Tasted right after opening and initial impression was more alcohol than expected. The alcohol predominance became more mellow and wine became way more balanced after about 2 hours decanted. Cork was perfect and only had a perfect dark red/purple color in the bottom, maybe, 1 mm of the cork. I believe wine will keep for another 10 years easily and highly recommend decanting at least 2 hours before drinking. At that point wine is delicious, well balanced and very strong. Felt like a young wine although it has been in a bottle for 22 years.
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At first, the nose was very licorice, suggesting that the wine was past its peak. But aeration will do it the greatest good to allow a bright fruit to emerge, against a background of undergrowth and leather. Overall, the wine is a little older for a Cabernet Sauvignon if we take Bordeaux as a benchmark but it remains lively and evolves positively.
The palate is frank and impactful. The acidity remains sufficient and even gives it a suave side, a beneficial thing before the wine develops its 14.9° on a dense juice. Aromas of black fruits, cocoa and tobacco intertwine. However, this lacks substance considering the asking price even if it is a well-made and flavorful wine. Beautiful woody finish with a rocky length.
Very good Cabernet Sauvignon, with a colder profile than those of California.
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Purchased on released, and stored in temperature controlled cellar. Decanted 4 hours. Still tight. Opened up over two hours. A lot of life left. Dark fruits.
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Ox-blood in color. Stewed dark fruit. Hint of oak and all spice. Thick and chewy. Better with food. Remnants of dark fruit. Some leather and iodine. Chocolate notes. Really expressive. At its peak for sure. Drink now or within the next 12 months. Excellent wine. Probably better last year.
Love this producer. We did a big lambsicle dinner tonight. The Wine paired perfectly with the food.
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Maroon in color. 14.9% ABV. Sublime nose of blue fruits, leather, Whitman Sampler box and violets. Full bodied with tremendous acidity and balance. Concentration and power abound on a wine that has been in the bottle for twenty years now. Blueberry, black raspberry, chocolate truffles and tobacco on the palate. The finish is long and silky. More advanced than my last bottle several years ago but still stunning. Best over the next 2-3 years.
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Served with a grilled ribeye. Drinking really well but probably at/close to peak. Nose of chocolate, earth, petrol. Big wine. Lots of chocolate , cassis, mineral notes. Bit of alcohol burn but overall good wine, drinking well.
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Have been saving the last one. No longer the fruit (wonderful) bomb it once was, has morphed into an old-world style (without the nose) smooth, beautiful, silky wine to pair with rare rib eye. Hat's off to aging.
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From our cellar, purchased on release. Number 7 of a case....hasn't changed much since our last bottle 2 years ago. Mature, but still lively, and full of flavor, amazing bouquet. Deep dark crimson color, super smooth and luscious. Layers of cherry, cassis, chocolate, mineral, coffee. Long finish. Excellent with steak. A truly outstanding wine.
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Agree with last few reviews kind of lifeless with minimal fruit weird initial taste and then some stewed plums. I guess thats what happens to some of these 20+ year old wines. Never came around and i gave it three days trying it each day without much change
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What is happening to this wine is what keeps happening to QCs as they age - they become port-like. Not an attractive quality. I will drink through my QCs much more quickly - but when they are good, they are very good. Just not at age 20.
Vague aromas of red fruits that quickly fade and are enveloped by mustiness. Tenuous flavors of currant and plum that are overwhelmed by the high alcohol content. This is the third bottle I have opened before committing my impressions to review. Without doubt, 14.9% alcohol is a premature wine annihilator.
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Great wine. Still showing lots of fruit. Dark purple in colour. Showing no signs of bricking. Lots of secondary fruit starting to show. May be at or near its peak.
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Decanted for 90 minutes prior to drinking. Still needed time in the glass to open up big bouquet, lots of dark fruit, still some tannins, but nice long finish.
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Super wine, still in great condition and the primary fruits still firing hard. Structure has begun to soften. Rich velvety very full bodied, this is not shy! Though the softening structure makes it more approachable and deal more mellow than previously. Long and complex. Drinking perfectly now, why wait? Though this will last a good few years yet.
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Inky and a tad reductive due to the vintage, big and deep. A poster wine for Parkerization (or what you had to do to win 100 points). I enjoyed this but it reminded me why I quit buying QC during those years.
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I waited a long, long time to drink this wine. Almost 20 years. It still had the 89.99 Thriftway sticker on it, from when TJR convinced me to pony up a benjamin ... for this up & coming winery's 100pt wine. Fast forward to this day - the celebration of TJR's 50th. Opened for dinner with sous vide steak (thanks K!) and other fine accoutrements. Cheers my friends!
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Opaque red with the slightest fading at the edges. Black cherries and chocolate on the nose. Complexly layered fruit on the palate. Black cherry, blackberry, bitter chocolate, tobacco. Plums on the mid-palate. Sweet cherry fruit develops with air. Sweet tannins, beautiful acidity, great balance. Finishes long and elegant with dark chocolate and cherry. Gorgeous, elegant wine. Drink over the next 10 to 15 years. May continue to develop for another 5 years before peak.
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Bottle breathe for 6 hours, and decant for another 1 hour before serving. Smooth and elegant palate, with very nice cherry, cigar, tar, smoke and wood. Fully matured and perhaps best time to enjoy. Long finishing. I would have thought this is a Bordeaux left bank.
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May have screwed the pooch on this one. Drank a bottle maybe 15 years ago and was overwhelmed by the fresh red and blue fruit. Delicious and perhaps too much. The fruit is now gone, wish it still had more, but paired well with filet. Has been stored at 57 degrees, but think I waited too long.
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- Brick color with slow forming legs. It's in total harmony and has flavours of black currant and black pepper with a medium body. Fleshy texture with a long finish - Complex wine to say the least. A lot of blueberry fruit.
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I continue to find QC a very technical wine. Having tasted vintages 1992-2006, it has maintained its balance, finesse and style. Is this a flaw? Short answer, no. What I miss is irregularity, variation in maturation and a progression of flavors and depth.
The big ripe cluster of blueberry notes are very fine, even and smooth. Yet, I long for a bit of earth, resin and some telltale nuance of its vineyard. It’s “ perfection” leaves me wanting…. Wanting for something that harkens to its nexus. Again, I cannot fault them. It’s a beautiful wine and well crafted, maybe I’m just not the right customer.
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Agree with comments from FreudianSip (what a great handle, btw). This wine is in a perfect places. Balanced, approachable, perfect mouthfeel. Blended black and blue fruits. "Could drink this all night long."
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Last one of these. Drank somewhat cool out of the cellar and this was good I think. Not hugely expressive, some pure cherry and currant fruit. More currant fruit on the palate with more sweet cherry fruit. Decent long finish. Does not rise to the spectacular (or maybe I am just old and jaded) - but another solid 92 points, with poor value.
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Bright purple, lightening toward the rim. Nose of sweet blackberries straight out of the bottle. Soft on the palate with modest red and black fruit profile and a medium-weight body and length. While still very enjoyable, this bottle has started its downward trajectory. Based on my recent experiences with this vintage of this wine, recommend to drink now.
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Complex, balanced, lingering. Emphasis on brooding depth eclipsing smooth fruit at this point, as to be expected and preferred. Shared with group of seven on various points along the wine experience and palate continuum; perhaps surprisingly, it received a “loved” it”, “wow,” or “best wine I’ve ever tasted” from all. My first properly aged Quilceda Creek. Nice when a wine can deliver even in the face of near unattainable expectations.
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Opened about an hour before drinking with Xmas rib roast dinner. Can't ask for much more from a Cab. Concentrated flavors of dark fruits, licorice, and smoke with earthy undertones. For those who like the style hard to beat Q Creek for quality and value. Happy to have a few more to enjoy. Drink or hold.
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Silk. Gorgeous. I was expecting something disjointed and boozy and was pleasantly surprised. This has turned the corner (2002 to date has come off overripe in my opinion) and become a perfectly balanced but just decadent enough cab. Pure pleasure. Everything is resolved. Very pleasant vanilla sweet fruit.
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Big, dark, brooding 18 year old cab. Lovely nose, legs, mouthfeel. Dark looking but to me more red than black berries. Quilceda Creek never disappoints. Only disappointment is that I have only one bottle left of this vintage.
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Big, concentrated mouth-filling wine that shows fruit and power with a semblance of balance and just a touch of heat remaining. Definitely in the 93-94 pt range.
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From our cellar. Decanted - lots of thick sediment. Served on the cool side and drank over a 3 hour window - little to no change in quality as it warmed up to room temperature. Outstanding wine. Big, luscious, similar to some of the Shiraz we've had from AUS. A touch of bricking on the rim. Nose of dark fruits. Very smooth palate, med acidity, lots of plum, dark cherry, bacon fat, chocolate. Oak and alcohol are not that evident. Tannins are mostly resolved but still present, long finish. Went great with lamb chops. In a great spot, drink now or continue to hold.
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Few hours of air. Drank in Grassl 1855. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Long legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of alcoholic heat, fragrant oak, fresh earth, dark stony minerals, blackcurrant confiture, tar and creosote. Developing. On the palate, dry, high acidity, high alcohol (14.9%), mouth-filling high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of deep concentrated black cherries, blackcurrant confiture borderline jam, redcurrants, dark stony minerals, menthol, dark herbs. Tar and creosote with more air. Very complex. Very long finish. Outstanding quality. Takes you on a very thrilling ride as this is somehow bold and seemingly flirting with blockbuster potential but it it remains on the edge. This particular bottle still feels like it could age more and develop over the next 4-5 years easily actually. Wow. 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc.
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Sadly, this bottle was over the hill. The stuffing and structure underneath were both impressive but sadly over-toned by unwanted soy sauce, broth aromas which should really not be the case with a wine of this reputation and age. This is the second disappointment with an aged Quilceda Cab following a bottle of the 2003 which showed similar symptoms after a short time in the glass. This bottle might have not been properly stored (auction purchase) although it looked great but the 2003 was bought upon release and stored in the best condition, so no excuse. It is sad if a wine of such potential dies that early and before all the tertiary magic happens.
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After initial tasting, I decided to double decant and waited 2 hours before starting to drink. The wine is a dark purple color with a very muted nose, that eventually gave up some dark fruit and spice but also evidence of alcohol even after double decanting. The wine has some initial fruit but then seems somewhat shut down with limited secondary flavors (despite being 18 years old) and a somewhat dry finish. It was decent with a delicious braised chicken dinner, but I fear it may be over the hill. Time to drink this one up!
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Tasted non blind. Glass decanted 30 minutes before serving. Followed over 3 hours. Never really opened up to reveal much in the way of fruit. Even smelled a little bit like volatile acidity upon opening.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of nail polish up front eventually followed by some notes of plums, black berries and black cherries. Flavors of black raspberries, black cherries and a bit of black boysenberry. Medium acidity, integrated tannin, full bodied. Drink now with an extended decant or maybe continue to hold? Saved about 1 glass for a follow up tasting 24 hours later.
Not rated due to the inconclusive results.
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This wine was fantastic 2 years ago - and several times before that. Now it's showing like some other of the older QCs I have - turning dark and thick, port-like and hot. More of a fortified wine. On open it had a the port qualities plus a bit of metallic bitterness. Decanted for four hours and the bitterness was gone, there was impressive depth but overall the wine was a disappointment given its pedigree and past performance.
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Tasted bind. First Impression at 55 F was a 2012 Petite Sirah from NapaValley, blueberry and dark fruits. As it warmed, the high acidity, savory notes and iron suggested either a very fine Chianti Riserva or a Cab Franc from the Loire. Once the Bordeaux (pencil lead, cassis, Bing cherry) character became clear, was it a New World style Merlot from St. Emilion or Pomerol or a Washington State Bordeaux blend? Notable Bordeaux nose and palate and tasted fairly young. Turned out to be a 96% CS from Washington State, vintage 2002.
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This has aged beyond its drinking window unfortunately and degenerated largely into broth. The palate still showed some fruit and freshness to it, but the nose was a no-go.
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Decanted for 1 hr. Lots of cherry on the nose and palette. Medium long finish with soft-ish tannins. Beautiful Washington Stat Cab (as long as you like cherry).
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Immediately upon opening, this was way more initially impressive than prior bottles, loads of cassis and dark cherry, very pure. Palate is full bodied, good acidity medium tannins. Not hugely complex however. Unfortunately the initial impact did not last through the first half of the bottle, got a little "hot" and disjointed. Still very good, but the first couple of whiffs promised so much more.....glad I opened this now. one more left. Will look forward to that (and to the rest of the bottle tomorrow), not sure about the value however.
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Very nice. Fine tannins. Double decanted and drunk over an out. Fruit is receding but structure is good. Nice finish. Probably last at least five more years but not sure it will improve more so would drink up
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Purple fruit (plum, boysenberry, blackberry) and oak on the palate, which adds a chocolate note. Tannins are surprisingly more resolved than in a bottle from a year ago, though still noticeable. Big/dense/extracted and while not my stylistic preference, certainly well made.
Recommend a hold, but drinkable with a long decant.
Two bottles of this wine were opened. Bottle #1 had a touch of TCA. Not terrible, but fairly muted on the nose and palate. Note reflects bottle #2 only.
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I have to agree with the other CT member who said this was flat. I was so disappointed that this did not show well at all. Its not vinegar but zero nose, aroma or taste. I tasted upon opening and after a few hours and there was no growth in this wine.
I have had this vintage before and found it outstanding but this was beyond its drinking life.
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about two hours.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of Kirsch,tobacco, black berries and plums. Flavors of plums, black berries and black cherries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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The last of 6 and alas probably the best one, which gave me a glimpse of hope on this as the others were simply disjointed or too high on alcohol or else simply too oaky. But this one seem to have matured in its dignified way, finally, and had a suave and classy reverberation throughout the bottle. Dark yes, sweet yes, but keeping the fruits, the barely coming out secondary elements, tannin, wood all are starting to integrate nicely. Well done.
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Blind wines (OC): Poured blind. Paired with the 2002 Dead Arm, too. Like that wine, there are over 600 users of this wine still in the database, which is simply huge. Both that wine and this one in my view are holding up well. I thought aromatically that this was Syrah, as it had a bacon fat quality. In the palate, charcoal, bitter chocolate, some density of dark cherry fruit, currant and a molten-like texture at times. Finishes with same charcoal and tarry notes. Big wine but I enjoyed it close the meal, and serve as a tasting partner with the 2002 Dead Arm.
