PNP with berries, anise and some chocolate on the nose. After the first glass the bottle was put aside for today. Nose still youthful however the astringent mouth feel was replaced with more balance and a very well integrated long finish. This wine will continue to improve for a few more years, however with decanting it should open up nicely over a long dinner. So delicious.
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Licorice, cassis, blueberry, lavender. Baking spice and tannins still present, not fully resolved, 11 years old but could still use time. A hint of umami, almost like an oyster sauce in a nice way. Oak hides the 15.2%, dense and impactful wine.
Pic on IG/bottles.and.bites
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This wine continues to drink beautifully and this tasting was even better than my last in 2021. Notes of plum, black raspberry, cherry, and graphite. Nice mouthfeel with well integrated tannins and long finish. This was my last bottle but I expect it will continue to drink well for 5-10 years, if not more. Paired with marinated grilled venison chops.
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Decanted >2 hours. A classic Cab Sauv. Big and bold but wine has matured and the edges gone since we drank this back in 2019. Hints of pepper, spice, leather and earth with a long silky finish. Delicious but still has many years in the bottle should you choose.
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No decant on this one, and I don't really think it needed one anyway. Paired with bone-in NY steak at Ringside Steakhouse for our annual holiday dinner. Just an incredible bottle of wine, and tied with a 2014 Alban Reva for WOTN. Rich and palate-coating, showing cassis fruit, tobacco, hints of umami and vanilla, and a lovely mocha finish. This is likely drinking at peak now but will hold here for some time. Drink now - 2032+.
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Double decanted a few hours ahead of blind tasting with regular group. This bottle was about where you would expect at age 15. Will keep a few bottles aside to reach 20. Very good wine.
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About where it should be and the best is yet to come. Nose of red fruit and floral notes. Red and darker fruits on the pallet. Oak is there but ok for this stage, I think. Good balance. Medium weight for a QC. Decanted for 3 hours for sediment in a flip decanter so double decanted and then double decanted again.
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#2 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2015. This anniversary wine did not disappoint. This deep purple wine had medium notes of blueberry, dark fruits and cinnamon in the glass. On the palate, the wine imparted concentrated blackberry, plum and hints of mocha finishing with notes of cigar box and mineral/graphite. This full bodied wine had medium acidity, smooth tannins with high alcohol and a long finish. Wonderful.
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Dark garnet red, saturated to the rim. Aromas of lush red fruit and green pepper. I got some heat (high alcohol) on the nose. Red fruit flavors mildly hidden by tannins. Smooth, balanced with refined tannins. If I had more of this wine, I would be inclined to let it age another 3-5 years. Definitely is constructed for a long life.
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Blind tasting of flagship and second wines from California and Washington. Biggest takeaway is how well the second wines stood up to their bigger siblings. My #3 and #1 for the group. Deep purple color. I got a lot of bell pepper on the nose which carried through into the flavor. Very thick body, some bitterness in the flavor but overall layers of complexity. Still tannic and tight. Finish goes on forever....and then keeps going after that. Full list and rankings below.
1. 2011 Ridge Monte Bello 2. 2013 Joseph Phelps Cabernet 3. 2012 Quilceda Creek Cabernet 4. 2011 Pride Mountain Reserve Cabernet 5. 2013 Joseph Phelps Insignia 6. 2012 Quilceda Creek CVR 7. 2011 Ridge Estate Cabernet (Flawed) 2011 Pride Mountain Cabernet
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Fruit bomb on this one but a good one. Lots of vanilla, chocolate, and dark black and blue fruits. I was hoping for a bit more acidity to balance out the concentrated fruit but wasn’t quite there. Overall still an excellent wine.
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Drank this 10 year old alongside a 20 year old QC. Both excellent but maybe this one was a bit better. Loads of delicious and elegant fruit. great balance. concentrated. Beginning of a long drinking window. Drink or hold.
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At my wife's birthday dinner. This is just a outstanding bottle of wine with flavors of blackberry and blueberry fruit, plums and tobacco on the palate leading to a long smooth finish which brought out hints of graphite.
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Another standout performance from Quilceda Creek. This is just a beautiful wine with gobs of blackberry and blueberry fruit, cassis and plum on the palate. A finish that sails on and on...
Drank with dinner of grilled Bison steaks, charred yams, and brussel sprouts. Truly delicious!
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Green pyrazines black plum blueberry, balanced and fresh. It’s really a testament to great new world winemaking. If you know great wine it’s remarkable, as long as you’re not an old world snob. 15.2% is completely in check
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Pop and pour. Yeah, this doesn't show so much varietal character, but the fruit works really well with the (evidently high quality) French oak. Loads of spice, blue and black fruit, toast. On the palate: good acidity and density...quite charming actually. Doesn't show its 15.2% ABV up front and no real heat on the palate. Lovely again on days 2 and 3 open (purchased from winery, and in my cellar since release). Yummy, and definitely brings me back to different time sin my life...as a NY wine should, right?
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Double decant. Complex red and blue berries. Spice and leather. Long bitter dark chocolate finish. Good stuff.
On day two this really doesn’t impress me. A $150+ bottle of wine, in a vintage that is considered the best that WA wine has to offer, a wine that I have cellared for 8 years. It leaves me scratching my head. It’s very good but for what I have into it, I want to be wowed and I’m not wowed.
Medium to dark purple. Blackberry jam, pepper and vanilla on the nose. Mostly black fruit on the palate, but hints of chocolate also present. Tannins were medium plus. The heat was overbearing for the first few hours. Tight and powerful. Needs time and I understand what these wines develop into so chalking this one up to wrong bottle at the wrong time.
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Beautiful. Had with a superior beef fillet cut. Drank to commemorate a friend’s 60th birthday. Pulled about 30 minutes before dinner. Should have pulled it earlier. Decanted and poured 2 glasses. Wine on first taste was closed and kinda non descript. I could taste the alcohol (hot). Kinda left it alone for about 30 minutes in the glass. As night progressed wine kept getting better and better. Big and bold. Bright dark fruit, some smoke and a bit of leather. Big finish…. Wine has years left. Wish I had more. Great wine, world class…
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Dark deep ruby without rim variation. Dried blackberry, currents, cassis, graphite. Fine firm tannin, full body, richness, long finish, beautiful balance. This wine will go well with all the meat.
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Still in it's youth, but quite enjoyable. Decanted for 2 hours. Showing active tannins at the finish, but lovely fruit and layers in a surprisingly light body.
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A very refined, complex and satisfying wine. Deep garnet. Powerful nose of cooked black cherry, licorice, chocolate, prunes, smoke, leather. Wine is developing. Palate: dry, medium plus acidity and tannins give this wine a pleasant mouthfeel and structure. High alcohol, full body, pronounced flavors of black currant, white pepper, smoke,tar and leather. Finish is long, complex and satisfying. Very good wine, can drink now but will probably improve even more in 3-5 years.
