pearls_b4Swine wrote: 93 Points
Excellent, highly drinkable even now
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10/30/2011 - massar wrote: 93 Points
Great bottle of wine that although obviously young is extremely approachable. What else would you expect though?
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10/30/2011 - davidandrose wrote: 92 Points
Opened but not decanted for 2 hours before drinking. Excellent if evidently a young wine. Still quite tight, rough silky tannins are prominent through the body of a nicely-balanced fruit-forward wine. Blueberry and oak on the nose, medium-heavy in weight, tannins and oak as mentioned, a very slight sourness. This will grow up to become a memorable wine, espeically at its price-point.
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10/30/2011 - numen wrote: 92 Points
Excellent, and still very young. Needed about 3-4 hours of decanting to hit its sweet spot. Lots of dark and blue fruit - blueberry, blackberry, cassis, and blackcurrant. Silky tannins. Medium-long finish. Dark, dark purple color.
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10/17/2011 - pdemaio wrote: 92 Points
Prototypical Quilceda creak red wine. Big and bold, with nice nose. Body is a bit rambunctious, I would let it age a few years before opening the next one. Lots to like, but lacking a bit of refinement.
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10/15/2011 - mreinitz wrote: 89 Points
Dark fruit, a hint of licorice, and lots of alcohol on the nose. A blast of dark fruit and toasty oak with plenty of alcoholic heat on the palate. I expected more, but the finish is long and enjoyable.
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10/9/2011 - ronscottf wrote: 91 Points
Good, but still very tight. Needs to go down for a bit more.
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10/8/2011 - dleaf wrote: 91 Points
A great red blend! Seamless well integrated tannins. Great bouquet that does not over power. Nice med to long finish.
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3/20/2011 - garambler wrote: 92 Points
A friend and I tasted this at the 3/20/11 release party. It had a very expressive and intriguing bouquet of blueberry, cassis, burnt toast, black cherry and spice. The palate was extremely approachable…very well integrated and balanced with flavors of blueberry, cassis, sour cherry, burnt toast and spice. The blueberry component was huge! This was extremely nice and I’m planning on buying some.
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3/19/2011 - Gargamel wrote: 93 Points
tried at the winerie's release party. this version of the red wine seems to be a bit more integrated than last years and does not have the disjointedness of the 07. the nose showed less than the 07, but has plenty of dark fruit with the absence of the minerality i remember from 07. however the palate has a very nice core of fruit including plum, currant, and blackberry. to me the most noticable difference this year is the smoothness of the wine and corresponding lack of heat. this may be more of a crowd pleaser than earlier vintages, but i'm not sure if it will develope as well. still a great qpr i will be buying, and still showed a bit better than the flagship cab today as did the 07 imo. not to say that the cv cab isn't the better wine...
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