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Licorice, baking spices, tobacco and red cherries constitute the aromatics. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied and quite refined, with blackberries, leather and earth all very much present. The finish is quite long, with a gentle tannic grip and a trace of alcoholic warmth. This can be drunk now or held for a decade or more, and is probably best when served at slightly above cellar temp (60F or thereabouts). A solid Cabernet. 93.
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If we could magically knock off 2% alcohol from this drink it could be a perfect wine. It is extracted, but not a fruit bomb glob, AFWEs May disagree but I truly think this reminds me of Chateau Latour with a hint of chocolate covered cherry. The major flaw with this wine is the oppressive alcohol. It dominates the finish, which counts for a lot for me. Lingering Cabernet artistry is much more enjoyable than a slow burn of vodka. I am going to let the rest of this bottle breathe overnight and see if the alcohol can blow off.
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This is an amazing. This is the 9th of a case and the wine continues to deliver an amazing experience. Right from the git-go delicious. Complex and hedonistic. Perfect integration of the complex flavor profile. Long finish. at peak but with the stuffing to go many more years. I know that this wine is not everyone's style but if it is, Q-creek is really hard to beat. Amazing juice and happy to have three more in the cellar.
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Very dark purple with a nose of plums and Bordeaux funk.
The purple fruit (plum, boysenberry) is ripe and perhaps a touch roasted, with a good dose of oak. Tannins are prominent and bitter and haven't receded after 24 hours of air. There's a lot of stuffing here and it drinks young. Recommend you bury bottles for 10 years in hops that the tannins recede; the good news is the fruit is substantial enough to go the distance.
14.9%ABV, but balanced. Hold.
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This is just spectacular. Best Quilceda I've had ever. I hesitate to put this wine at such a high rating. Gorgeous blue fruits. Oak is present in a reasonable way at open, but fades to perfectly balanced in background. Its delicious. I don't think this bottle will get much better, so I think I'll drink the others over the next year or so.
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I have had every Quilceda Creek from 2001 through 2011. This is the most impressive, most complete and most compelling of the Quilceda wines. I decanted it 6 hours and having tasted it on opening and then at 4 and then at 6 I highly recommend a lengthy decant. It calms down, integrates and is so smooth after that time. Blackberry, mocha and vanilla are the predominant characteristics on the nose and in the mouth. Multiple layers, ephemeral characteristics and beautiful flavors and sensations. Truly a gorgeous wine. Wow.
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Purple in color. 14.9% ABV. Stunningly pure nose of red and blue fruits, molten licorice, violets and crushed rocks. Plush, polished and incredibly silky. Tremendous structure and concentration. Blueberries, currants and cassis liqueur on the palate. The finish is exceptionally long with no shortage of tannins. This wine is the complete package and has lived up to all the hype. The epitome of an iron fist in a velvet glove. Drink over the next decade.
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The colour is still that dark red that we normally associate with a 5 year old. A gorgeous nose of black currant, black cherry and blueberry rises up and greets your nose well above the glass. Those aromas follow on to the palate where they are joined by tastes of blackberry with notes of vanilla, mocha, menthol and cedar. Each swirl and sip seems to bring something new, such is the complexity of this wine. Full body with smooth, polished tannin, the rich texture is kept precise and delineated by the structure creating sensations of power and refinement at the same time. The finish goes on for nearly a minute. Extraordinary. www.advinetures.ca
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This is an extraordinary wine! Virtually never give 100 points to any wine but this one blew me away. It is ready to go but will continue drinking for at least a decade. Structurally it is powerful wine, with high alcohol, good tannin and loads of fruit which is developing multiple layers. It is certainly big and rich - but is not over-extracted. Menthol, cassis, leather and medicinal notes on the palate which I can only described as having the type of elevated notes one can find in a great burgundy.
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Tasted blind. Deep, savory, and delicious. Aromas of black figs, blackberries, olives, cloves, lavender, and toast. Silky texture until the solid tannins on the finish. Nearing its peak but will age well for many years. Rating: 94
Guess the wine. Rhone blend. Chateauneuf du Pape. 10 years old.
Non-Blind p.s.: A spectacular miss! But I will note that my last two non-blind tasting notes for Quilceda Creek wines mention resemblances to Chateauneuf du Pape.
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Not decanted, followed for 3.5 hours out of Somm stems. Dark fruit and berries envelop your head during the initial tastes upon opening - strong and heady, deep rich aromas and flavors. Over time the fruits are tamed and the nose shows more BDX characteristics. After 3 hours wood, vanilla and alcohol are in the forefront.
Flavor profile is impeccable. Rich, dark fruits were front-and-center the entire time with an elegant mouthfeel. Finish didn't last as long as I'd like, consistent with my last tasting of this a year or so back. This is in a great place, and my remaining bottle is safe though 20-22. Would not decant this for more than 30 mins, if at all.
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.Decanted less than hour, and drank for the 3 hours afterwards. Exceptional integration between fruit and tannins, it is almost the perfect balance. Slight bits of chocolate on the finish, the fruit does not linger long. 2 more bottles to go. Served with Prime Strip.
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I simply couldn't not drinking this... too much, way too much alcohol is surfacing to the juice and the fruits are getting too heavy and sinking down in the bottom of the glass. Hew... my god, that was simply terrible. They don't age, and certainly not gracefully... Sad.
Coravin'd a few large glasses to celebrate Rose being hired at ****'s personal chef. After 45 mins breathing in the glass there's bright blackberry, creosote on the nose. Tannins are well-integrated and the wine drinks well on its own or with food. Finish doesn't last as long as I'd like, but the flavor profile is still youthful and complex for a 13 YO wine. Would happily drink this daily, and at the purchase price of $84 this is a bargain next to Insignia or HSS.
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I am reminded again that getting off the mailing list was not a bad choice. Not that this was a bad wine, well stored, from magnum, from a great year, plenty of age, decent amount of air time, but could of, should have been better. This is your standard "excellent" well balanced cabernet, but lacks awesomeness or super complexity. It was blown away by three Cayuse syrahs. No way is this 100 pts.
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Blind tasting with 2002 Phelps Insignia, 2002 Pride Reserve and 2005 Betz Le Parrain among others. Everyone liked the QC but it did lag the Insignia and Pride for all the tasters. Smooth, silky tannins, oak well integrated and not overdone. Fruit and chocolate profile. May have fared better if tasted earlier in the lineup, palate fatigue may have been a factor.
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Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of soapstone, currants and plums. Flavors of cassis, berries, raspberries and cherries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannin, full bodied. Drink now with a little air to kick start it a bit or continue to hold. Should be pretty swinging in about 3-5 years. Finally coming around.
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TTTG Blind (North by Northwest) (ER): Plummy, chocolatey, rich, plummy, plummy, chocolaty, plummy, with rich, hot, chocolaty, plummy black fruit, and chocolaty plums.
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This night had a 2012 maybach as well. Incredible to compare a well integrated wine compared to a young one. Granted, different winemakers. This was a great wine. So smooth, long finish, dark blue fruits, subtle earth tones, and semi-sweet chocolate. This is a great exact of a wine with some many layers. The nose was not as big and the taste. Minimally acidity.
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Should have decanted longer but only had a half hour. Initially had too much heat on the finish. Later it opened up and had nice fruit forward and a more complex finish. Overall drinking well right now and this was the first time I had tried this wine and will have it again. However, I definitely don't get to the RP 100 pts.
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Deep garnet. Nose has mellowed out a bit but still quite youthful. Hints of blueberries, cinnamon. Taste was like a 3 year old wine. Blueberries, blackberries, cinnamon. Very good, but 100 points?? Don't think so.
Wow! Two years ago, I thought this had lost a little. Wrong! It is absolutely singing right now, and it shows no signs of age. Drank at a small party with a bunch of other stellar wines, so no detailed notes - except to say that it was wonderful and my WOTN. Too bad it was my last one.
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Decanted for 3.5 hours and followed over 2.5. Blueberries filled the room when decanting. Graphite, faint blueberry, and bright fruit are the dominant flavors. Faint charred wood provides a backbone and structure that leaves a lingering finish. While the wine itself seems relatively thin on its own, its "easy to drink" profile is more complex than it appears to be; the wood is more of a "finishing touch" like polish/wax on a red car, that really lets the flavor linger on. Bravo!
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Memorial Day Weekend (Anniversary Weekend); 5/22/2015-5/26/2015 (Home): Decanted 5 hours. Deep tanzanite color leads to a nose of blueberry pie and dark chocolate. Full bodies contains loads of blue and black fruit but little to no secondary flavors. Amazing finish lasts well over a minute.
This bottle seems less evolved than bottle one year ago.
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Mother's Day wine. opened for two hours , re-corked and took to restaurant (John Howie Steakhouse). It was decanted at the restaurant and consumed over the next 2 1/2 hours.
The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are slow. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, blueberry, black currant (cassis) and red currant. It tastes like red currant, black currant (cassis), blueberry, forest floor and black olive. The body is medium/full. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
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Decanted 4 hours and it is a must. A very strong wine, still a little too young, but I can clearly see the potential, both the smell and palate are superb, It smells like black currant (cassis), strawberry jam, plum, espresso, toast, smokey bacon, pine and vanilla. long long finish with over 45 seconds.
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Coravin'd two glasses which were allowed to air for 45 mins. Rose described the nose a whatever velvet smells like, and the profile was equally approachable. Frankly this was excellent right out of the bottle and moved towards outstanding in under an hour. A quality CS that can be enjoyed on its own or with food.
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This is the last of six bottles of '02. My notes from my first in '09 were that it was a fruit and alcohol bomb. It has mellowed out nicely since then. The flavors have integrated and the heat has been tamed and refined. Heavy sediment in this bottle. But as with all QC wines the nose is amazing. 'You had me at the first whif.' While it is not a full palate of flavor, the balance and length of the experience is noteworthy. Oak and licorice are prominent with a sweet, dark cherry teaser at the end. The texture and integration are what I really appreciate. I just love the seamless, continuous experience of QC wines. I can't wait to try the '03.
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a very nice wine, but a bit underwhelming at this point. Decanted a couple of hours, nice nose, not overpowering, solid fruit and oak, but simply not as silky as you would anticipate and expect, and not as well integrated. Medium finish, vs something you would anticipate to go on for a while. Good, don't get me wrong, just not great
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Dark opaque purple. Definite heat on the nose -- reminds me of a fruit liqueur rather than a wine. As time went on, the alcohol on the nose became overpowering. Broad, dark fruits with little acid or any other kind of brightness. Again, more like a fruit liqueur than a wine. A poor showing.
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What can I say....this is clearly a world class wine and received many great scores...but....it didn't impress me. I found it very fruit-bomby, but also very unbalanced, despite being 12 yo.
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Higher End Domestic Cabs (Edina Country Club, MN): A bit out of sorts. Vanilla, spice and oak on the nose. The palate picks up coffee beans, blueberries and minerals. Long finish and hold these. Not in the same place as the last time I had this wine.
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High End Napa Cabs - Blind (Edina Country Club, Edina, MN): Very dark purple red color. Drank 2 glasses over 3hours, the first glass blind. The nose has lots of oak, new oak, wood, black fruit. The palate is dense and chewy, glycerin, alcohol, oak, spicy, huge legs, blackberry, blackberry liqueur, firm tannins. This was the last wine poured and it was quite obvious that this was the Quilceda. Big, boisterous and hot Maybe this will tone down, but I won't be holding my breathe.
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I opened this bottle well in advance of drinking but did not decant. the wine had a fair amount of sediment. it was very good; big and structured. In my opinion this is a mature wine that is fully ready to drink and I am not sure there is anything to be gained by further aging.
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One of the greatest wines I have tasted. Big and brawny, but in exquisite balance. Blueberry, cassis and a slight woodsy note come together in a full body that is the classic joining of power and elegance. I frequently find myself without much good to say about wines this big. But this managed to stay light on its feet while it delivered up a terrific intensity of flavor. If further complexity develops over the years, it could become perfect. http://www.advinetures.ca/hot-off-the-vine/2002-quilceda-creek-cabernet-sauvignon/
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Not quite the raging blueberry monster that some would paint this wine as, but nothing like the QCs of old. Very fruit forward with quite a mix of berry flavors protruding over the smooth tannins and secondary tastes. I do think this has the ability to age more and improve.
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shared with my wife and daughter at our favorite local italian place for my 55th birthday. rich, full bodied, aroma to die for, dark black cherry flavor. long finish, soft tannins and big enough to balance the meal.
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Much better than our last tasting, but still not as good as it was on release. Maybe it's starting to come out of it's slumber? Lots of positives….lovely nose, great fruit and depth, good structure and very smooth. Alcohol was not noticeable this time. Went great with our tenderloin, and it still has some tannins to resolve. The first glass had an unusual flavor which I could not identify, but that disappeared with subsequent glasses. I decanted it, but I didn't let it breathe before drinking…at this point it still needs some air time before serving. Will revisit in one year. Drink now with a decant or continue to hold.
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Quilceda is one of those wines which always triggers a "love or hate" response from experienced wine aficionados. The nose is so Quilceda I am totally amazed. The green, grassy tone adjoined by serious mint tells me what is in the glass. There is some serious fruit too. Deep, profound and clean red berries, blackberry and classy ballpoint pen are adjoined by perfect oak and a lovely complexity. The palate is fully packed and the balance is incredible. The structure is amazing. This wine will last for many many years if taken care of properly. The length on the finish lasts for more than a minute and adds to the keywords "amazingly good!"... I find no flaws at all in the wine, but it certainly is a Quilceda. Personally I find the green mint tone a bit difficult, but my personal taste has actually very little to do with the objective stunning qualities of this wine. (Hence, it deserves a close to perfect score tonight.) A true gem! (score is 98+)
I tasted this wine some 18 months ago and it has certainly developed since then. This wine might be a perfect wine to me in the future given this development. Tannins are e.g. much more integrated and well-behaved now compared to the last tasting.
(Tasted in a flight with 2001 Shafer Hillside Select, 2001 Napa Valley Reserve, 2002 Quilceda Creek and 2007 Hundred Acre Precious.)
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of aspirin, berries and cherries. Flavors of berries, cherries, raspberries and currants. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink now with some air or continue to hold.
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Deep garnet. Nose all black fruit and fresh herbs. Taste was mouthfilling, berries, herbs. Decanted 6 hours before serving. This is really good and really young. Recent published notes suggest a hot mess-not this bottle at all-bought from winery and stored in an active cellar.
Deep ruby color leads to a nose of cassis, blueberry, baseball glove and dark chocolate. Medium full body shows wonderful complexity. Gone are the days over monolithic blueberry. Finish lasts 45 seconds. Decanted 4 hours prior to consumption. Wonderful wine.