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Fantastic bottle. One small step behind a Bevan opened the same night, but in all fairness, the Bevan had a 4-hour decant and the Quilceda just 30 minutes. The Quilceda was more elegant and intellectual. Lovely bottle for sure. I have one more and suspect the Quilceda will improve with age, whereas the Bevan seems at a peak right now.
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Needs 3-4 hour decant. Giving nothing upon opening and very little after being in decanter after 2 hours. Red fruit, forest floor, and spice with fine tannins. Finish long and luxurious. I have one more of these and should wait 5 years or more.
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Life is good. It's my birthday. This is the wine I chose to open. Did I mention that life is good? Big waves of flavor resonate with this wine. Voluptuous dark fruit carries through to a long finish. The tannins are there, but not pushy or invasive. I want to have many more birthdays.
Dense and leggy, fruit forward on the nose and taste. Ripe bing cherry, plum, pencil shavings, minerals on finish. Tannins are there but somewhat mellowed, maybe because this wine is still so big and fruity. The high alcohol is not as noticeable as I had thought it would be. This wine deserves more time for its complexity to develop, but was a joy to try one now. Outstanding.
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This is a very young wine. Even with a 2-hour decant and a filet it is robust, tannic and forward. Started jammy but with air has evolved to beautiful cab spiciness, cocoa and even a whiff of black tea. Really well balanced but plenty of acid and tannin to go another 20 years. Finishes long and even. Give it until 2024 - a bit wasted this early.
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After a disappointing '98 this was a relief. Gorgeous wine. Dark purple red in color with deep blackberry aromas. On the plate black cherries, bittersweet chocolate, plums, anise. Beautiful deep fruit. Firm tannins, but not overbearing. Great acidity and fabulous balance. Finishes long with dark fruits and anise notes. As beautiful as this bottle was, I think it needs 2 to 3 years to peak.
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Decanted one hour before service - probably could have used 3-5 hours. In the glass, deep purple, somewhere between violet and magenta. On the nose, currants, pine, and a slightly reductive note of prune. On the palate, herbs, currants, plums, more pine, and a lovely mid-palate sweetness followed by assertive tannins on a long tooth-staining finish. All signs point to great things ahead with another 5-10 years to resolve those tannins, but if you can handle the tannic burn on the finish, it's approachable now.
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Very complex nose with notes of exotic spices, black cherry, black raspberry, graphite and vanilla toast. Powerful and expansive on the palate, medium-plus finish and a small touch of heat on the finish. A really fantastic wine that was hitting on all cylinders tonight. The heat on the finish did not take away from the enjoyment for me but that's what held me back from giving higher score.
One of my favorite wines, if not the favorite. The right amount of fruit (cherry, plum, blackberry, a little bit of spice/savory but it's subtle) and just the right amount of tannins to add structure and complexity. Keeps going and going.
Doesn't need a long decant, but probably a minimum of 45 minutes.
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Decanted 3+hr. Initially without food the wine was really dominated by wood influence. Food really helped to round it out and make it more enjoyable. Some nice graphite notes but this particular bottle seems to lack fruit balance that would make it more pleasant. Happy New Year, Cheers!
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Rich and black inky color. Upon opening dark fruit and cases leading to more rubber and tar, followed by pine and forest. The nose is complex and ever evolving. Palate leaned a bit to jammy for me, and is relatively soft and round. More black fruit followed by minerals and graphite. Hints of blackberry at the end. Obviously well made but not for the European wine lover.
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This needs to be decanted for 3-4 hours to really open up, but once it does, wow, what a wine. Not sure what more you could want unless you're looking for a different style.
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huge wine, not what I am used to from Quilceda Creek, dark almost black, currants, blackberries, dark fruits, way too young to drink now, good mouth feel, definite tannic grip,long finish, could be great years from now
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Rubber on nose. Some sour milk and wet cardboard which all settled down but would not drink or buy another bottle of this for a few years. Likely like an off bottle.
Quintessential QC, full bodied, rich, satisfying paired amazingly well with leg of lamb. Maybe a little early, although worked with a 4 hour decant. Lots of oak per usual, will give remaining bottles a few more years, but had to check in!
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Decanted about 2 hours. Definition of a classic Cab. Big red fruit with spice, earth, pepper and much more. Tannins were mild and the finish was velvety long. Just a delicious wine.
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Love. This. Wine. Decant for 2 hours. Savory nose. Fills your mouth with floral notes, dark fruit, plum, fig, and graphite. Rich, decadent flavor. Ate with well-marbled ribeyes - eat with steak, duck, etc. Tannins are smooth but present. Long finish. This will keep getting better in your cellar for 5-10 years.
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A nose of dark plums. Intense fruit, but not overbearing. Savory, with plums, mulberry, blackberry notes, some anise. Fine tannins, great acidity and the balance is there. This needs 5+ years before I'll touch another bottle, but it was great right now with dry aged New York strips. Long, lingering finish of dark fruits. It became sweeter (not RS, just richer and rounder) with the steaks and more red fruited.
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First bottle opened from a case bought upon release at the winery. Attractive bouquet of black fruits, mineral, and perhaps flower. A touch closed at the mid-palate, lots of black fruits dominate. Black fruits, spice and then the tannins dominate the finish, which is very long. I got a touch of oak just after opening, but that dissipated quickly. Glad I purchased.
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What a wine! If you want to buy wine from USA but you prefer the old world profile look no further. 100 percent Cabernet but it drinks more like a Bordeaux style blend. Not excessively sweet or jammy like most domestic cabs, this is perfectly balanced. Aged in 100 percent new oak, this wine just is beginning its early drinking window. This wine yet again affirms my opinion that Columbia valley wines are drinking better than Napa Cabs at a better price point. Paid $185 at a local wine store, worth every penny.
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Purple color, beautiful nose with licorice and blackberry with blackberries, licorice, cassis and other secondary flavors with long finish. I typically would not open this wine for a few years, but I was very happy we did. It was arguably te wine of the evening or tied with a 2012 Venge Family Reserve which was very similar in taste but the nose was not as good as this wine. Paired excellently with a ribeye.
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This was a wine of two totally different worlds. I have gone off Quilceda unfortunately over the past few years. The stoniness of the palate is too austere for me normally and not enjoyable.
I decanted half for 4 hours and this was beautiful and the WOTN together with Matriarch. It changed dramatically. The stoniness was gone and the wine was smooth and integrated. Some light gunpowder on the nose.
Had this with my wine group, opened, but not decanted for about 45 minutes before we poured it. Initial reaction from the group was "wow". Long finish, full bodied. Notes of blueberry and spice. It may be young, but its really good right now. I'll try and wait another year before opening another bottle.
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Gotta say I find this delicious. Ripe to be sure, but it's got tannins and a fair amount of acidity to back it up. It's in a fine spot right now, as are many of the WA 2012's.
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Decanted for 2 hours and enjoyed with a filet, what an evening!
Beautiful dark purple with aroma's of cherry, earth, black fruits with a leather & vanilla scent.
Lush and round in the mouth. Layers of black cherry and dark fruits greet you. By the mid palate you enjoy leather, No 2 pencil, light earthy and oak spices. This finish was quite long and soft. The acids and alcohol are well balanced already and this will be even better in 2 to 5 years.
Just lovely.
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Blackberry and a hint of cherry meld with a number 2 pencil finish, eraser and all. Wet leather remains after, reminds me of chewing on the strings of my baseball glove as a kid.
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Very dark and brooding fruits with mossy wood and wet and scorched earth. A full bodied red with lots of time still to go. Stewed fruit and a hint of mint finish off the wine.
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PNP from the cellar. It took about an hour to open up (I should have given it a much longer decant). Also, cellar temperature (55) was too cold. It was much better around 65.
Overall this had some nice notes of dark chocolate, spice, and cedar. The nose was not particularly expressive. Alcohol was pronounced and not well integrated. I think this has a lot of room to improve, but at its current stage of development, I found it to be a pleasant but not profound wine and certainly not worth the money for the experience it offers today. I reserved a portion of the bottle to try on Day 2. 92 experience today with expectations that this will improve a great deal with a few more years in the bottle.
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Coravinned tasting. Deep ruby red, almost purplish. A bit tight on the nose. After 30 minutes in the glass this came out thick and rich with dark chocolate, coconut, vanilla, cocoa butter, and black cassis. Well integrated on the tannins front (7/10) and full bodied. Lovely texture, real silky with notes of dark berries, dark sweet spices, milk chocolate, and a little floral too. Long and lingering finish but still a baby.
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Popped and poured at Bateau. Brilliant wine. Despite its age, I found it readily approachable. Massive fruit and texture. No harsh edges. I enjoyed this far more than the 2005 a few months ago. Just had more life.
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Had a nice nose. Full body, a lot of fruit forward. Was surprised by the strong tannins. Should have aged a few more years. Expected it to be a little smoother.
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A friend brought this over for the NFL playoffs. Dark black fruit with a touch of red - blackberry, currants, blueberry, and a little dark cherry. Really smooth - seamless transition from beginning to end. Nice depth and full/vibrant flavors of dark berries. Fairly long/deep finish. Decanted for a couple hours and drank over another three. Improved with time but at nice drinking point after the decant. I can see another point or two with some more time. No surprise Parker rated it 98 points. Drank next to a couple higher-end cabs from Carter Cellars and I thought the overall quality of fruit from the Quilceda Creek was comparable but I also thought the Carter cabs showed a little more character - in particular more distinct/original flavors.
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Quick bdx dinner tasting note - wine # 4 in our blind tasting and was straight forward very high end WA bdx. Floral, generous fruit, tobacco leaf and spices. A great steak wine and was straight forward from 1st popped to the last sip of deliciousness.
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This had been decanted for 4 to 5 hours before being served blind. The bouquet screamed 'HUGE WASHINGTON CABERNET SAUVIGNON!!!' from the outset, featuring at least three floral shops fully stocked with red and purple flowers, at least five truckloads of inky-ripe purple and blue berries, unmistakable varietal characteristics (including blackcurrant, peppers, herbs, and graphite), a healthy smattering of lumber, and noticeable alcohol. This is not a fruit bomb though, as it packs medium plus acid and considerable tannic substance. It would be interesting to revisit this in three to five years. Not particularly complex, yet fully loaded (bordering on over-the-top) and very well made. Not to be overthought or overstated, though ridiculously enjoyable for what it is. Likely best by 2025-2028.
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Very complex, should wait a couple years, excellent Cab, drank over a 3 hr period. Opened up quite a bit with air, but I probably won't open another bottle for another 3-5 years. This wine is to good not to let age!
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Vindredi (Jeff's): Tasted blind. Nice mix of toast, dark fruit, and spice on the nose. Really lovely right now; soft and elegant with great structure. Rich, dense purple fruit and spice, with fine tannin on a lingering finish.
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Would recommend like a few other reviews to hold off on this wine for at least 2 years. It seems to have shut down compared to where it was a year ago. It still has the flavor profile of something top of the class but missing the breadth to completely punch its ticket. Review consistent with prior. One of the top wines in any year but need to pick the right time to open.
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Cooking School Finale Lunch Cabernets WA98-100 (Loretta Paganini School fo Cooking): Others seemed to like this more than I. To be fair, its never been a wine I like as much as the critics seem to. The nose is tight with cassis, pencil lead and herbs/mint. On the palate, this is sweet to my tastes. I am not sure if it is RS or just ripe fruit. Not bad, but sweet for sure. Lots of jammy black raspberry fruit. Grainy tannins. Nice finish. An outstanding wine and I am sure it needs time. At least on person had it as their fav.
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It was my birthday, so I thought I would open something special. This is a great wine, but way too young. It needed/deserved a long decant, which it didn't get. The bones are amazing, and I think that given time this will pretty much be a perfect wine. I think it deserves at least a decade I the cellar.
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So right off the bat, tobacco and fruit, amazed how easy this goes down. As a customer for many years, If I could swap out my entire QC cellar and replace them with this vintage, I'd be a winner. Fruit is rich, but clean and not over the top, its inviting, you sip and want more.
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Slow ox for 7.5 hours. Medium-dark red in the glass. Nose has a little funk in a good Old World style. This also comes through on the palate, along with a dark red fruit profile and a bit of candied fruit just on the finish along with some soft oak. Medium finish.
This wine just ran into a buzzsaw next to the 2013 Carter Three Kings. Would say overall that it needs some time to come into its own.
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Decanted for 3 hours. Dark purple. Huge nose of dark fruit, spice and coffee. Very big and opulent, but very smooth. Sort of slaps you across the face, but after which it settles in and is marvelous.
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Julian's graduation, Clyde Commons, Portland: Would never have opened a 2012 QC except for all the positive comments. I agree 100%. If you have more than just a few, open one up. Nose of fruit, mainly strawberry. Full body of fruit, earthy molasses taste, and tannins first hidden then appearing but very well balanced. Basically P&P with the remainder of the bottle going into a decanter. Not sure it is made for the long cellar, but will be fun finding out.
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Grabbed this bottle by mistake and thought I had grabbed the lesser priced red blend. Oops! No time to decant and had to drink. Scrumptious nose of dark fruit and wood. Color is gorgeous dark ruby. Could not believe how approachable this is now. Some tannins but softer and sweeter. No sign of 15% alcohol. Full, rich body with an incredible finish just asking for more. As with almost any wine this winery makes, it is remarkable. Among the top wines I have ever had. Many more years of enjoyment for those of you fortunate enough to have this wine.
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I realize it's a little early to be opening a bottle, but I bought a case and I like to see how it develops over time. It opened with black fruit on the nose, and mild spice on the palate. I was surprised that it was over 15% abv because it was not overpowering. There was a great amount of black fruit, espresso and cedar, with very little tannin showing. Long finish. So little tannin that I wonder how well it will hold up over time. Looking forward to finding out.