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As close to a perfect wine as I think I've had. Dark cherries, violet, and something smokey on the nose. Black fruit on the rich palate. Supremely integrated. Can't wait to drink the rest (but then it'll be gone).
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A bit disappointing. Previous tasting notes apply but fruit seemed to be diminishing and heat more dominating. As previously stated it seemed to lack depth and complexity which would help carry through the higher alcohol. It seems that Quilceda Creek Cabs maybe better drunk young in order to take advantage of the dominant Red Mtn fruit. With bottle age the fruit mellows but the other flavors which develop don't seem to hold the heat.
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I have tasted this wine over the past several years, and for some reason it has not held up well. I first tasted it at a dinner party, and it blew me away with it's silky fruit, balance, and soft tannins. Sadly, it has become progressively more rustic, leathery and granular with time. Maybe it's going through a "closing down" stage and, with more time, will be great again. One can only hope!
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Decanted and enjoyed over 2 hours. I was a bit disappointed with this wine, although it was very good but I was expecting to be blown away. Maybe my expectations were unfair...I doubt it though as everyone with Wine Advocate was all over this wine. This wine showed herbs, spices, black fruits and black cherry with a smooth finish with soft tannin.
Tasted double blind. Correctly identified as New World Cabernet (blend) 2002 or older. Much more accessible than I recall from another recent bottle, with tonight's bottle showing a great combination of robust, powerful plum and blackberry with plenty of well cooked mushroom, lots of density, balance start-to-finish. Better and longer after an hour vs when first poured.
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Decanted for two hours. Served with beef tenderloin - perfect! Beautifully integrated wine with an amazing finish. Fruit on palate fading and replaced with a pleasant earthiness. Still has cellar time but I won't wait long to drink my last bottle.
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Four years since I last (first) tasted this, and it seems to have lost a little. Same cassis, dark fruits, and coffee as the last time, along with a hint of caramel. Still flat-out delicious, but a little too soft (although I probably gave it TOO much breathing time). Nowhere near over-the-hill, but I'll open the next one an hour before drinking and let it evolve in the glass.
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Charleston II - The Collectibles - Afternoon Edition; 9/20/2013-9/21/2013 (Kings Courtyard Inn in Charleston, SC): Nice dark black cherries, some light white pepper, a bit of leather, oak. This is just a pretty wine. It was a bit of an odd one though - a bit closed on first pour, after about 10-20 minutes would peak in the glass and then faded relatively fast and started to come across as a bit sour. At those peaks though this was my favorite wine of the afternoon.
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When this warmed it had nice dark fruit, a big dense wine, with touches of graphite. Thick viscosity, but I am glad that I haven't invested in QC. I didn't get great notes, but the wine was pleasant, but not my favorite of the afternoon.
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A big, crimson colored Cabernet with slow legs. Deep, pungent aroma with long finish. Good tannins, with blackberry, black currant and cherry. Chewy but Satin-like texture. An exceptional wine - which shows that Washington State wines have truly arrived and have come into their own.
Very round plummy flavors with notable heat, as good as this wine is it seems to lack chewy texture and strength-building tannins which are more characteristic of Napa Valley and Bordeaux Cabernets
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Opened bottle four hours prior to drinking. No decant.
Still ruby red with just a touch of bricking. Amazing aromas burst out the glass...dark red fruits, a touch earth and cocoa...the aromas linger.
This wine still tastes young to me....tongue coating flavors of currant, black fruits, hints of oak. Still full bodied and fleshy with a slight tannic component that lends touch of a lip smacking.
Drinking well now, but certainly has a few years of upside potential and will likely stay at its prime for at least another five years if cellared properly.
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I opened this at a 7/13/13 birthday party. It was poured through a vinturi into a decanter and allowed to sit for an hour. The bouquet was elegant, complex, pungent and extremely expressive with floral, cassis, black cherry, vanilla, chocolate, licorice and exotic spice aromas. The palate was rich, powerful, elegant, layered and a little creamy with flavors of cassis, blackberry, vanilla, chocolate, licorice and spice…truly a joy to experience.
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Not the best showing for this wine. My favorite so far was on release. This wine needed at least two hours to even begin to open up. Right out of the gate the alcohol was too pronounced, but this did integrate with time. This wine also needs food to shine right now. It's lighter in weight than I remember - which is a good thing. However, most elements are still masked (sleeping) and need additional time to come together. I can tell this vintage has a wonderful future, it just needs more time to fully develop. Try next one in 2-3 years.
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14.9% ABV. Opaque dark garnet in the glass. Ripe black currant and black berry fruit nose with a touch of creamy oak. Full bodied with a palate that mirrors the nose. As this warmed up it began to seem a little hot. Very good, but a little disappointing considering my expectations.
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still thinking about this wine day after...beautiful integration, pretty perfect, a little sweet cherry, absolutely a favorite that is drinking awesome right now
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Ah Mother's Day. Decanted 2 1/2 hours and rebotteled and record for taking to dinner. Very dark and fragrant. long and pleaseant finish. felt heavy in my mouth, and I consider that a good thing. I was more inclined to sip and savor.
The wine looks Crimson colored. The legs are Slow. It smells like Blueberry, Red Currant, Toast, Coffee, and Smokey Bacon.
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Dark color with sediment. Spice and dark berry fruit with a long finished. This was consumed at a tasting so the next bottle will be with a meal over a longer period. Solid.
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Took some time to open up. Black brooding volcanic rock crushed over black olives, blueberry syrup and some bloody meat. The palate was equally stunning with excellent complexity. More black and blue fruit, black olive tapenade, some dark wood and anise. While this isn't a 100 point wine by no means, it's extremely unique, unlike any other wine, anywhere. Plus, it's a blockbuster, you can't go wrong. The price, however, is steep and I've never quite agreed with Parker's astronomical scores vintage after vintage.
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This bottle was interesting as the wine is massive on the palate but somewhat lighter in weight than other QCs. Much better integrated than previous bottles. Quite good and still young for a 10 year old wine - decant for best results.
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Jen's Fund Raiser Dinner II (Max's Bistro, Fresno Ca.): Always love this wine...still pretty tight with tannins, yet does give you plenty of dark liqueur berry fruit...to go with dusty graphite, exotic woods, spice, violets. What I really love is, that it's not too sweet...more to the graphite dry side, firm and dark. Drinks well now, but in no hurry.
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The nose offers up the same fruit attack as expected but the palate reveals much more licorice and menthol compared to the 2001 tasted in the same flight. There is an elegant touch to this wine, but the palate reveals too much tannins and "massiveness" to be fully aligned with the nose. Still a beautiful effort which will develop nicely for years to come. The overall impression is very positive, but at the moment I would rather drink the 2001 or even the 2004.
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I don't get it! This is a nice enough wine, or should I say Parkerized fruit bomb. Dark purple color, lots of mint on the nose, very hot, fruit forward, plumy and spicy, with some menthol thrown in. Exactly the type of wine that RP raves about, very modern style. I don't get it...100 points? My 90 is generous and I would never spend the type of cash this wine sells for. There are a hundred wines just like this on the West Coast that sell for far less and are just as fruity, lush and alcoholic
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Decanted 2 hours. I realize that this was probably consumed on the early side of it's life, but wanted to crack open a good 2002 for our 10 year anniversary dinner. Nose of cigar box, cherry, violet and graphite. With the intensity and complexity of the aromas, you knew you were in for a stand out wine. The palate had notes of cherry, plum, cedar and sea water. Although the tannin was refined, this is where the wine really showed it's youthful exuberance. Finish lasted a good minute. This could use another 5 years in the cellar to really settle down and then should drink well for a long time afterwards. Would purchase again.
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Decanted 2 hr, drank over 2 hr. Ruby garnet, and throwing a bit of sediment. The nose is a complete knockout with exotic incense, cedar, bramble, soy, plumb and cherry, the bouquet just wouldn't quit. And the fruit is just singing. This drank very young and can probably go at least another decade, but glad to have enjoyed our (singular) bottle last evening.The finish was at least 30 sec, but what does it say when you can still recall that profile well into the following day? It has left a huge impression on my wine memory. The best cab I have had to date.
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If you are expecting something to punch you in the face and wow you over, you will be disappointed. This is pure elegance in a glass. Smooth as silk, 1st class. Truly outstanding, in the realm of extraordinary, but i think she is sleeping and has more to offer in the future. You can drink now, but i suggest you hold. :)
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Which is better the 2001 or the 2002? I dunno, they were so close! I gave the edge to the 2001, but this was a delight to drink. Still youthful and not giving away anything to its age.
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Decanted 6hrs - wow, this is still a baby. Dark purple color leads to a nose of cassis, blackberry and mocha. Medium full body shows lots of dark fruit, chocolate and a hint of coffee followed by still youthful tannin. Interestingly this wine appears more closed than previous bottle two years ago. I feel this exceptional wine is still 5 years from its peak. Please decant in drinking now otherwise you will miss the show.
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Tasted non blind. Decanted for 1 hour before double decanting back into the bottle for transport. Tasted over the 2 through 4 hour marks.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lavender, white pepper and currants. Flavors of back berries, black cherries and black raspberries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink now with plenty of air (showed best around the 2-3 hour mark) or continue to hold.
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- Brick color with medium forming legs. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Polished texture with a long finish - Wonderful bottle log wine. Smooth, delicious, balanced frt. drank at Pebble Beach v Celebrating my 50th birthday with best friends.
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Bold and really well balanced. Very enjoyable. Ideally I'd like to taste a little more secondary and tertiary notes. Great now but certainly early in the drinking window. Certainly through 2020.
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Really nice showing for this wine. Decanted for four hours. Very aromatic. Deep blueberry and cassis aromas. Velvety mouthfeel. Nicely balanced. Drank alongside a 2003 Leoville Barton and 1996 Dominus, and this was the wine of the night.
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Very elegant, by Quilceda Creek flagship Cab standards. Big nose of freshly cut mint, minerals and roasted coffee. On the palate, the trademark blueberries with a long mineral finish. The wine was a bit hot on the finish the first night but the heat had dissipated by the next night. A bit more time is probably in order.
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14.9% alcohol. Ripe and forward but with balance and structure. Dark red-purple color. Beautiful nose of cedar, tobacco, plum, and black currant fruit. On the palate, pleasant but quite ripe, with such a forward emphasis on the fruit that the more complex notes get lost in the shuffle somewhat. Bright acidity and moderate grip to the back end. A-
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Doesn't get much better. Incredibly smooth, nice fruit. Not sure it will improve with any more age. May not be a favorite of those who like high octane bold CA wines.
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Consumed at Wild Ginger, Seattle WA with Mike S. Man, what a disappointment. Had a 2007 Dariōush and a 2005 Spottswoode the night before. This feel way short of those. Disjointed, out of balance and down right harsh. Decanted table side but I think it needed a lot, I mean a lot, more time in the glass. Didn't even realize it was a 100 point Parker when we ordered, but in any event a major let down.
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Tasted non blind. Opened and decanted about 30 minutes before serving.
Garnet to perhaps dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of flowers, currants, plums, smoke and berries. Flavors of black cherries, black berries, plums, a hint of currants and a dash of raspberries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink now with a fair amount of air or continue to hurry. No rush.
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Decanted for 6 1/2 hours, put back into bottle and reopened at restaurant 3 hours later. Blind tasting with other WA/CA Cabs. Came in 2nd to last amongst 9 bottles. Not sure why it's a 100 pointer. Certainly not now. Will wait on my other bottles for any chance of them reaching full potential.
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Quilceda Creek Vertical (Zum Hirschen, Aarau, Switzerland): A spectacular wine that hides the alcohol much better than its predecessor. Copious amount of fruit that shines through a very tannic backbone, nice sweetness and while heavy still silky and elegant.
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5th Annual Burgers and Cabernets: Enjoyed non-blind at a tasting, handling and provenance unknown. Lovely nose that reminds me of a cake my great aunt used to make when I was a kid that I haven't smelled or tasted in almost 30 years. There is some fruit on the nose but hard to pinpoint through the caramel and chocolate aromas. Very tannic with sweet, black fruit turning sour just before the finish of rubber and cigar box. Hold this one a few to several more years.
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Though 91 is a good score, it is far below expectation. I really wanted to be blown away by this wine. It is still WAY too young. Inky black purple in the glass. Nose is very hot. Fruit is quite muted behind chocolate coffee extract. Decanted through a straining funnel 10 hrs prior to open. Re-decanted several hours in with Vinturi. Little improvement. Hopefully another 5 yrs or so will be kind to this wine. I can only imagine how long I need to wait for the newer vintages...If my daughter grows up and decides to have kids of her own, maybe the grand kids will see its maturity.
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Tasted much like 6 mos ago. However, I don't remember the wine being so "hot." Maybe I was just so impressed by the richness of fruit, complexity, and overall elegance of the wine. But would prefer slightly less alcohol. It's no wonder that Parker gave this wine a 100 given his palate biases.
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Had this for my birthday dinner. Beautiful wine. Layer upon layer of fruity complexity. perfect balance. Double decanted three hours prior. The bottle just evaporated.
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Disappointing showing for this wine. Compared with other high end WA cabs, merlot and Syrahs (Cayuse, double back, Leonetti, Cote Bonneville etc). It was many, including my, least favorite. Not a bad wine, just dissappointing. Nose was solid. Body was integrated, but reserved and lacked excitement. Finish was medium, but again, the palate wasn't exciting. I didn't prep the wine, but supposedly it was decanted for a few hours... Perhaps it needed more air or more time.
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Tons of sediment, so we decanted right away. Upon opening, it was disjointed, with a lot of acid masking the fruit. The alcohol in it really stole the show from the fruit, but it calmed down a bit after about 2 hours in the decanter. Still though, the alcohol burn was a bit disappointing for a wine of this caliber. It's still drinking like a young wine, so it's got plenty of time left to be cellared, but if you open it with the next few years, decant it for a long long time.
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So I opened one of these to try out my new fabulous Riedel extreme cabernet glass - a thoughtful Xmas present from my wife. Unfortunately the wine did not live up to the glass. I decanted this a full three hours before drinking and either that was not enough (which seems unlikely since I am penning this a full 6 hours after decanting) or this wine is just pretty variable.
The nose is somewhat thick, with a reduced almost jammy quality, that you dont normally see with QC. Nose is definately full of fruit, but really lacking in complexity. Palate is much better, thick and ripe, sweet blackcurrant and black berry fruit, decent cherry acidity. Balanced and tasty but again lacking complexity.
This wine tonight only deserves 90 points, this is a far cry from the last oneI had - all the pieces are still there but there is not the WOW of additional compexity.
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This wine is so rich, sweet, powerful, thick and concentrated with ripe, jammy, blueberry and chocolate flavors, it would excite Charlie from the Chocolate factory! On the other hand, it's safe to assume Charlie and I do not share the same taste. This immense wine was stuffed, packed and stacked with blueberry, chocolate, vanilla and jammy notes. With textures akin to molten lava, it was too much of a thing I did not find good. I understand why the wine wins fans. It is a unique style not found in many wines. But for my palate, the wine lacked elegance, balance and freshness. It earned an average score because it's obviously well made. But the sum of its part did not offer an experience I want to repeat.
I tasted the wine about 4 years ago and it has not budged an inch in development. I imagine this will last decades, but I am not sure it will morph into an elegant or refined wine. Not that it should, but people thinking this will gain complexities with time, might discover that is not what happens.
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Decanted for 5 hours before serving at a blind tasting. Initially it came across a bit hot and unbalanced as observed by others. Tasted later in the evening and discovered a much different wine. The fruit had come alive (black cherry, currant, dark chocolate) with very smooth tannins and great long finish. This is a huge wine that commands serious decanting time. 6+ hours.
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An impressive bottle of wine. Hard to imagine packing any more fruit into 750 cc, but well integrated with not too many tannins or too much alcohol. Wow factor with price and friend from SF.
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Double decanted 5 hours prior. Big wine with excellent integration. Nose with light coffee, chocolate, smoke and plums. Would have preffered a little more powerful nose, with a bit more top notes from the oak (vanilla or backing spice). Terrific balance and structure. Tannins were georgeous and the finish was exceptional. Light cherry. Truely turning into something special, but probably drunk too soon.
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Confirmation that dropping off the list was the right thing to do. Well made, deep, and expressive, but too extracted and too much oak for my taste. Hyper-ripe grapes. Lots of spice. By the last glass, something had begun to unravel. Came across at the end of the bottle as hot, out of whack. Earlier glasses had not shown this.
I can understand why this wine has such strong fans. It is not to my taste, especially at current pricing.
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Rich, delicious black raspberry/plum fruit with cassis, meaty, soily, and black olive flavors, little sweetness on the palate, intense perfumey nose, excellent structure and finish, multi-layered, dense wine which needed time to open up, beautiful Washington terroir, drinking very well but stil young, maybe the best Quilceda Creek Cab that I have tasted
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Orris restaurant, Los Angeles. A massive, young wine. It slowly opened up over the 3 hrs it was open at dinner. Layers upon layers hit your palate, a cabernet assault. Lots of life left in this one. 94+
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Decanted 2 hours and drunk over 3 hours. 93;88. Very dark, dense and young looking. Not black core but dense all the way to the rim and very thick coating on glass. Nose was a bit herbaceous, but with fresh, ripe black currants. Very full and rich in the mouth. Very good balance with sweetness and big tannins, perhaps a touch low in acidity. Lots of aromatics and a long aftertaste with fruit and ashes. Not an ingratiating wine but impressive.
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Wonderful wine. Floral (rose) and cedar on the nose. Dark red fruits and pepper on the palate. Nice, long finish--a bit hot. Give this hours in the decanter before serving. It's still quite youthful.
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Misc CA tasting at Kenneth: A little raspberry showing nicely on the nose mixed with sweet black olives, black fruits and even a little boiled cabbage. The palate also has this cabbage note with plenty of black berry fruit. Huge fruit intensity and an almost insane acidity. Still a very pleasant wine. Impressive wine.
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A nice showing. I thought this bottle might had had a touch of TCA, but despite that this was large-scaled, dense, with great fruit. It struck me however as a bit more fresh and less ripe and funky than some bottles I have had in years past.
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Dark and brooding this wine is delicious, complesx and has a long future. Decanted for 5 hours, the wine was inky garnet, slightly cloudy. It was not giving a whole lot ont he nose but the taste was delightful. The bottle disapeared much too quickly.
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Jen's Fund Raiser Dinner (Max's Bistro, Fresno Ca.): HUGE dry sawdust-like tannins here! Dark berry fruit...monster fruit underneath the wall of tannin. Powdery graphite, deep spice, violet florals, exotic woods. This wine at first was dry.....but it REALLY gained on me as a sleeping giant, and showed fascinating flavors underneath. I LOVED this wine! I should have spent more time on it. Needs more time. ++pts
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CellarTracker Texas Offline; 5/21/2010-5/22/2010 (San Antonio): Definitely a Parkerized wine. I think the term I used to describe this wine was slutty. Nose was full of black fruits, blueberry, and something floral (violets maybe). One the palate, huge sweet blast of black fruit, cassis, spicy oak, mocha. Finishes with strudy tannins and a crisp backbone. I think this wine has a big upside, but it needs at least 6-8 years to calm down. My #3 of the QC’s. Outstanding
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Decanted for 4 hours before double decanting back into the bottle for transport to the restaurant. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. BIG wine with a huge nose of coffee, chocolate, smoke, currants, soapstone and plums. Flavors of currants, black cherries, berries and plums. Medium to bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied for sure. Drink now with plenty of air or continue to hold.
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Incredibly tight from the outset. Not decanted and this was a mistake. Tasted after an '86 Lafite and an '82 Lalande, this seemed clumsy, disjointed, but with potential. After 2-3 hours improved significantly. The '02 was tasted in a flight with an '03 QC that had been double decanted about 3 hours prior to drinking and it made a huge difference as the '03 was drinking much better and would score that one a 97. Massive black fruits, hint of creosote, and noticeable oak influence. Palate is full with noticeable tannins. Out of balance at first but coming together at the end, never really reached full potential. Will definitely decant my next bottle at least 6 hours.
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Note: this wine is stored in a passive cellar at close to room temp since purchase from the winery.
Wine was decanted for 9 hours prior to drinking
Best showing of this wine yet. Color is dark purple, wine is opaque, no bricking. Gives up little on the nose. The palate is entirely different story. The tannins are extremely well-resolved. A beautiful coating of dark fruit on the tongue, but no where near overbearing. Startiing to develop secondary characteristics of cedar box. This is beginning to closely mimic a fine Bordeaux (for Bordeaux lovers). The most amazing thing about the wine is that even after 8 years you can tell this is still a baby.
This is the first time I have seen the 100 point potential of this wine down the road. Parker (Rovanni) may have been right after all.
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Minneapolis Wine Club does US Cabs; 4/18/2010-4/21/2010 (Shari's House): Another great showing. Decanted 5 hours. Forest floor, spices, coffee, cherry and earth dominate the nose. Very integrated wine with tons of complexity. No flaws on any part of the wine. The finish is long and shows spice, floral, coffee, cherry, plum and leather. This wine has it all and is drinking well now but I will revisit down the road.
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Blind California Cult Cabernet Tasting (Mill Creek, WA): Tasted blind. This brought the heat and the volatility right away. Wow, there was a lot of the Sharpie smell on the nose of this bottle. This was almost as hard for me to drink as the 02 Pride Reserve. I’m wondering how it would have shown next to the 01 Dominus? This was a disappointment for me and a few other people in the group. Once it was revealed, a few people were noticing the blueberry nuances of the palate, but I just didn't get them in this showing. I had ranked this last in the flight.
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The wine looks Purple colored. The legs are Slow. It smells like and Black Pepper. It tastes like Black currant (cassis), Mineral, and Black Pepper. The body is Full. The wine is textured Round. The wine finishes Long.
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A 50th birthday celebration that lived up to it's 100pt ratings. Soft, tootsie roll, with caramel underpinnings and nice fruit. Served with homemade BBQ ribs.
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pulled out for a special occasion and it did not disappoint. Decanted at restaurant for about an hour prior to drinking, then consumed over the next 2 hours. Color was inky purple, very opaque w/thick legs. Nose was smoky/tary, with anise and fig notes over a ripe blue fruit base. Palate was spicy and dense with cassis and dark black cherry fruitiness; powerful but soft tannins; a little white pepper and minerality to finish out the secondary flavors. Incredible complexity and balance. Very full-bodied with a finish that lasted the better part of a minute. This wine is still very young and has the strength of components to continue to improve for a long time to come. Note to self: keep the second bottle down until at least 2020.
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Quilceda Creek Vertical (Hughes House - Chicago IL): Double blind tasting. Plum and black cherry aromas with cassis, mint chocolate and moderate spice. Very ripe, powerful ans tannic on palate. Clearly lots of concentrated fruit with interesting potential, but frankly not supplying lots of pleasure tonight.
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Wineflock - Quilceda Creek Intro/Retro (Home): Group #8, My #9 - Opaque deep red color. Medium forward nose of black spice with hints of camphor. Tight focused mineral black fruit wit a long searing tannic finish.
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popped and poured...very tannic and tight on day 1 over 2 hours...remaining half bottle poured into a half bottle and recorked...day 2 - tired on nose and shy on palate...expected it to be singing given the day 1 showing...very perplexed, not sure this will age or improve...i suppose it will but the windoe may be tighter than expected
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Lynn and I opened for New Years Eve the 02 Araujo and the 02 Quilceda Creek and had them side by side. They sure changed a lot over time in the glass. Decanted for about 2 hours. Initially the Araujo was very typical; sweet expensive oak, vanilla, black currant and Asian spices both on the nose and on the palate. Explosive and delicious with great aftertaste. Exquisite balance. After a while in the glass, however, it lost some of its structure and deliciousness. Initially it was by far the best wine and close to 100 points but later it dropped dramatically. The QC was the other way around. Initially it was big, tannic, clumsy with ash and dirt as the most prevalent aspects – not very delicious. After an hour or so, however, the fruit started to come out and the tannins softened. We started to understand the high marks from WA. I would not give it 100 points but at least I realized it is a very impressive wine and it will probably get better still. We have had both wines close to 10 times and it was the best QC 02 and the worst Araujo 02 we’ve had. We ended up giving both 97 p, for different reasons and for different development over the time they were open. We saved a large glass of each in a glass with inert gas and seran wrap on top and both wines were in very good shape the next day. Araujo was actually better than it was in the end of the previous evening.
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Opened and double decanted at 11am, then decanted again at 6pm before drinking it. The nose is beautiful with lots of cherries up front then flowers and spice with a bit of alcohol. The wine has really nice fruit followed by good spice and a really nice long finish. The only downside is that there was still a little heat, which is not surprising w/ 14.9% alcohol. Overall an outstanding wine but I'm not sure I would rate this as a 100 pointer.
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Decanted for 6 hours and drank with a selection of cheeses. Tasted multiple times over decanting time prior to drinking. Initially quite closed and brooding after about two hours this entered a weird stage of piecing alcohol and over the top fruit. At the six hour mark, magic happened! All the rough edges smoothed away, the alcohol integrated leaving an amazing wine. Nose of classic Quilceda violet, leads to a full body of black fruit, cedar, chocolate, and tobacco. Incredibly well integrated finish lasts 60 seconds. Amazing bottle of wine which requires some time in the decanter.
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i have always felt a 100pt rating to quilceda is a bit much, and the wines have been good but nothing special at all. Last night I was converted. this wine really had it all together, really hard to find any flaw in this wine.
Decanted for a few hours, massive core of blueberry, vanilla, espresso, herb and perfectly integrated oak. Not a sharp edge to this wine at all, pure seduction. Had next to the 2005, this one was a lot broader and more concentrated with flavor profile and layer after layer of aromas, textures and a finish that went on for 40+ seconds. awesome wine
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Decanted 30 to 60 minutes before drinking. Absolutely wonderful nose, floral and packed with cassis. Round, rich, viscous, and plush, with layers of dark fruit and coffee. Incredible depth and no rough edges. Extremely long (30 to 40 second) finish. Best domestic cabernet I've ever had, with the probable exception of the '84 Caymus SS.
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Dark opaque purple. Brooding, dark fruit with a hint of spice and a little alcoholic heat on the nose. Eventually it developed a little bit of a mineral/graphite note on the nose. Initially (for the first hour or so) this was Blueberries, Blueberries, Blueberries on the palate. As time went by, it developed a bit, to include a bit of cherry, tar and licorice.
I can't say it's a bad wine, but really didn't make me too happy -- even considering it's a cab and not burgundy/champagne/nebbiolo/rhone. Just not really interesting or particularly yummy. I keep trying to like these new world wines from my wine drinking "youth," but, more and more, I can only say "why bother." YMMV(?)
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The nose of this wine was unmistakably Quilceda Creek. Packed full of blue/black fruit and violets. The violet descriptor, while often used with Quilceda, has never been clearer to me than with this vintage. The palate had dark, ripe cherries and blackberry flavors. There was some heat evident as well. The mouthfeel was very smooth. Much smoother than the 03, and 05 Galitzine that we tasted this next to, and even the 04 that I had the night before. Full bodied and a medium-long finish. The heat was the only real detractor from what was otherwise a pretty nice finish - though it could have lasted longer. This doesn't have the same amount of structure as the 03 does, and I don't think it will last as long. This was the first time that I have tasted the 02 QC since the release at the winery. I've always thought this was my favorite Quilceda cab, but I was back and forth with this and the 03 as my favorite all night. While the 02 has a better nose, and smoother mouthfeel, I don't think it will age as well as the 03. I ended up rating both wines the same, but would drink 02s before 03s.
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100 point dinner in Sweden. This is a wine I do not understand. And nobody else really liked it that much either. Totally different from the other wines. Darkest wine but very clear looking. Smokey and alcoholic. Massive but almost flat. Tough and unyielding.
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We had a hard time with bottle, which had a 4 hour decant prior to serving. It was just so big, hot, tannic and jammy. Even the big cab drinkers thought this was over the top. At first on the nose, I got some menthol, tar and pine forrest, so I thought it might be a recent Chave. However, whereas Chave is able to hide the alcohol, it was overbearing in this bottle, which made it very difficult to enjoy now and tough to figure where this is going. If I owned any, I would either sell or sit on for 5 years before trying again.
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Dinner @ Mom's: Opened and given a brief decant. That is all that is necessary. I have never bought QC but with a family member a long time list member, I do get to drink them on occasion (and have been given a few bottles). I really like these wines. Big smooth and soft. The aromatics are big and ripe along with lots of oak but I really enjoyed the balance. This is a big wine but far from being over the top. This is good big for me. The purple fruit is at front but there are some earthy and herbal qualities on the palate. Not too heavy on the palate. And I really enjoyed how the ripe fruit carried no cloying sweetness. I find the tannins and acid soft so I don’t know why you would want to age this further but the few QCs I have had with 10 or more years on them have still been singing. Not sure what I will do with my lone bottle of this.