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I realize it's a little early to be opening a bottle, but I bought a case and I like to see how it develops over time. It opened with black fruit on the nose, and mild spice on the palate. I was surprised that it was over 15% abv because it was not overpowering. There was a great amount of black fruit, espresso and cedar, with very little tannin showing. Long finish. So little tannin that I wonder how well it will hold up over time. Looking forward to finding out.
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This was my 11th QC release weekend. I have to say this one may be #1 at this point. I will be absolutely shocked if this does not garner 100 points from Wine Advocate. It is so balanced at this point it is crazy. The winemaking by Paul Golitzin just gets better and better. There is such a purity of cabernet profile, almost imperceptible tannins, and a longevity like I have never seen. Would put this against the very best of the world for sure. Despite a couple of challenging years (especially 2011) it is just proof that there is a formula here that is almost unequaled. If you have a few, you MUST open one now (or at least Coravin a glass :)) so you can see what I am talking about. 7 hours later and I can still taste it.
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Had my tastes at the winery from a bottle that had been open for 45 minutes. Black fruits, espresso, spice all together in a wine that seemed precise and full of energy. Reminded me of a modern classified-growth Bordeaux. 15.2 % alcohol, but it was well hidden. I only really noticed the tannins on the last sip of my second taste (not as crowded as usual when I was there), which made me wonder if this will close down a bit in bottle? Certainly drank wonderfully today. 94 (+?)
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This was a tasting at the winery. I had both the 2012 red blend and the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon. This is going to be an absolute amazing wine. The nose was a heavenly blend of dark fruits and spice. Sublime flavors and an amazing finish.
3/8/2024 - MLevin wrote: 95 Points
Bright dark fruit; liquorice, blackberry leaf. Great balance. Evolved to prime over 3 hours.
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2/29/2024 - Wine12345 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Fantastic wine! Enough said.
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2/12/2024 - Experienced palate Likes this wine: 95 Points
PNP with berries, anise and some chocolate on the nose. After the first glass the bottle was put aside for today. Nose still youthful however the astringent mouth feel was replaced with more balance and a very well integrated long finish. This wine will continue to improve for a few more years, however with decanting it should open up nicely over a long dinner. So delicious.
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2/4/2024 - bottles.and.bites wrote: 92 Points
Licorice, cassis, blueberry, lavender. Baking spice and tannins still present, not fully resolved, 11 years old but could still use time. A hint of umami, almost like an oyster sauce in a nice way. Oak hides the 15.2%, dense and impactful wine.
Pic on IG/bottles.and.bites
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1/28/2024 - spendergast Likes this wine: 98 Points
This wine continues to drink beautifully and this tasting was even better than my last in 2021. Notes of plum, black raspberry, cherry, and graphite. Nice mouthfeel with well integrated tannins and long finish. This was my last bottle but I expect it will continue to drink well for 5-10 years, if not more. Paired with marinated grilled venison chops.
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12/25/2023 - handyb Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tannins have softened but still present with notes of berries
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12/19/2023 - krhaugh Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted >2 hours. A classic Cab Sauv. Big and bold but wine has matured and the edges gone since we drank this back in 2019. Hints of pepper, spice, leather and earth with a long silky finish. Delicious but still has many years in the bottle should you choose.
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12/9/2023 - RPerro Likes this wine: 96 Points
No decant on this one, and I don't really think it needed one anyway. Paired with bone-in NY steak at Ringside Steakhouse for our annual holiday dinner. Just an incredible bottle of wine, and tied with a 2014 Alban Reva for WOTN. Rich and palate-coating, showing cassis fruit, tobacco, hints of umami and vanilla, and a lovely mocha finish. This is likely drinking at peak now but will hold here for some time. Drink now - 2032+.
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10/12/2023 - deadwax Likes this wine: 94 Points
Double decanted a few hours ahead of blind tasting with regular group. This bottle was about where you would expect at age 15. Will keep a few bottles aside to reach 20. Very good wine.
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7/22/2023 - Red Sox Fan Likes this wine: 94 Points
Two hour decant seemed just right.
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6/11/2023 - deadwax Likes this wine: 94 Points
About where it should be and the best is yet to come. Nose of red fruit and floral notes. Red and darker fruits on the pallet. Oak is there but ok for this stage, I think. Good balance. Medium weight for a QC. Decanted for 3 hours for sediment in a flip decanter so double decanted and then double decanted again.
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4/20/2023 - rougeamore Likes this wine: 95 Points
#2 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2015. This anniversary wine did not disappoint. This deep purple wine had medium notes of blueberry, dark fruits and cinnamon in the glass. On the palate, the wine imparted concentrated blackberry, plum and hints of mocha finishing with notes of cigar box and mineral/graphite. This full bodied wine had medium acidity, smooth tannins with high alcohol and a long finish. Wonderful.
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2/27/2023 - mdvillaverde wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with past notes
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12/12/2022 - Lee Fining wrote: 93 Points
Dark garnet red, saturated to the rim. Aromas of lush red fruit and green pepper. I got some heat (high alcohol) on the nose. Red fruit flavors mildly hidden by tannins. Smooth, balanced with refined tannins. If I had more of this wine, I would be inclined to let it age another 3-5 years. Definitely is constructed for a long life.
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12/4/2022 - Gnome Likes this wine:
Blind tasting of flagship and second wines from California and Washington. Biggest takeaway is how well the second wines stood up to their bigger siblings. My #3 and #1 for the group. Deep purple color. I got a lot of bell pepper on the nose which carried through into the flavor. Very thick body, some bitterness in the flavor but overall layers of complexity. Still tannic and tight. Finish goes on forever....and then keeps going after that. Full list and rankings below.
1. 2011 Ridge Monte Bello
2. 2013 Joseph Phelps Cabernet
3. 2012 Quilceda Creek Cabernet
4. 2011 Pride Mountain Reserve Cabernet
5. 2013 Joseph Phelps Insignia
6. 2012 Quilceda Creek CVR
7. 2011 Ridge Estate Cabernet
(Flawed) 2011 Pride Mountain Cabernet
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12/3/2022 - Bbrown82 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fruit bomb on this one but a good one. Lots of vanilla, chocolate, and dark black and blue fruits. I was hoping for a bit more acidity to balance out the concentrated fruit but wasn’t quite there. Overall still an excellent wine.
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10/8/2022 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 97 Points
Drank this 10 year old alongside a 20 year old QC. Both excellent but maybe this one was a bit better. Loads of delicious and elegant fruit. great balance. concentrated. Beginning of a long drinking window. Drink or hold.
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9/22/2022 - markcic Likes this wine: 96 Points
At my wife's birthday dinner. This is just a outstanding bottle of wine with flavors of blackberry and blueberry fruit, plums and tobacco on the palate leading to a long smooth finish which brought out hints of graphite.