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Stellar wine, greatly enjoyed last night at the monthly meeting of the Hickory Wine Club at Lake Hickory CC as part of a blinded '00 - '06 vertical tasting, what an unreal flight of wines. So big, bold, spicy and muscular that I thought all of these wines were Australian shirazs before being un-blinded. Surprisingly floral bouquet of oak, violets, blueberry and white pepper. Inky black, very well balanced, very full bodied and complex with enough tannins and structure in place for many years of cellaring. Primary flavors include oak, dark fruit, blackberry, licorice, black currants with development of smoke and granite on a long aftertaste. Absolutely great, highly recommend this.
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This was TIGHT upon opening. Two hours in the decanter and this baby opened up - beautiful aromas and stood up to a massive steak. Our WOTN after a tough start
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Had this a few months ago, and it was drinking fabulous. I found this bottle to be a little over-oaked with lots of sweet smooth vanilla up front, an unbelievable finish that was consistent with the prior sample, but a ton of heat from start to finish. Just way too much alcohol. Not sure if time will help that aspect or not.
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Dark purple in color with a red rim; Dark fruit on the nose with a spice note with blackberry, cinnamon, leather, kirsch and a touch of minerals in the middle. It had a very long and aromatic finish with chalky, mineral notes. Great finish! Superb complexity. This bottle did not display the blueberry characteristics common in QCs shortly after release so it is was probably firmly in the secondary phase and not maturing very quickly. The balance was slightly off with prominent tannins and alcohol on the finish (a nit but worth noting). An outstanding bottle of wine that should continue to improve with cellar time. Recommend a decant of at least 30 minutes. Served with steak (probably a must).
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Decanted for 2 hours . . . . initially some heat on first pour, but after about 20 minutes in the glass notes of leather, red berry, cherries, and cinnamon? showed up. Tasted amazing, a little spice that softened wonderfully as we worked our way thru the bottle. Worked great with the bone in rib-eye. This is not a subtle bottle of wine.
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Opened and consumed over five hours. Decanted the last two. Despite being an apparently un-compromised bottle, this never rose above being a fairly interesting cab meriting in the high eighties. The more air it received, the more out of balance it become. Perhaps it has not been given enough time, but this bottle was scary. Judgment deferred .
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Occasional tasting group: Wines with 100 Parker Points. (@ L in Z): My first wine from Washington and what a start! Intense and complex bouquet with ripe blackberries, flowers and lots of other impressions. Enormously concentrated, loaded with soft ripe black fruits. Ink. Enormously long and complex aftertaste. The bottle was opened in the morning and double decanted, so the wine really showed itself and it was surprisingly friendly and ready, but no doubt there is a lot of future here. This belongs to the best wines I ever tasted and the only reason I don't score it even higher is because of the high alcohol impression you get. Possibly a crime to say, or showing my limitations as a taster, I knew what I had in my glass, but if the wine was poured to me blindfolded, I could have said this tastes like an Australian top shiraz.
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What an odd nose this wine offers. Had I not known it was a Cab, I would have never guessed. This effort shines on the palate, and falls a bit short on the nose. The latter is framed in a floral, violet infused aromatic profile. While the black fruit is obvious, the nose is, above all, understated. When the wine hits the palate, initially it offers its stuffing very gradually. At first in an understated fashion, and as time went by, increasing in intensity. By the second glass, this is singing, although never going over the top. This is quite different from the more concentrated and flamboyantly ripe wines of Napa and Sonoma. Clearly the product of a cooler climate. By the end of the night, this wine had slowly won me over and defeated my initial skepticism. A great, balanced, richly flavored wine that is intellectually challenging at first.
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Unbeleivable bottle of wine. Had at Emeril's in NOLA. Tremendous balance with a finish that simply kept slowly expanding for seemingly forever. Only two knocks: nose was a little muted for a cab this big, and there was a little heat midpalate. Still, these are minor nits.
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Just a great bottle of wine. Right on pouring into the decanter you could smell the intensity. An initial taste confirmed the upfront sweet blackcherry, blackcurrant and blueberry fruit. Showed some complexity with air, notes of brush, oak was well integrated and not noticable. Really tasty, complete on the palate, long, long finish of blackcherry and currant with sweet fruit more than offsetting the tannins. Did not bring tears to my eyes - so no 100 points - but this ties for my highest scoring wine ever.
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(92;87) We should probably have chosen the 03 instead since that seems to be showing better right now. We had one earlier in the month and it was delicious. This is a monster. Extremely dark and young looking. It was one of the thickest looking wines we’ve seen – it almost sticks to the glass. Dark, rich and at the moment it is not showing that great to me – BIG but not enough fruit and balance. But I do think it will come around in a few years. We’ve had 03, 04 and 05 over the past two months and rated them 97-99 points.
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Popped and poured. I was surprised to see how "tame" this monster had become. Nicely integrated although still showing dark fruit and good backbone. Big difference from a year ago, Stood up fine to a 32 oz strip but with much less noticeable oakiness and tannin.
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I drank this bottle by myself over a period of about five hours and it was an evening very well spent. Deep, purple with good clarity but nearly impenetrable. Beautiful nose of vanilla scented oak and crushed black fruit. Silky, rich tannins that coat the teeth and a velvety, thick mid-palate of fruit without a rough edge in sight. The finish is a good minute long. I imagine it will gain complexity in the bottle and could well be a 100 point wine in 5 years time.
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6th Anniversary Weekend; 5/23/2008-5/26/2008 (home): Drank on 6th anniversary with waygu filets and black truffle mash pototoes. Decanted 10 hours prior to dinner - deep garnet color leads to big nose of violet, blueberry and chocolate. Velvety palate carries those flavors forward while adding blackberry, dark cherry and anise. Finish last well over a minute. While the big ripe, overly extracted style may not be for everyone, count me a fan. This is the real deal and will only improve with time.
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Another great bottle with loads of intensity and weight. If you love cabernet this wine is for you!! Dark purple color with vanilla and blueberries and dark cherries on the nose. Loads of structure and a finish that goes on and on and on.
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Decanted 45 min. 90;85Very thick looking with dark core, color all the way out and a thick coating on the glass. Nose a bit reticent but with coaxing it shows spice, rich black currant with smoke and licorice. In the mouth it is thick but a bit hard right now (opened up a bit later).Excellent balance - great T'nA and ample sweetness. Firm exit. Aftertaste has huge chocolate factor (55%). Licorice, dark Tahitian vanilla. Very long, sweet, dark smoke, caramel. Maybe a bit woody on the aftertaste. This wine is not quite integrated and smooth yet but we'll see in a year or two.
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Vertical tasting of Quilceda Creek (1999-2004): This was my WOTN and hands down the best bottle of wine I have had. For my tastes everything was perfect. I have to believe that this kind of bottle simply makes you a better person. Bravo to QC.
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This was my first bottle of any Quilceda Creek. I was eager in trying this. I was not disappointed. What a fabulous wine. Very smooth and very silky. My definition of a perfect wine. I think it was still to young but even with that, still fantastic. I bet it would be a 100 point tasting in about 5 to 8 years. Highly recommend this wine and considering how much lafite is going for, what a bargain at $230 (wine commune). This is a must if you like lafites or dominus.
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We had four Quilceda Creek Cabs in a blind tasting with a lamb dinner. The four were 2002, 1999, 1998 and 1996. In my opinion the 2002 will probably be the best wine of the group. it was very dark and concentrated. The fruit did not exhibit the residual sweetness that many Cabs from Washington State have. There were firm tannins to support the strong fruit. Also, in my view 2002 has the potential to age way longer and will benefit from aging. I thought it a shame to have consumed it so young but otheres there liked it as is. My favorite wine of the evening to drink was the 1998. It appeared and tasted as an older wine. I thought it had a very nice balance of dried fruit, a bit of earth and blended tannis. It was excellent and went very well with food. I think it will age longer but is quite nice now. The 1999 was also very good drinking. It was deeper in color than the 1998 and appeared and tasted younger. I would have guessed there was more than a year difference between these two wines. The 1999 really opened up over the course of the evening to a very well balanced wine. The 1996 was the group's least favorite. It looked and tasted like an older wine but was more astringent than the 1998. All bottles were decanted and poored back into the bottles a couple of hours before consumption.
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Rick's birthday dinner (Aquarelle (Austin)): I withhold judgment on this wine. Way too young to tell where it's headed. On the positive side, I didn't think it was hot or alcoholic tasting. It was a wall of fruit puree and tannins though. My stylistic preferences are in the opposite direction. Needs 10 years+ alone in the cellar unless you're jonesing a fruitbomb to accompany a slab of ribs.
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I drank this at a restaurant in Milwaukee, good price on the list, found it a bit hot but well rounded with nice finish. Don't agree that this is 100pt. wine. although I enjoyed it.
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About 3 hrs in a decanter. Great fruit aromas, wonderful taste, and a 20+ second finish. A little light in weight, but an outstanding wine popped to celebrate my wonderful wife on Mothers Day.
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Tasted April 21, 2007 at an offline. Decanted at least 3 plus hours before tasting. Tasted from a Spiegelau Authentus Magnum glass. Dark purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Tight nose not giving up any fruit, just aromas of fennel and saddle soap. Chewy flavors of black currants and berries. Medium acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. Hold at least another five plus years and then we’ll talk. No rating.
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Drank over 2 days. 93;88. first day it was good, saved about 2 glasses in the bottle over night with the cork put back in. Next day it was really impressive. It had lost a touch of freshness but it was massive, thick and coating the mouth. Huge sweetness and massive flavors. Aftertaste was really long with very dark lingering flavors of licorice, tar, creosote, violets and dark fruit.
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JUST A SLIGHT NOTCH BELOW THE '03 THOUGH STILL DEEP FRUIT IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR, BLACK CHERRIES, BLACKBERRIES, AND CURRANTS. NICE COMPLEXITY AND A LONG FINISH.
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(at Craft – NYC) This was well priced on the list so I wanted to try it. After my fairly unpleasant experience with the 2003, this was better. Still this is a wine that I guess just is not my style. Very dark – ripe blueberry cream soda. Not as heavy or alcohol dominated as the 2003. There was some complexity, but I felt this just hits you over the head and did not complement the food. A good wine, no doubt, but not to my taste at this stage. Would like to try a bottle in 5 to 7 years to see how it evolves. (15?)
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This appears to be in a shutting down stage - it is not singing like it was 18 months ago. It's still very intense, pure black and blue fruit, with a lot of richness, structure, and delineation, but the wow factor has gone away and it appears that this will be even more closed over the next 6-12 months. Still very enjoyable, this will reward those with the patience to let them age (and probably disappoint those who drink them now).
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Quilceda Creek Vertical (Michael's House, St. Louis Park): Underbrush, floral, mint, cherry and oak. This is drinking pretty well for its young profile. Medium plus finish and I would cellar for five plus years. Decanted 2 hours.
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Quilceda Creek Vertical 1990-2003 (My house): At first this had a real expressive nose, but it was apparent that there was a lot that was left unseen. In this manner it reminded me of the '03 Reva I had a couple months ago. But that is where the comparisons with an Alban wine ceases. I never did find that depth and it seemed to be fleeting. Big and inky with some iodine. Found some blueberries and I think that there is a chance that this will get better and was really shutdown, but there was some signs that the depth was just not there.
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This was opened at the CWM cellar dinner at Courtrights and paired with a course of Petite Rack of New Zealand Lamb, Potatoes-Bacon, Fennel Gratin and Lamb Jus. Scubarex brought this to the dinner. One of the wines I was looking forward to the most and also the most disappointing. Decanted for 11 hours. Just about got hit in the face with a 2x4 when I first smelled this wine. Very oaky. Young and tight on the palate. Thick texture and extremely primary at this stage. Notes of boysenberry, leather and toasted oak. Big wine but not much complexity now. 91+ points.
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Scubarex contribution to the Courtright Dinner. I have no rating for this wine as it was giving up nothing. I believe there was a mixup in the decanting instructions at Courtrights. It clearly was not long enough, whatever the case may be. As this is the first QC I've had, I do not want to skew the ratings with my impression from this tasting. NR
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Chicago Wine Mafia Dinner in the Cellar (Courtright's Restaurant, Willow Springs, IL): Scubarex brought this bottle. Inky color, opaque almost all the way to the rim. Notes of mint, blueberry, alcohol and oak. A big wine, with blueberry, cassis, oak and sweet tannins. While this is a big wine, there was a hollowness on the midpalate, and it finished very short.
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VC's Third Annual Cult Smackdown (Sunnyvale, CA www.lionandcompass.com): Tasted single blind. Probably 93.5 points and just below the Pride Reserve in my ratings. It was clear that this wine was different from the others. I had this as the QC early on due to its blueberry aromas and flavors along with something that smells like bacon to me. This wine was balanced with no hint of heat. There was the impression of big structure but it was significantly lighter in weight than the other wines in the flight except the Ridge Monte Bello. The 02 may be a better wine than the 03. The rest of my bottles will continue to sleep. This was my #2 wine of the flight of 6 wines.
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VC's Third Annual Cult Smackdown (Sunnyvale, CA www.lionandcompass.com): FUNKY!! Of all the 02 vintage bottles tasted, this one stood out as being funky. What the heck is it? I thought perhaps Ridge since it was so unique but should have guessed Q.C. due to it's blueberry taste. Not a 100 pointer in my book. It's still a great wine and goes well with rich meaty food with lots of fat.
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I had this last night alongside of the 2003 QC. Decanted for 4+ hours. The 2003 was definitely better than the 2002, but neither wine blew me away. This was a very big wine, that definitely needs more time in the bottle, as after 6+ hours it was still not giving much more. No heat, good mouth feel, but not a big finish. Not as much fruit coming through as the 2003.
This was a very good wine, but did not meet my expectations for a 100 point wine.
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Not at all as good as I had expected. Maybe in a tunnel? We also had a 99 QC that was much bigger and tannic than the 02. The 99 was at it’s best the next day
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I took the advice of others and drank this over a few days. Took forever to open up and show itself (my last glass on day four), and even then, it's clear to me that this is something you stash away for several years before enjoying. I can't personally understand why restaurants would have the 2002 on the menu right now....I just don't have the sensory skills to determine future greatness as I would prefer to drink things that are stunning today with some short-term decanting.
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Humongous at all levels, nose, richness, tannins, even acids...I look forward to these as they become more drinkable in the future...Reminded me of the 99 Pavie a bit
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A impromptu tasting of Washington wines (Seattle, WA): This was my fifth try of the 2002 Quilceda Creek. This bottle was popped and poured at a tasting and could have been a few degrees cooler. Some medicinal elements and heat (think cough syrup) come to the front of the nose, then some candied fruit and seawater, hints of cheddar-cheese later. The palate starts out sappy, soft, very saturated, amazing color, sweet and a bit oaky, surprisingly round and approachable. Of the four tasters present, no one was especially enthralled with this, and three of four tasters guessed its identity. Once we unveiled it, I suggested decanting for the remainder of the time, as I have seen this wine show very awkwardly without a lot of aeration. The decanting helped a lot, as this picked up a LOT of weight in the mid-palate. However, this was NOT a strong showing for this wine. Let 'em sleep...
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Wow. I have been trying to taste this for some time. Saw it on the menu at Tosoni's in Bellevue at what seems to be a great price ($105). Great blue/black fruit. Long finish. Got better as the evening wore on. Smooth. Tannins softened with time - didn't decant. I would have had another if I weren't driving.
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Qulceda Creek Vertical w/ Alex Golitzin (Vancouver Museum): (3400 cases of this made, fruit cropped at 3.1 tons/acre.) Very similar nose to the 2001, but this one had icing sugar as well as the violets. These two vintages really make a great first impression on the nose. On the palate, blackberries, blueberries and cream - plush, velvety fruit. A touch more heat showing than on the 2001 (mainly why I marginally prefer the 2001). This is a pure-bred puppy dog.
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CFTG Quilceda Creek Vertical (Glen's): Deep opaque black purple color. Right round bright black fruit nose. Right metallic black fruit on the palate. Sure did not see what all the fuss was about in this particular bottle. Very young.
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Quilceda Creek 1996-2002 vertical (Chicago suburbs): Nose of buttery oak and purple fruit. Concentrated blueberry and purple fruit on the palate, followed up by spicy oak. Very similar in spice to the 02 Insignia I tried a month ago, but more intense blue fruit here. Just so dark and primary. Tons of wood showing now, and obviously needs time to integrate. Plenty of stuffing here. This is the real deal.
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Impenetrable purple color. Totally seamless, voluptous and silky with the tannins buried deep. A great time. The only thing i couldnt find was the expressive nose that should develop with time. No hints of heat or alcohol that some have mentioned recently. A great time.
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I was motivated to open my first bottle of '02 after reading many positive reviews including the fact that this wine was dubbed a 100-pointer by Rovani and Parker recently in the Hedonist's Gazette. Splashed into a decanter at 530, and consumed with some amazing smoked pork shoulder at a friend's house from 730-1030. There was about one glass left over which I tried the next evening. This wine is an opaque crimson, purple. Another taster's first comment was, "Hot!" I am not sensitive to heat (enjoy Turley, Marquis Philips, etc.), but I have to agree that this wine shows heat both at 3 hours and 28 hours after opening. There is great concentration of fruit (red and black) with a good dose of oak and hint of chocolate. The palate is med-full with smooth but quite firm tannins on the finish. This bottle was quite good but far from a perfect cabernet to me this night.
This wine has the materials for improvement, but seems a bit disjointed now. It is only my second experience with QC, but the '99 I had a year and a half ago showed better balance and complexity. I hope the '02 is just too young and will integrate with more time as many report for this winery. I did not find any earthy, tobacco, leather aromas which I have read in some other QC reviews and associate with fine Bordeaux. This was tasted alongside '94 Rausan Segla, '98 Olivet Papet, and an '04 Pax (forget the bottling). The Pax was higher in alcohol (by about .5% I believe) and obviously younger, but was much better integrated and showed no heat.
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Dinner at Cafe Juanita - If this tasted any more like blueberry pie, I would have had to order it a la mode! Second time I have tried this wine and this time I thought it was even better. I remembered this having more complexity when I tried it six months ago, but this time the initial flavors were overwhelmingly blueberry and oak. Over 90 minutes, it started to develop some more personality and evolve into the wine I remembered (hot chocolate and Chai spices, but still overwhelmingly berry). Tannins are soft for such a young Cab, but that helps it drink so well this early.
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<Sun Valley> Drank with 8 hours of air and 36 hours of air. Better with more air. Fairly noticeable oak, but the rich blueberries and spice can hold it up. I am hopeful that with age this will develop further, and the wood won't increase its presence.
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Opened and decanted for ~6hrs prior to consumption. Medium to dark purple. Nose seemed to be somewhat closed, but still notable hints of flowers, berries, cassis. On the palate this is nice and smooth. The tannins were minimized by the weight of the wine and fruit. Lingering dark berries with what to my platate tasted like a touch of minerals. Over the next 2 days the wine had a bit more herbal tone to it. Nicely balanced wine, but I wonder if there is enough tannin to go the distance. I have only had two other vintages of QC and truly enjoyed this wine, but have yet to determine if it lives up to all of the hype. Perhaps this speaks more to my lack of experience with QC.
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big, grapey wine. no fruit on the first taste, maybe some chocolate. Was very funny that just as I took my first sip ever of a Q Creek cab and earthquake hit. A small one but enough to make me stand still with my mouth full of wine and think gee, this really is some wine! Tasted over the course of the next five days. Just with the cork put back in. We never really tasted any distinct fruit but the wine continued to be huge, mouthfilling, a "pay attention to me" wine. We are eagerly anticipating trying a mature Q Creek in a few years.
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The Best for The Best 2005 (Chicago NW Suburbs): Couldn't ever really get her to wake up and perform as I expected, although still a very nice experience (especially if you count the 2nd day). I started with an 8 hour decant, which wasn't enough. Toward the end of the first evening, it was opening up, but acting restrained and coy. The nose was always the most unusual on the table, with violets and other florals. So I stuck a cork in it an put it in the fridge. Opened her back up for dinner the next night and she had really come around. It was very enjoyable and the first bottle finished with dinner that night. I see so many notes mentioning the 2nd day, so maybe you really do have to plan a day ahead on this right now.
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Decanted for 2 hours, pours the dark opaque color you get with a big cab. Smells like nothing while sitting in the decanter, first pour and swirl releases waves and waves of licorice. A little spice shows, as well as heat and a little oak. Palate is rich and layered, very smooth, and has a very sweet core of fruit with way less tannin than you would expect. Finishes a little hot. Other notes say this will improve, I don't have much experience with aged Quilceda, but hopefully some of the oak will integrate. Honestly, though, you wouldn't be wasting anything drinking now, I can't see it improving a ton.
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Blueberry syrup for flapjacks. That's what I get immediately on opening. Decanted half to air and returned to the bottle after 3 hrs. Re-opened and sat for 2+ hrs. Odd turpentine nose. Still an intense blueberry experience with wood dust and hints of vanilla. Not my thing, to be honest. Certainly admirable for intensity and purity, but I found it very monochromatic. Brought slight remainer home and Elena's perception matched though she enjoyed more.
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What a difference 24 hours makes. I opened this yesterday and drank a glass while preparing dinner. I was let down because I generally think Quilceda Creek is some of the best wine I have in my cellar. After a so so reaction I recorked the bottle and drank something not worth remembering with my steak. About 27 hours later and with the bottle sitting on my counter the whole time I was reminded again why I love this wine. The blueberry was present on both nights but the wood, heat and volatiles on the nose were so much more in tune on the second night. I seem to have a keen sensitivity to VOC's and often I can't get past that when evaluating a young wine as was the case with this on the first night. The second night I was able to get past that and say "holy f'in cow, this is great!" Who knows, one day, I may enjoy this as much as the '94
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Dinner at Jak's. WOW - this is very nice right now but has tons of potential to really mature into an awesome wine. Very young on the nose and palate, but already showning dark, thick, complex flavors. Will only get better over the next ten years or so. Drank with a group, so everyone got one glass, not enough time to decant or really let it open up. Wouldn't open my bottles of this for at least 5 years.
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Appearance: Dark, inky purple. Some cloudy dark violet at the edges. Dense looking wine.
Initial Impressions: Right from the bottle the nose was full of fresh blueberry pie with sugar sprinkled on top of the crust. Some red berry and pumpkin pie spices join in too . There is a good deal of wood on the palate, but the tannins are so smooth and the wood isn't too much. Creamy chocolate blueberries and red berries make up the mouth flavors. The finish is medium-long and full of creamy milk chocolate. It is drying and woody; this is where the tannins come in the most. This calls out for a high quality steak. Overall, very balanced and attractive. It may be young, but we have a winner.
After sitting in the decanter for 2 hrs: The blueberries seem to have closed a bit on both the nose and palate. The tannins are more apparent. I still like this, but not as much as I did on the pour for a freshly opened bottle. The finish seems to have gotten too drying for my tastes.
Day 2: Whoa where did this nose of basil and oregano come from? It still has that sweet bluberry jam scent, but this has changed quite a bit. The palate has the herbal streak too. Blueberries and cream are still there, but I think someone seasoned my wine.
Day 3: On the nose, blueberries, cassis red fruit, some spice . Sweet and structured. No heat, just velvet. The palate still a good tannic backbone, but this has got a body on it. Blueberries, cedar, still some oak, but that silky, creamy, smooth, chocolate fruit! Wow. My wine has returned and a hit a new high.
Day 4: On the nose this seems to combine the herbal element from day 2 with the fruit from day 3. The palate is similar; herbs have returned, but only to a minor degree. This has taken the silky smooth mouthfeel to a whole new level. Still has that tannic backbone and drying finish. This will age and age and age.
Comments: I enjoyed this wine. It is well made and can only get better and better with time. I would love to try this again in a decade. All that said, it isn't my style. I like a bit more spice, cedar/leather, or cigar smoke elements in my reds. I can love this for what it is and what it will become. I am happy I tried a bottle. Great wine that gets a grade of A. Best and most interesting red I have had in a while.
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Drank over two days (36 hours.) Deep dark color that you can just barely see through. Tight nose to begin with showing only dark fruit (interestingly not blueberry) and oak. The second day much better integration, showing blueberry, blackberry, casis, and raspberry. Very thick mouthfeel, very dark, blackberry, carmel and vanilla and very tannic. The flavors are so massive that they take over your mouth. In a few years this could end up a profound wine. At this point a much better wine than the 02 Latour and better than the 01 Quilceda was at this point.
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This is arguably the best wine I've ever tasted, bar none. I know this is young, but given the ream of others who have tried it already, I couldn't help myself. Blueberry nose, layered flavors of rich chocolate, decadent coffee beans, gobs of red fruit. Layer after layer of flavor. Opened 8+ hours before tasting, it was simply stunning. This is a wine that I'd rather just drink and enjoy vs. having to think about and trying to write cogent notes. Was 6 bottles enough of a purchase? No - back up the truck if you can find this one!
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wow, what a great bottle of wine. righ now it has been open for about 32 hrs and it is just starting open up. all i can say is hold hold hold. this wine has great balance, unbelievable silky tannins, gobs of fruit and a finish that just doesn't stop. 97 points and i can't see any reason this wine can't improve a couple of more points with time.
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well its hard to say things about this wine other then rasberries blueberries and woodynotes and tannins tannins and more tannins. we decanted for about an hour and a half and this wine gave the same from beginning to end . it will be a number of years before i open another, that said i loved the wine big bold and huge well integrated and balanced i found this to be unlike anything i have had before
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I have been waiting to spend a day or two with the new release. Today I finally go my chance.
Day 1: Popped and poured. The nose screams oak and blueberries. Served blind I would have guessed South Australia Shiraz based on the nose. With an hour of air, the oak integrated a bit and overall it picked up some complexity. I now find dark chocolate, smoke, dried herbs, and some heat. The palate, however, is terrific. I have never had a thicker, lusher Quilceda. I also am blown away by the silky tannins. This doesn't have any of the hard tannic edge of the 01 or 99. I don't know the pH, but this seems to be the lowest acid QC I have had. Regarding the thickness (this may sound nuts), I noticed when I swirled the wine that it seemed to move slower than I expected. I could see ripples form on the surface. I find tastes of dark chocolate, earth, and just a hint of the fruit. Its there, but it is really hiding. I look forward to checking back in tomorrow. If I had been served this blind I would have given then 94 points.
Day 2: The nose is now far more integrated. I don't get nearly as much new oak, and I get no heat. It is now dominated by super sweet blueberries (like the 00). I also find dark chocolate and dried herbs. I am bit perplexed by the palate. It is very lush and soft. It is virtually seamless. In fact it strikes me as approaching too soft. Luckily some tannins appear right before the finish. This is certainly the softest, most approachable young Quilceda I have had. This certainly deserves its high rating, but I am not sure it is my favorite vintage. I like the wildness of the 94 or 99 better. 96+
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When I first opened this I was a bit surprised: loads of blueberry (which I have only seen on the 2000), heat and HUGE amount of wood, like a trip to the sawmill. I didn't decant, just popped, poured and savored a half bottle very slowly over 4 hours. Finally after about 3 hours I got a better sense of where this was going, as the wood integrated nicely and left behind a huge, intense, focused, extracted example of Quilceda. On the palate there was dark fruit, mineral and liqueur-like intensity, seamless from start to finish. This wine is going to need a number of years to drink up the barrel treatment, but it seems to have no shortage of stuffing to handle it in time. DAY 2: Wow, here come the Quilceda violets. A day of air (not gassed, just corked the half-empty bottle up and put it in the cellar) did wonders for this wine. Violet, cedar, and sawdust leap from the glass. The palate is smooth, seamless and dark without the faintest trace of alcohol. The structure is more apparent now, and wow is this loaded with tannins and a ton of oak just below the surface. This is really going to need a few years to integrate some of this, but the intensity and supple mouthfeel are off the charts. I still have a slight preference for the more overtly structured 2001, but that is splitting hairs. Upgrading from 94 to 96. I'm a believer!
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opened at 11 AM, poured out a couple of ounces and recorked. Those first few ounces were surprisingly nice considering pop and pour at cellar temp. The rest was sipped along with NY steak, carmelized shallot and stock reduction, and Risotto. This was a far superior wine to what I tasted at that open house. Blueberry, currant, cedar, graham. Lots of currant/cassis and less blueberry and vanilla than some previous years. Ripe tannins. The only real flaw was a bit of hotness. Nice wine.
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<QC Release Party> Arrived Late to the event and they were pouring from cold bottles. Would have prefered a little more time to spend with this wine. But there is no mistaking the quality of this juice. I am going to open one soon and watch it evolve with some air, because I thought it was Outstanding today. Nose was fairly unrevealing. After swirling, I was able to sneak some cassis out. VERY nice sweet fruit and dried cherries on the rich palate. Chocolate notes lead into lengthy finish comprised of fine tannins. It was just starting to loosen up when they started locking the doors, but even slightly tight, this was still very enjoyable. 94-95+ now under the right conditions. And although I'm no prophet, I've got no problem seeing this arrive at something close to perfection at its peak.