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5/28/2022 - jkwoodward Likes this wine: 96 Points
Beautiful first bottle of 6. Amazing tannin profile with excellent integration. Held up against 2012 schrader lpv.
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5/23/2022 - JDL98136 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Still hitting it on all cylinders. Opened and decanted at the table and it started opening up about midway through our entree, so about an hour in.
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5/8/2022 - DCHawkeye Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still pretty young, but lots of promise.
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3/19/2022 - T.O.Wineaux Likes this wine: 96 Points
Another standout performance from Quilceda Creek. This is just a beautiful wine with gobs of blackberry and blueberry fruit, cassis and plum on the palate. A finish that sails on and on...
Drank with dinner of grilled Bison steaks, charred yams, and brussel sprouts. Truly delicious!
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3/9/2022 - vintage_whine wrote:
Green pyrazines black plum blueberry, balanced and fresh. It’s really a testament to great new world winemaking. If you know great wine it’s remarkable, as long as you’re not an old world snob. 15.2% is completely in check
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2/20/2022 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 95 Points
Consistent with notes of 5/16/2020
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2/5/2022 - mdvillaverde wrote: 92 Points
A solid wine but the 2012 hasn't spoken to me over the bottles I've tried.
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12/31/2021 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Pop and pour. Yeah, this doesn't show so much varietal character, but the fruit works really well with the (evidently high quality) French oak. Loads of spice, blue and black fruit, toast. On the palate: good acidity and density...quite charming actually. Doesn't show its 15.2% ABV up front and no real heat on the palate. Lovely again on days 2 and 3 open (purchased from winery, and in my cellar since release). Yummy, and definitely brings me back to different time sin my life...as a NY wine should, right?
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12/25/2021 - Clark W Griswold Likes this wine: 93 Points
Double decant. Complex red and blue berries. Spice and leather. Long bitter dark chocolate finish. Good stuff.
On day two this really doesn’t impress me. A $150+ bottle of wine, in a vintage that is considered the best that WA wine has to offer, a wine that I have cellared for 8 years. It leaves me scratching my head. It’s very good but for what I have into it, I want to be wowed and I’m not wowed.
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11/25/2021 - Tag4wine Likes this wine: 97 Points
Great with prime rib for Thanksgiving .
Decanted one hour before eating .
It needs that much time
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11/5/2021 - akpace wrote: 93 Points
Complex balanced. Top notch. Berry spice lingering finish
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9/12/2021 - Coach C. wrote: 92 Points
Medium to dark purple. Blackberry jam, pepper and vanilla on the nose. Mostly black fruit on the palate, but hints of chocolate also present. Tannins were medium plus. The heat was overbearing for the first few hours. Tight and powerful. Needs time and I understand what these wines develop into so chalking this one up to wrong bottle at the wrong time.
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9/4/2021 - ddmhunter wrote: 97 Points
Outstanding, opened well after 30 minutes fine polished tannins
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7/27/2021 - Dooms Likes this wine: 95 Points
Beautiful. Had with a superior beef fillet cut. Drank to commemorate a friend’s 60th birthday. Pulled about 30 minutes before dinner. Should have pulled it earlier. Decanted and poured 2 glasses. Wine on first taste was closed and kinda non descript. I could taste the alcohol (hot). Kinda left it alone for about 30 minutes in the glass. As night progressed wine kept getting better and better. Big and bold. Bright dark fruit, some smoke and a bit of leather. Big finish…. Wine has years left. Wish I had more. Great wine, world class…
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7/9/2021 - PinotPaul Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful cab.
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5/9/2021 - Tsliwinski Likes this wine: 98 Points
Fantastic WA cab. Subtle rich red fruit and forest floor and a touch of smoke with lingering finish.
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4/28/2021 - Zinlady Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lovely Had with steak. Smooth Cedar. Dark. Every sip. Nice color and body. Wish I had more
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4/19/2021 - jwalkuro Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark deep ruby without rim variation.
Dried blackberry, currents, cassis, graphite.
Fine firm tannin, full body, richness, long finish, beautiful balance.
This wine will go well with all the meat.
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4/15/2021 - spendergast Likes this wine: 97 Points
A really nice cab - very concentrated fruit but not overdone and well balanced. I suspect it well benefit with further aging.
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4/11/2021 - Tsliwinski Likes this wine: 97 Points
Tamed tannins, mellow red fruit. This is a good wine drinking well right now
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3/11/2021 - mdvillaverde wrote: 93 Points
Still pretty tight. A dark, inky wine with muted fruit.
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3/6/2021 - NavyVet6874 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still in it's youth, but quite enjoyable. Decanted for 2 hours. Showing active tannins at the finish, but lovely fruit and layers in a surprisingly light body.
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2/7/2021 - vpoms wrote: 94 Points
A very refined, complex and satisfying wine. Deep garnet. Powerful nose of cooked black cherry, licorice, chocolate, prunes, smoke, leather. Wine is developing. Palate: dry, medium plus acidity and tannins give this wine a pleasant mouthfeel and structure. High alcohol, full body, pronounced flavors of black currant, white pepper, smoke,tar and leather. Finish is long, complex and satisfying. Very good wine, can drink now but will probably improve even more in 3-5 years.
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1/25/2021 - Montesquieu Likes this wine: 96 Points
Fantastic bottle. One small step behind a Bevan opened the same night, but in all fairness, the Bevan had a 4-hour decant and the Quilceda just 30 minutes. The Quilceda was more elegant and intellectual. Lovely bottle for sure. I have one more and suspect the Quilceda will improve with age, whereas the Bevan seems at a peak right now.
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1/16/2021 - meatbomb013 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Needs 3-4 hour decant. Giving nothing upon opening and very little after being in decanter after 2 hours. Red fruit, forest floor, and spice with fine tannins. Finish long and luxurious.
I have one more of these and should wait 5 years or more.
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12/9/2020 - BobbaWA Likes this wine: 96 Points
Life is good. It's my birthday. This is the wine I chose to open. Did I mention that life is good? Big waves of flavor resonate with this wine. Voluptuous dark fruit carries through to a long finish. The tannins are there, but not pushy or invasive. I want to have many more birthdays.
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12/6/2020 - VashonWine wrote: 96 Points
Dense and leggy, fruit forward on the nose and taste. Ripe bing cherry, plum, pencil shavings, minerals on finish. Tannins are there but somewhat mellowed, maybe because this wine is still so big and fruity. The high alcohol is not as noticeable as I had thought it would be. This wine deserves more time for its complexity to develop, but was a joy to try one now. Outstanding.
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11/6/2020 - Fuel55 Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is a very young wine. Even with a 2-hour decant and a filet it is robust, tannic and forward. Started jammy but with air has evolved to beautiful cab spiciness, cocoa and even a whiff of black tea. Really well balanced but plenty of acid and tannin to go another 20 years. Finishes long and even. Give it until 2024 - a bit wasted this early.
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10/30/2020 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 96 Points
After a disappointing '98 this was a relief. Gorgeous wine. Dark purple red in color with deep blackberry aromas. On the plate black cherries, bittersweet chocolate, plums, anise. Beautiful deep fruit. Firm tannins, but not overbearing. Great acidity and fabulous balance. Finishes long with dark fruits and anise notes. As beautiful as this bottle was, I think it needs 2 to 3 years to peak.
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10/3/2020 - jshufelt wrote: 94 Points
Decanted one hour before service - probably could have used 3-5 hours. In the glass, deep purple, somewhere between violet and magenta. On the nose, currants, pine, and a slightly reductive note of prune. On the palate, herbs, currants, plums, more pine, and a lovely mid-palate sweetness followed by assertive tannins on a long tooth-staining finish. All signs point to great things ahead with another 5-10 years to resolve those tannins, but if you can handle the tannic burn on the finish, it's approachable now.
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8/29/2020 - bubbachumps wrote: 96 Points
Very complex nose with notes of exotic spices, black cherry, black raspberry, graphite and vanilla toast. Powerful and expansive on the palate, medium-plus finish and a small touch of heat on the finish. A really fantastic wine that was hitting on all cylinders tonight. The heat on the finish did not take away from the enjoyment for me but that's what held me back from giving higher score.
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7/27/2020 - npettit Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank with DJ, Emily, Kari, and the kids.
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6/14/2020 - Esmags7 Likes this wine: 97 Points
One of my favorite wines, if not the favorite. The right amount of fruit (cherry, plum, blackberry, a little bit of spice/savory but it's subtle) and just the right amount of tannins to add structure and complexity. Keeps going and going.
Doesn't need a long decant, but probably a minimum of 45 minutes.
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5/31/2020 - gteran76 Likes this wine:
Brought to CWG by JC. Don’t recall notes.
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5/31/2020 - akinisky wrote: flawed
Had that corked flavor from first sip to 5hrs later after decanting. Too bad.
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5/16/2020 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 95 Points
WOTN, powerful and expressive. Blueberry, blackberry,cherry, sweet Asian spice with a strong vanilla finish. Excellent with a 2 hour decant.
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4/26/2020 - bonedoc wrote: 92 Points
Nice, pleasant approachable wine w dark fruits, some chocolate and oaky undertones.
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1/3/2020 - D3S Likes this wine: 97 Points
Stunningly good wine! It benefited from a short decant and improved over the next hour.
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12/31/2019 - TJ1967 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 3+hr. Initially without food the wine was really dominated by wood influence. Food really helped to round it out and make it more enjoyable. Some nice graphite notes but this particular bottle seems to lack fruit balance that would make it more pleasant. Happy New Year, Cheers!
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11/26/2019 - BobbaWA Likes this wine: 99 Points
The holy grail.
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11/26/2019 - wineguy75 Likes this wine: 94 Points
4hr decant. Great expression of cab and in the drinking window with the long decant.
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11/21/2019 - T.E.D. wrote: 91 Points
Rich and black inky color. Upon opening dark fruit and cases leading to more rubber and tar, followed by pine and forest. The nose is complex and ever evolving. Palate leaned a bit to jammy for me, and is relatively soft and round. More black fruit followed by minerals and graphite. Hints of blackberry at the end. Obviously well made but not for the European wine lover.
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10/20/2019 - tim m wrote: 97 Points
This needs to be decanted for 3-4 hours to really open up, but once it does, wow, what a wine. Not sure what more you could want unless you're looking for a different style.
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10/12/2019 - ShadowIII Likes this wine: 93 Points
huge wine, not what I am used to from Quilceda Creek, dark almost black, currants, blackberries, dark fruits, way too young to drink now, good mouth feel, definite tannic grip,long finish, could be great years from now
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10/10/2019 - Rbtrage wrote: 92 Points
Very good. My last sip was the best so probably needs 3-4 hours of decanting if consumed now.
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8/3/2019 - ledwards wrote: 86 Points
Rubber on nose. Some sour milk and wet cardboard which all settled down but would not drink or buy another bottle of this for a few years. Likely like an off bottle.
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6/8/2019 - RJWallis Likes this wine: 94 Points
Quintessential QC, full bodied, rich, satisfying paired amazingly well with leg of lamb. Maybe a little early, although worked with a 4 hour decant. Lots of oak per usual, will give remaining bottles a few more years, but had to check in!
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6/4/2019 - Vinomnivore Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very good ... I thought this was better after 4 hours in a narrow decanter, but interesting to follow as it opened up.
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4/15/2019 - krhaugh Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted about 2 hours. Definition of a classic Cab. Big red fruit with spice, earth, pepper and much more. Tannins were mild and the finish was velvety long. Just a delicious wine.
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3/7/2019 - WizardNeedsFood Likes this wine: 95 Points
Love. This. Wine. Decant for 2 hours. Savory nose. Fills your mouth with floral notes, dark fruit, plum, fig, and graphite. Rich, decadent flavor. Ate with well-marbled ribeyes - eat with steak, duck, etc. Tannins are smooth but present. Long finish. This will keep getting better in your cellar for 5-10 years.
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12/31/2018 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 95 Points
A nose of dark plums. Intense fruit, but not overbearing. Savory, with plums, mulberry, blackberry notes, some anise. Fine tannins, great acidity and the balance is there. This needs 5+ years before I'll touch another bottle, but it was great right now with dry aged New York strips. Long, lingering finish of dark fruits. It became sweeter (not RS, just richer and rounder) with the steaks and more red fruited.
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11/6/2018 - skifree wrote: 94 Points
First bottle opened from a case bought upon release at the winery. Attractive bouquet of black fruits, mineral, and perhaps flower. A touch closed at the mid-palate, lots of black fruits dominate. Black fruits, spice and then the tannins dominate the finish, which is very long. I got a touch of oak just after opening, but that dissipated quickly. Glad I purchased.
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11/3/2018 - mischwine wrote: 93 Points
memorable!
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9/9/2018 - UFGators Likes this wine: 96 Points
What a wine! If you want to buy wine from USA but you prefer the old world profile look no further. 100 percent Cabernet but it drinks more like a Bordeaux style blend. Not excessively sweet or jammy like most domestic cabs, this is perfectly balanced. Aged in 100 percent new oak, this wine just is beginning its early drinking window. This wine yet again affirms my opinion that Columbia valley wines are drinking better than Napa Cabs at a better price point. Paid $185 at a local wine store, worth every penny.
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7/14/2018 - Stevethebeav wrote: 93 Points
A little early yet. Very consistent with QC quality. This will be very good.
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6/23/2018 - D3S Likes this wine: 97 Points
Purple color, beautiful nose with licorice and blackberry with blackberries, licorice, cassis and other secondary flavors with long finish. I typically would not open this wine for a few years, but I was very happy we did. It was arguably te wine of the evening or tied with a 2012 Venge Family Reserve which was very similar in taste but the nose was not as good as this wine. Paired excellently with a ribeye.