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Quilceda Creek Pick-up Event 2002 Vintage (Snohomish, WA): As good as advertised. The nose is far more closed than it was from barrel last year. With air it began to reveal toasted oak, spice, violets, minerality, and a slight touch of heat. The mouthfeel was awesome. It was the most silky and seamless palate I have yet encountered on a QC. I found tastes of smoke, rosemary, sage, and tons of fruit and structure. For a wine to be this big and so balanced is extraordinary. The only other wine that shares that element in my mind is the 94 Harlan.
I find the palate on this wine to be far more accessible at this point than the 01 was on release. I think the nose on the 01 was a touch more open. I look forward to opening a bottle soon, so I can follow it over the course of a few days. 97++
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I've opened bottles of QC right after release in every vintage since '94, and this is by far the most opulent and open at this stage. Huge and lush, with no hard edges whatsoever. Deep, concentrated and complex, and loaded with jammy fruit, but it has enough structure so that it all manages to stay in balance. I think this wine is as qualitatively as good as anything they've made, but I think it may represent a stylistic turning point. I opened a '94 alongside this, and as good as this was, I still prefer the '94 - although I think that's as much a reflection of personal taste (and sentiment) as anything else. I look forward to following the evolution of this wine.
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I held out a total of 1 hour after bringing the bottles home. No travel shock that I could detect. All I can say is blueberries blueberries blueberries. Extremely primary and big with cassis and mildly heavy oak which I assume will integrate. To me not off putting. The thing that sets this 02 apart from the 00 and 01 is that it is incredibly smooth in the finish, with tannins in check and not overbearing as with the previous vintages. There also seems to be more focus or elegance or something that I can't quite pinpoint comparing this to the 98 thru 01 versions. Maybe I am on drugs but this reminded me of the 02 Pride Cab Franc! Quite enjoyable and delicious. Everything you would expect from this producer, and then some. For those who have a case or more, open one and try it, if for anything, the experience. Excellent potential, excellent buy. Will try this again over the next few days.
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Definately good but it didn't blow me away. Maybe it was overshadowed by the '02 Pride Res Cab and '02 Merus that we had with it but it didn't thrill me. I will give it the benefit of the doubt and lay the rest away for a while.
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Opaque dark purple. Serious deep dark aroma of black fruit and a hint of chocolate. Big mouthpuckering black fruit. Chocolate and coffee flavors. Very tannic and tight. Should definitely improve with age. 4/05
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Upon opening - huge nose of and massive concentration of black fruits stewed fruit notes - some residual sugar. Minimumum aeration time in '05 was 12 hours. Monolithic and has a somewhat of a hot finish - flip flops over time trying to decide if it was blackberry jam, port or a cab. Things seem to come into balance after 24hours in the bottle - some of that hot finish seem to smooth itself out although not completely. Fruit still primary and dominates everything else including tannins and acidity at times ( though its there). Suspect this is going to need alot of time in the cellar. Wine yet to collapse even after 48+ hours in bottle.
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Drank a bottle early to see what the fuss is all about. Undeniably going to be a monster. Impenetrable black ink, tons of fruit but balanced by earth. After decanting for an hour, virtually no change. This is quite young. I'll leave the decanter for the night and try some tomorrow. A great wine requiring some time in the cellar. 95+?
Update...24 hours later, no sign of oxidation and the wine is still pretty closed. Powerful, well structured, and in need of a couple of years, easily. But a fantastic wine if we can wait it out!
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Wow. The nose is extremely young and screams of vanilla, char, and blackberries. The palate is tremendously thick and lush but is in absolutely perfect balance. It also offers great complexity and a long, explosive finish. 98++ Not hard imagine that this will be the first 100 point wine from Washington.
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4/20/2024 - Noesfacil Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tasted right after opening and initial impression was more alcohol than expected. The alcohol predominance became more mellow and wine became way more balanced after about 2 hours decanted. Cork was perfect and only had a perfect dark red/purple color in the bottom, maybe, 1 mm of the cork. I believe wine will keep for another 10 years easily and highly recommend decanting at least 2 hours before drinking. At that point wine is delicious, well balanced and very strong. Felt like a young wine although it has been in a bottle for 22 years.
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4/12/2024 - Benoit Hardy Likes this wine: 93 Points
At first, the nose was very licorice, suggesting that the wine was past its peak. But aeration will do it the greatest good to allow a bright fruit to emerge, against a background of undergrowth and leather. Overall, the wine is a little older for a Cabernet Sauvignon if we take Bordeaux as a benchmark but it remains lively and evolves positively.
The palate is frank and impactful. The acidity remains sufficient and even gives it a suave side, a beneficial thing before the wine develops its 14.9° on a dense juice. Aromas of black fruits, cocoa and tobacco intertwine. However, this lacks substance considering the asking price even if it is a well-made and flavorful wine. Beautiful woody finish with a rocky length.
Very good Cabernet Sauvignon, with a colder profile than those of California.
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2/24/2024 - derrington Likes this wine: 95 Points
Purchased on released, and stored in temperature controlled cellar. Decanted 4 hours. Still tight. Opened up over two hours. A lot of life left. Dark fruits.
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1/23/2024 - jmconangla@indau.es wrote:
Molt bo o bonissim
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1/1/2024 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 99 Points
Best wine ive had all year!
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12/24/2023 - Genghis88 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ox-blood in color.
Stewed dark fruit. Hint of oak and all spice.
Thick and chewy. Better with food. Remnants of dark fruit. Some leather and iodine. Chocolate notes. Really expressive. At its peak for sure. Drink now or within the next 12 months.
Excellent wine. Probably better last year.
Love this producer. We did a big lambsicle dinner tonight. The Wine paired perfectly with the food.
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12/14/2023 - tomlee wrote: 94 Points
Maroon in color. 14.9% ABV. Sublime nose of blue fruits, leather, Whitman Sampler box and violets. Full bodied with tremendous acidity and balance. Concentration and power abound on a wine that has been in the bottle for twenty years now. Blueberry, black raspberry, chocolate truffles and tobacco on the palate. The finish is long and silky. More advanced than my last bottle several years ago but still stunning. Best over the next 2-3 years.
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8/20/2023 - SadEdjo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark colour; big plush wine with nicely resolved tannins. Cocoa & dark fruit; long finish with good lift
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7/4/2023 - phandley66 wrote: 90 Points
Served with a grilled ribeye. Drinking really well but probably at/close to peak. Nose of chocolate, earth, petrol. Big wine. Lots of chocolate , cassis, mineral notes. Bit of alcohol burn but overall good wine, drinking well.
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6/19/2023 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Have been saving the last one. No longer the fruit (wonderful) bomb it once was, has morphed into an old-world style (without the nose) smooth, beautiful, silky wine to pair with rare rib eye. Hat's off to aging.
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6/13/2023 - wine4ever Likes this wine:
From our cellar, purchased on release. Number 7 of a case....hasn't changed much since our last bottle 2 years ago. Mature, but still lively, and full of flavor, amazing bouquet. Deep dark crimson color, super smooth and luscious. Layers of cherry, cassis, chocolate, mineral, coffee. Long finish. Excellent with steak. A truly outstanding wine.
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4/28/2023 - Handy1 wrote: 88 Points
Agree with last few reviews kind of lifeless with minimal fruit weird initial taste and then some stewed plums. I guess thats what happens to some of these 20+ year old wines. Never came around and i gave it three days trying it each day without much change
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3/8/2023 - randyjc wrote: 88 Points
What is happening to this wine is what keeps happening to QCs as they age - they become port-like. Not an attractive quality. I will drink through my QCs much more quickly - but when they are good, they are very good. Just not at age 20.
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2/17/2023 - cabfrancair wrote: 85 Points
Dominant tannins and high alcohol
Muted fruit
Waited too long?
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1/29/2023 - Musinus wrote: 83 Points
Vague aromas of red fruits that quickly fade and are enveloped by mustiness. Tenuous flavors of currant and plum that are overwhelmed by the high alcohol content. This is the third bottle I have opened before committing my impressions to review. Without doubt, 14.9% alcohol is a premature wine annihilator.
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12/4/2022 - rexmerlot wrote: 93 Points
Great wine. Still showing lots of fruit. Dark purple in colour. Showing no signs of bricking. Lots of secondary fruit starting to show. May be at or near its peak.
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12/4/2022 - PJT Likes this wine: 89 Points
Not much fruit and showing it’s age. Still a solid Cabernet but should have drank earlier.
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11/13/2022 - NY Wino Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 90 minutes prior to drinking. Still needed time in the glass to open up big bouquet, lots of dark fruit, still some tannins, but nice long finish.
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10/30/2022 - Philip67 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Super wine, still in great condition and the primary fruits still firing hard. Structure has begun to soften. Rich velvety very full bodied, this is not shy! Though the softening structure makes it more approachable and deal more mellow than previously. Long and complex. Drinking perfectly now, why wait? Though this will last a good few years yet.
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10/8/2022 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 96 Points
This wine continues to deliver at age 20. Concentrated fruit, excellent balance. Possibly a bit past peak but not much. Drink.
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5/23/2022 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Inky and a tad reductive due to the vintage, big and deep. A poster wine for Parkerization (or what you had to do to win 100 points). I enjoyed this but it reminded me why I quit buying QC during those years.
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5/7/2022 - fitchbuck Likes this wine: 96 Points
I waited a long, long time to drink this wine. Almost 20 years. It still had the 89.99 Thriftway sticker on it, from when TJR convinced me to pony up a benjamin ... for this up & coming winery's 100pt wine.
Fast forward to this day - the celebration of TJR's 50th. Opened for dinner with sous vide steak (thanks K!) and other fine accoutrements.
Cheers my friends!
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2/25/2022 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 97 Points
Opaque red with the slightest fading at the edges. Black cherries and chocolate on the nose. Complexly layered fruit on the palate. Black cherry, blackberry, bitter chocolate, tobacco. Plums on the mid-palate. Sweet cherry fruit develops with air. Sweet tannins, beautiful acidity, great balance. Finishes long and elegant with dark chocolate and cherry. Gorgeous, elegant wine. Drink over the next 10 to 15 years. May continue to develop for another 5 years before peak.
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1/21/2022 - schan109 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bottle breathe for 6 hours, and decant for another 1 hour before serving. Smooth and elegant palate, with very nice cherry, cigar, tar, smoke and wood. Fully matured and perhaps best time to enjoy. Long finishing. I would have thought this is a Bordeaux left bank.
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1/18/2022 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 91 Points
May have screwed the pooch on this one. Drank a bottle maybe 15 years ago and was overwhelmed by the fresh red and blue fruit. Delicious and perhaps too much. The fruit is now gone, wish it still had more, but paired well with filet. Has been stored at 57 degrees, but think I waited too long.
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12/15/2021 - Marc S wrote: 94 Points
- Brick color with slow forming legs. It's in total harmony and has flavours of black currant and black pepper with a medium body. Fleshy texture with a long finish - Complex wine to say the least. A lot of blueberry fruit.
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11/12/2021 - BradA Likes this wine: 93 Points
I continue to find QC a very technical wine. Having tasted vintages 1992-2006, it has maintained its balance, finesse and style. Is this a flaw? Short answer, no. What I miss is irregularity, variation in maturation and a progression of flavors and depth.
The big ripe cluster of blueberry notes are very fine, even and smooth. Yet, I long for a bit of earth, resin and some telltale nuance of its vineyard. It’s “ perfection” leaves me wanting…. Wanting for something that harkens to its nexus. Again, I cannot fault them. It’s a beautiful wine and well crafted, maybe I’m just not the right customer.
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10/14/2021 - TGOT Likes this wine: 98 Points
Agree with comments from FreudianSip (what a great handle, btw). This wine is in a perfect places. Balanced, approachable, perfect mouthfeel. Blended black and blue fruits. "Could drink this all night long."
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9/25/2021 - thebonnydooner wrote: 92 Points
Last one of these. Drank somewhat cool out of the cellar and this was good I think. Not hugely expressive, some pure cherry and currant fruit. More currant fruit on the palate with more sweet cherry fruit. Decent long finish. Does not rise to the spectacular (or maybe I am just old and jaded) - but another solid 92 points, with poor value.
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6/22/2021 - wine4ever Likes this wine:
Awesome. In a perfect place with plenty of life left. Huge fruit plus layers and layers of flavor.
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4/10/2021 - hkbob Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bright purple, lightening toward the rim. Nose of sweet blackberries straight out of the bottle. Soft on the palate with modest red and black fruit profile and a medium-weight body and length. While still very enjoyable, this bottle has started its downward trajectory. Based on my recent experiences with this vintage of this wine, recommend to drink now.
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1/8/2021 - FreudianSip Likes this wine: 98 Points
Complex, balanced, lingering. Emphasis on brooding depth eclipsing smooth fruit at this point, as to be expected and preferred. Shared with group of seven on various points along the wine experience and palate continuum; perhaps surprisingly, it received a “loved” it”, “wow,” or “best wine I’ve ever tasted” from all. My first properly aged Quilceda Creek. Nice when a wine can deliver even in the face of near unattainable expectations.
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12/26/2020 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 98 Points
Opened about an hour before drinking with Xmas rib roast dinner. Can't ask for much more from a Cab. Concentrated flavors of dark fruits, licorice, and smoke with earthy undertones. For those who like the style hard to beat Q Creek for quality and value. Happy to have a few more to enjoy. Drink or hold.
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10/28/2020 - jpbach13C wrote: 98 Points
Silk. Gorgeous. I was expecting something disjointed and boozy and was pleasantly surprised. This has turned the corner (2002 to date has come off overripe in my opinion) and become a perfectly balanced but just decadent enough cab. Pure pleasure. Everything is resolved. Very pleasant vanilla sweet fruit.
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7/10/2020 - EvanRose wrote: 100 Points
Liquid velvet. Smooth as hell, loto of deep red ripe cherry, chocolate and smoke on the finish. One of the best wines i have ever tasted.
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7/10/2020 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 99 Points
Vanilla and oak on the nose. Big RE fruit and floral undertones. Great balance, smooth tannins, round luscious mouth feel.
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7/9/2020 - RAD2626 wrote: 92 Points
Big, dark, brooding 18 year old cab. Lovely nose, legs, mouthfeel. Dark looking but to me more red than black berries. Quilceda Creek never disappoints. Only disappointment is that I have only one bottle left of this vintage.