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6/19/2018 - jonleerhp Likes this wine: 94 Points
Outstanding, elegant and well rounded. Still young
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6/1/2018 - BobbaWA Likes this wine: 98 Points
This wine is big. It's YUUGE. Magnificent.
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4/21/2018 - cab blends wrote: 85 Points
This was a wine of two totally different worlds. I have gone off Quilceda unfortunately over the past few years. The stoniness of the palate is too austere for me normally and not enjoyable.
I decanted half for 4 hours and this was beautiful and the WOTN together with Matriarch. It changed dramatically. The stoniness was gone and the wine was smooth and integrated. Some light gunpowder on the nose.
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3/18/2018 - SMHalps wrote: 95 Points
Had this with my wine group, opened, but not decanted for about 45 minutes before we poured it. Initial reaction from the group was "wow". Long finish, full bodied. Notes of blueberry and spice. It may be young, but its really good right now. I'll try and wait another year before opening another bottle.
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2/24/2018 - Zinlady wrote: 95 Points
So much complexity. Was ready to drink. Cedar. Great body. Had with filet. Great combination
Will wait 2 years before opening last bottle
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2/3/2018 - caldocane Likes this wine: 92 Points
Gotta say I find this delicious. Ripe to be sure, but it's got tannins and a fair amount of acidity to back it up. It's in a fine spot right now, as are many of the WA 2012's.
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1/21/2018 - brouigu1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
A spectacular wine!
Decanted for 2 hours and enjoyed with a filet, what an evening!
Beautiful dark purple with aroma's of cherry, earth, black fruits with a leather & vanilla scent.
Lush and round in the mouth. Layers of black cherry and dark fruits greet you. By the mid palate you enjoy leather, No 2 pencil, light earthy and oak spices. This finish was quite long and soft. The acids and alcohol are well balanced already and this will be even better in 2 to 5 years.
Just lovely.
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10/20/2017 - TwoSmoochies wrote: 94 Points
decanted for over 3 hours - excellent
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10/4/2017 - chrisp450 Likes this wine:
Blackberry and a hint of cherry meld with a number 2 pencil finish, eraser and all. Wet leather remains after, reminds me of chewing on the strings of my baseball glove as a kid.
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9/19/2017 - ddmhunter Likes this wine: 96 Points
as noted previously, awesome
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9/17/2017 - Griffeyfan04 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very dark and brooding fruits with mossy wood and wet and scorched earth. A full bodied red with lots of time still to go. Stewed fruit and a hint of mint finish off the wine.
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8/15/2017 - Vinomnivore Likes this wine: 92 Points
PNP from the cellar. It took about an hour to open up (I should have given it a much longer decant). Also, cellar temperature (55) was too cold. It was much better around 65.
Overall this had some nice notes of dark chocolate, spice, and cedar. The nose was not particularly expressive. Alcohol was pronounced and not well integrated. I think this has a lot of room to improve, but at its current stage of development, I found it to be a pleasant but not profound wine and certainly not worth the money for the experience it offers today. I reserved a portion of the bottle to try on Day 2. 92 experience today with expectations that this will improve a great deal with a few more years in the bottle.
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8/13/2017 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 95 Points
Coravinned tasting. Deep ruby red, almost purplish. A bit tight on the nose. After 30 minutes in the glass this came out thick and rich with dark chocolate, coconut, vanilla, cocoa butter, and black cassis. Well integrated on the tannins front (7/10) and full bodied. Lovely texture, real silky with notes of dark berries, dark sweet spices, milk chocolate, and a little floral too. Long and lingering finish but still a baby.
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8/13/2017 - cab blends Does not like this wine: 93 Points
Dark thick red with a nose of rock and steel. Hints of blackberry.
Thick, rich stony gravelly body with strong tannins and a moderately long finish.
575676
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7/26/2017 - tjross Likes this wine: 97 Points
Popped and poured at Bateau. Brilliant wine. Despite its age, I found it readily approachable. Massive fruit and texture. No harsh edges. I enjoyed this far more than the 2005 a few months ago. Just had more life.
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7/9/2017 - jmcmchi wrote: 93 Points
Significant share of Wallula fruit makes for intriguing bramble and cedar nose
Smooth layered tannins, black iodine notes. Good complexity, firm, well structured tannins
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7/3/2017 - erictayl wrote: 96 Points
Precise vein of sweet dark berries and light black licorice on the nose and palate. Really wonderful.
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2/18/2017 - dede3727 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Had a nice nose. Full body, a lot of fruit forward. Was surprised by the strong tannins. Should have aged a few more years. Expected it to be a little smoother.
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1/16/2017 - Badmonkey wrote: 96 Points
A friend brought this over for the NFL playoffs. Dark black fruit with a touch of red - blackberry, currants, blueberry, and a little dark cherry. Really smooth - seamless transition from beginning to end. Nice depth and full/vibrant flavors of dark berries. Fairly long/deep finish. Decanted for a couple hours and drank over another three. Improved with time but at nice drinking point after the decant. I can see another point or two with some more time. No surprise Parker rated it 98 points. Drank next to a couple higher-end cabs from Carter Cellars and I thought the overall quality of fruit from the Quilceda Creek was comparable but I also thought the Carter cabs showed a little more character - in particular more distinct/original flavors.
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1/8/2017 - Bluethunder Likes this wine: 95 Points
Outstanding wine. Decanted for 3 hours. Dark fruit, smoke, spice with silky smooth and lingering finish.
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12/27/2016 - ddmhunter Likes this wine: 96 Points
Outstanding. 6 hr decant definitely one of the best I've had. The hints of coffee and subtle layers make it great. Mild tannins and medium finish.
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12/6/2016 - 1964vintage wrote: 94 Points
Outstanding. Score is on day two. Day one was a little tight as one would expect with it's youth. Well made and lots of upside with aging.
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8/6/2016 - Rocky 79 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Excellent with strip steak and burrata.
Blackberries, rich fruit and mild tannins.
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7/16/2016 - Bernielovesharry Likes this wine:
Delicious. Could have aged. Is it worth the cost?
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4/27/2016 - bajayngo wrote:
Quick bdx dinner tasting note - wine # 4 in our blind tasting and was straight forward very high end WA bdx. Floral, generous fruit, tobacco leaf and spices. A great steak wine and was straight forward from 1st popped to the last sip of deliciousness.
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4/23/2016 - uncle al Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking well with a few hours of decanting. Good structure and tannins. Very nice finish. A good balance of fruit and earthiness.
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4/21/2016 - Motz wrote: 95 Points
This had been decanted for 4 to 5 hours before being served blind. The bouquet screamed 'HUGE WASHINGTON CABERNET SAUVIGNON!!!' from the outset, featuring at least three floral shops fully stocked with red and purple flowers, at least five truckloads of inky-ripe purple and blue berries, unmistakable varietal characteristics (including blackcurrant, peppers, herbs, and graphite), a healthy smattering of lumber, and noticeable alcohol. This is not a fruit bomb though, as it packs medium plus acid and considerable tannic substance. It would be interesting to revisit this in three to five years. Not particularly complex, yet fully loaded (bordering on over-the-top) and very well made. Not to be overthought or overstated, though ridiculously enjoyable for what it is. Likely best by 2025-2028.
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3/13/2016 - texag96 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Needs to stay down for a bit. Try again after 2018
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3/12/2016 - winetherapy wrote: 98 Points
Very complex, should wait a couple years, excellent Cab, drank over a 3 hr period. Opened up quite a bit with air, but I probably won't open another bottle for another 3-5 years. This wine is to good not to let age!
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2/14/2016 - pdemaio wrote: 95 Points
Smooth, powerful, and great balance and integration. Little not to like. Good backing spice. Nice complexity on both the nose and body.
PDQ94+
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2/12/2016 - dpolivy wrote:
Vindredi (Jeff's): Tasted blind. Nice mix of toast, dark fruit, and spice on the nose. Really lovely right now; soft and elegant with great structure. Rich, dense purple fruit and spice, with fine tannin on a lingering finish.
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1/23/2016 - uncle al Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent Washington Cab. This wine has very nice fruit and it is complex but well balanced. Great structure and finish. Drink or hold.
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12/19/2015 - conga523 wrote: 95 Points
Would recommend like a few other reviews to hold off on this wine for at least 2 years. It seems to have shut down compared to where it was a year ago. It still has the flavor profile of something top of the class but missing the breadth to completely punch its ticket. Review consistent with prior. One of the top wines in any year but need to pick the right time to open.
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12/6/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 95 Points
Cooking School Finale Lunch Cabernets WA98-100 (Loretta Paganini School fo Cooking): Others seemed to like this more than I. To be fair, its never been a wine I like as much as the critics seem to. The nose is tight with cassis, pencil lead and herbs/mint. On the palate, this is sweet to my tastes. I am not sure if it is RS or just ripe fruit. Not bad, but sweet for sure. Lots of jammy black raspberry fruit. Grainy tannins. Nice finish. An outstanding wine and I am sure it needs time. At least on person had it as their fav.
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12/6/2015 - geppetto Likes this wine: 97 Points
It was my birthday, so I thought I would open something special. This is a great wine, but way too young. It needed/deserved a long decant, which it didn't get. The bones are amazing, and I think that given time this will pretty much be a perfect wine. I think it deserves at least a decade I the cellar.
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12/5/2015 - shadow wrote: 99 Points
So right off the bat, tobacco and fruit, amazed how easy this goes down.
As a customer for many years, If I could swap out my entire QC cellar and replace them with this vintage, I'd be a winner.
Fruit is rich, but clean and not over the top, its inviting, you sip and want more.
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11/28/2015 - ageverett Likes this wine: 93 Points
Slow ox for 7.5 hours. Medium-dark red in the glass. Nose has a little funk in a good Old World style. This also comes through on the palate, along with a dark red fruit profile and a bit of candied fruit just on the finish along with some soft oak. Medium finish.
This wine just ran into a buzzsaw next to the 2013 Carter Three Kings. Would say overall that it needs some time to come into its own.
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11/7/2015 - cadamson Likes this wine: 96 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. Dark purple. Huge nose of dark fruit, spice and coffee. Very big and opulent, but very smooth. Sort of slaps you across the face, but after which it settles in and is marvelous.
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7/27/2015 - peterk Likes this wine: 96 Points
Tried another bottle - after a long decant. My earlier scoreof 92 was way off - this deserves a substantially higher score!
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7/18/2015 - peterk Likes this wine: 92 Points
Totally approachable - full, rich with great fruit. Used this as the back-stop red at an afternoon island summer party - a perfect choice.
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6/15/2015 - perlasteve Likes this wine: 97 Points
Julian's graduation, Clyde Commons, Portland: Would never have opened a 2012 QC except for all the positive comments. I agree 100%. If you have more than just a few, open one up. Nose of fruit, mainly strawberry. Full body of fruit, earthy molasses taste, and tannins first hidden then appearing but very well balanced. Basically P&P with the remainder of the bottle going into a decanter. Not sure it is made for the long cellar, but will be fun finding out.
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5/7/2015 - coreywb Likes this wine: 96 Points
Grabbed this bottle by mistake and thought I had grabbed the lesser priced red blend. Oops! No time to decant and had to drink. Scrumptious nose of dark fruit and wood. Color is gorgeous dark ruby. Could not believe how approachable this is now. Some tannins but softer and sweeter. No sign of 15% alcohol. Full, rich body with an incredible finish just asking for more. As with almost any wine this winery makes, it is remarkable. Among the top wines I have ever had. Many more years of enjoyment for those of you fortunate enough to have this wine.
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3/28/2015 - Woodway Mike Likes this wine: 97 Points
I realize it's a little early to be opening a bottle, but I bought a case and I like to see how it develops over time. It opened with black fruit on the nose, and mild spice on the palate. I was surprised that it was over 15% abv because it was not overpowering. There was a great amount of black fruit, espresso and cedar, with very little tannin showing. Long finish. So little tannin that I wonder how well it will hold up over time. Looking forward to finding out.
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3/27/2015 - Woodway Mike Likes this wine: 97 Points
I realize it's a little early to be opening a bottle, but I bought a case and I like to see how it develops over time. It opened with black fruit on the nose, and mild spice on the palate. I was surprised that it was over 15% abv because it was not overpowering. There was a great amount of black fruit, espresso and cedar, with very little tannin showing. Long finish. So little tannin that I wonder how well it will hold up over time. Looking forward to finding out.
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3/22/2015 - rhalbert wrote: 98 Points
This was my 11th QC release weekend. I have to say this one may be #1 at this point. I will be absolutely shocked if this does not garner 100 points from Wine Advocate. It is so balanced at this point it is crazy. The winemaking by Paul Golitzin just gets better and better. There is such a purity of cabernet profile, almost imperceptible tannins, and a longevity like I have never seen. Would put this against the very best of the world for sure. Despite a couple of challenging years (especially 2011) it is just proof that there is a formula here that is almost unequaled. If you have a few, you MUST open one now (or at least Coravin a glass :)) so you can see what I am talking about. 7 hours later and I can still taste it.
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3/22/2015 - skifree Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had my tastes at the winery from a bottle that had been open for 45 minutes. Black fruits, espresso, spice all together in a wine that seemed precise and full of energy. Reminded me of a modern classified-growth Bordeaux. 15.2 % alcohol, but it was well hidden. I only really noticed the tannins on the last sip of my second taste (not as crowded as usual when I was there), which made me wonder if this will close down a bit in bottle? Certainly drank wonderfully today. 94 (+?)
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3/21/2015 - geppetto Likes this wine: 98 Points
This was a tasting at the winery. I had both the 2012 red blend and the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon. This is going to be an absolute amazing wine. The nose was a heavenly blend of dark fruits and spice. Sublime flavors and an amazing finish.
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