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6/28/2020 - Topper wrote: 93 Points
Big, concentrated mouth-filling wine that shows fruit and power with a semblance of balance and just a touch of heat remaining. Definitely in the 93-94 pt range.
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6/6/2020 - wine4ever Likes this wine:
From our cellar. Decanted - lots of thick sediment. Served on the cool side and drank over a 3 hour window - little to no change in quality as it warmed up to room temperature. Outstanding wine. Big, luscious, similar to some of the Shiraz we've had from AUS. A touch of bricking on the rim. Nose of dark fruits. Very smooth palate, med acidity, lots of plum, dark cherry, bacon fat, chocolate. Oak and alcohol are not that evident. Tannins are mostly resolved but still present, long finish. Went great with lamb chops. In a great spot, drink now or continue to hold.
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6/6/2020 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 96 Points
Few hours of air. Drank in Grassl 1855.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Long legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of alcoholic heat, fragrant oak, fresh earth, dark stony minerals, blackcurrant confiture, tar and creosote. Developing.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, high alcohol (14.9%), mouth-filling high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of deep concentrated black cherries, blackcurrant confiture borderline jam, redcurrants, dark stony minerals, menthol, dark herbs. Tar and creosote with more air. Very complex. Very long finish.
Outstanding quality. Takes you on a very thrilling ride as this is somehow bold and seemingly flirting with blockbuster potential but it it remains on the edge. This particular bottle still feels like it could age more and develop over the next 4-5 years easily actually. Wow.
97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc.
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5/26/2020 - Cailles wrote: 81 Points
Sadly, this bottle was over the hill. The stuffing and structure underneath were both impressive but sadly over-toned by unwanted soy sauce, broth aromas which should really not be the case with a wine of this reputation and age. This is the second disappointment with an aged Quilceda Cab following a bottle of the 2003 which showed similar symptoms after a short time in the glass. This bottle might have not been properly stored (auction purchase) although it looked great but the 2003 was bought upon release and stored in the best condition, so no excuse. It is sad if a wine of such potential dies that early and before all the tertiary magic happens.
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5/22/2020 - NY Wino wrote: 90 Points
After initial tasting, I decided to double decant and waited 2 hours before starting to drink. The wine is a dark purple color with a very muted nose, that eventually gave up some dark fruit and spice but also evidence of alcohol even after double decanting. The wine has some initial fruit but then seems somewhat shut down with limited secondary flavors (despite being 18 years old) and a somewhat dry finish. It was decent with a delicious braised chicken dinner, but I fear it may be over the hill. Time to drink this one up!
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5/10/2020 - wineismylife wrote:
WIMLNR
Tasted non blind. Glass decanted 30 minutes before serving. Followed over 3 hours. Never really opened up to reveal much in the way of fruit. Even smelled a little bit like volatile acidity upon opening.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of nail polish up front eventually followed by some notes of plums, black berries and black cherries. Flavors of black raspberries, black cherries and a bit of black boysenberry. Medium acidity, integrated tannin, full bodied. Drink now with an extended decant or maybe continue to hold? Saved about 1 glass for a follow up tasting 24 hours later.
Not rated due to the inconclusive results.
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5/10/2020 - randyjc wrote: 89 Points
This wine was fantastic 2 years ago - and several times before that. Now it's showing like some other of the older QCs I have - turning dark and thick, port-like and hot. More of a fortified wine. On open it had a the port qualities plus a bit of metallic bitterness. Decanted for four hours and the bitterness was gone, there was impressive depth but overall the wine was a disappointment given its pedigree and past performance.
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5/9/2020 - LordOfGlencoe wrote: flawed
Nose: honey, camembert, vegetable, vegetable stock.
Mouth: not pleasant anymore.
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5/9/2020 - wilypod Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted bind. First Impression at 55 F was a 2012 Petite Sirah from NapaValley, blueberry and dark fruits. As it warmed, the high acidity, savory notes and iron suggested either a very fine Chianti Riserva or a Cab Franc from the Loire. Once the Bordeaux (pencil lead, cassis, Bing cherry) character became clear, was it a New World style Merlot from St. Emilion or Pomerol or a Washington State Bordeaux blend? Notable Bordeaux nose and palate and tasted fairly young. Turned out to be a 96% CS from Washington State, vintage 2002.
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5/8/2020 - sirpat00 wrote: flawed
This has aged beyond its drinking window unfortunately and degenerated largely into broth. The palate still showed some fruit and freshness to it, but the nose was a no-go.
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5/2/2020 - vertex663 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 1 hr. Lots of cherry on the nose and palette. Medium long finish with soft-ish tannins. Beautiful Washington Stat Cab (as long as you like cherry).
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4/12/2020 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 100 Points
As perfect a wine as I’ve ever had. Big red cherry flavor, liquid velvet.
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3/15/2020 - thebonnydooner wrote: 92 Points
Immediately upon opening, this was way more initially impressive than prior bottles, loads of cassis and dark cherry, very pure. Palate is full bodied, good acidity medium tannins. Not hugely complex however. Unfortunately the initial impact did not last through the first half of the bottle, got a little "hot" and disjointed. Still very good, but the first couple of whiffs promised so much more.....glad I opened this now. one more left. Will look forward to that (and to the rest of the bottle tomorrow), not sure about the value however.
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2/23/2020 - norsktorsk wrote: 95 Points
drinking right on
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5/28/2019 - bdeblank wrote: 93 Points
Very nice. Fine tannins. Double decanted and drunk over an out. Fruit is receding but structure is good. Nice finish. Probably last at least five more years but not sure it will improve more so would drink up
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4/18/2019 - CMN wrote: 90 Points
Purple fruit (plum, boysenberry, blackberry) and oak on the palate, which adds a chocolate note. Tannins are surprisingly more resolved than in a bottle from a year ago, though still noticeable. Big/dense/extracted and while not my stylistic preference, certainly well made.
Recommend a hold, but drinkable with a long decant.
Two bottles of this wine were opened. Bottle #1 had a touch of TCA. Not terrible, but fairly muted on the nose and palate. Note reflects bottle #2 only.
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3/4/2019 - brouigu1 wrote:
I have to agree with the other CT member who said this was flat. I was so disappointed that this did not show well at all. Its not vinegar but zero nose, aroma or taste. I tasted upon opening and after a few hours and there was no growth in this wine.
I have had this vintage before and found it outstanding but this was beyond its drinking life.
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2/14/2019 - CalOR wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for two hours and was just flat, seemed past its prime. No fruit nor much of a presence in your mouth.
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2/6/2019 - wineismylife wrote: 94 Points
WIML94
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about two hours.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of Kirsch,tobacco, black berries and plums. Flavors of plums, black berries and black cherries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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11/22/2018 - swyang wrote:
The last of 6 and alas probably the best one, which gave me a glimpse of hope on this as the others were simply disjointed or too high on alcohol or else simply too oaky. But this one seem to have matured in its dignified way, finally, and had a suave and classy reverberation throughout the bottle. Dark yes, sweet yes, but keeping the fruits, the barely coming out secondary elements, tannin, wood all are starting to integrate nicely. Well done.
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9/20/2018 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Blind wines (OC): Poured blind. Paired with the 2002 Dead Arm, too. Like that wine, there are over 600 users of this wine still in the database, which is simply huge. Both that wine and this one in my view are holding up well. I thought aromatically that this was Syrah, as it had a bacon fat quality. In the palate, charcoal, bitter chocolate, some density of dark cherry fruit, currant and a molten-like texture at times. Finishes with same charcoal and tarry notes. Big wine but I enjoyed it close the meal, and serve as a tasting partner with the 2002 Dead Arm.
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9/9/2018 - DOC WOK wrote:
A
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9/2/2018 - J o e wrote: 93 Points
Licorice, baking spices, tobacco and red cherries constitute the aromatics. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied and quite refined, with blackberries, leather and earth all very much present. The finish is quite long, with a gentle tannic grip and a trace of alcoholic warmth. This can be drunk now or held for a decade or more, and is probably best when served at slightly above cellar temp (60F or thereabouts). A solid Cabernet. 93.
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8/7/2018 - norsktorsk wrote: 95 Points
nice against a couple 2002 napa cabs.
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7/3/2018 - Purple Grillz Likes this wine: 94 Points
If we could magically knock off 2% alcohol from this drink it could be a perfect wine. It is extracted, but not a fruit bomb glob, AFWEs May disagree but I truly think this reminds me of Chateau Latour with a hint of chocolate covered cherry. The major flaw with this wine is the oppressive alcohol. It dominates the finish, which counts for a lot for me. Lingering Cabernet artistry is much more enjoyable than a slow burn of vodka.
I am going to let the rest of this bottle breathe overnight and see if the alcohol can blow off.
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6/25/2018 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 100 Points
This is an amazing. This is the 9th of a case and the wine continues to deliver an amazing experience. Right from the git-go delicious. Complex and hedonistic. Perfect integration of the complex flavor profile. Long finish. at peak but with the stuffing to go many more years. I know that this wine is not everyone's style but if it is, Q-creek is really hard to beat. Amazing juice and happy to have three more in the cellar.
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6/2/2018 - Andrew Hunter Likes this wine: 94 Points
Velvety WA cab. Great balance of fruit and tannins. Went great with a prime NY steak.
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5/7/2018 - CMN wrote:
Very dark purple with a nose of plums and Bordeaux funk.
The purple fruit (plum, boysenberry) is ripe and perhaps a touch roasted, with a good dose of oak. Tannins are prominent and bitter and haven't receded after 24 hours of air. There's a lot of stuffing here and it drinks young. Recommend you bury bottles for 10 years in hops that the tannins recede; the good news is the fruit is substantial enough to go the distance.
14.9%ABV, but balanced. Hold.
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4/30/2018 - shaferguy91 wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Quite a lot of sediment.
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4/28/2018 - dkhale4 Likes this wine:
No reason to hang on to this much longer.
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4/9/2018 - psusfca Likes this wine: 98 Points
This is just spectacular. Best Quilceda I've had ever. I hesitate to put this wine at such a high rating. Gorgeous blue fruits. Oak is present in a reasonable way at open, but fades to perfectly balanced in background. Its delicious. I don't think this bottle will get much better, so I think I'll drink the others over the next year or so.
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2/21/2018 - europat55 wrote: 91 Points
Nose: B++ Palate: B++/A-
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1/22/2018 - Old Vino wrote: flawed
flawed
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1/18/2018 - randyjc wrote: 97 Points
I have had every Quilceda Creek from 2001 through 2011. This is the most impressive, most complete and most compelling of the Quilceda wines. I decanted it 6 hours and having tasted it on opening and then at 4 and then at 6 I highly recommend a lengthy decant. It calms down, integrates and is so smooth after that time. Blackberry, mocha and vanilla are the predominant characteristics on the nose and in the mouth. Multiple layers, ephemeral characteristics and beautiful flavors and sensations. Truly a gorgeous wine. Wow.
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1/1/2018 - tomlee wrote: 99 Points
Purple in color. 14.9% ABV. Stunningly pure nose of red and blue fruits, molten licorice, violets and crushed rocks. Plush, polished and incredibly silky. Tremendous structure and concentration. Blueberries, currants and cassis liqueur on the palate. The finish is exceptionally long with no shortage of tannins. This wine is the complete package and has lived up to all the hype. The epitome of an iron fist in a velvet glove. Drink over the next decade.
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12/28/2017 - Stirling Likes this wine: 98 Points
The colour is still that dark red that we normally associate with a 5 year old. A gorgeous nose of black currant, black cherry and blueberry rises up and greets your nose well above the glass. Those aromas follow on to the palate where they are joined by tastes of blackberry with notes of vanilla, mocha, menthol and cedar. Each swirl and sip seems to bring something new, such is the complexity of this wine. Full body with smooth, polished tannin, the rich texture is kept precise and delineated by the structure creating sensations of power and refinement at the same time. The finish goes on for nearly a minute. Extraordinary. www.advinetures.ca
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12/25/2017 - daved Likes this wine: 94 Points
Needed 6 hours slow ox to fully open, but mighty fine when it did. Still came in second to Hobbs To Kalon.
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12/19/2017 - Philip67 Likes this wine: 100 Points
This is an extraordinary wine! Virtually never give 100 points to any wine but this one blew me away. It is ready to go but will continue drinking for at least a decade. Structurally it is powerful wine, with high alcohol, good tannin and loads of fruit which is developing multiple layers. It is certainly big and rich - but is not over-extracted. Menthol, cassis, leather and medicinal notes on the palate which I can only described as having the type of elevated notes one can find in a great burgundy.
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9/5/2017 - juggernt wrote: 97 Points
Consistent with previous note with the addition of tobacco and roasted meats on the nose.
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8/20/2017 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted blind. Deep, savory, and delicious. Aromas of black figs, blackberries, olives, cloves, lavender, and toast. Silky texture until the solid tannins on the finish. Nearing its peak but will age well for many years. Rating: 94
Guess the wine. Rhone blend. Chateauneuf du Pape. 10 years old.
Non-Blind p.s.: A spectacular miss! But I will note that my last two non-blind tasting notes for Quilceda Creek wines mention resemblances to Chateauneuf du Pape.
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7/21/2017 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 94 Points
Not decanted, followed for 3.5 hours out of Somm stems.
Dark fruit and berries envelop your head during the initial tastes upon opening - strong and heady, deep rich aromas and flavors. Over time the fruits are tamed and the nose shows more BDX characteristics. After 3 hours wood, vanilla and alcohol are in the forefront.
Flavor profile is impeccable. Rich, dark fruits were front-and-center the entire time with an elegant mouthfeel. Finish didn't last as long as I'd like, consistent with my last tasting of this a year or so back. This is in a great place, and my remaining bottle is safe though 20-22. Would not decant this for more than 30 mins, if at all.
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4/29/2017 - auto Likes this wine: 94 Points
.Decanted less than hour, and drank for the 3 hours afterwards. Exceptional integration between fruit and tannins, it is almost the perfect balance.
Slight bits of chocolate on the finish, the fruit does not linger long. 2 more bottles to go. Served with Prime Strip.
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3/6/2017 - swyang wrote:
I simply couldn't not drinking this... too much, way too much alcohol is surfacing to the juice and the fruits are getting too heavy and sinking down in the bottom of the glass. Hew... my god, that was simply terrible. They don't age, and certainly not gracefully... Sad.
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10/3/2016 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 95 Points
Coravin'd a few large glasses to celebrate Rose being hired at ****'s personal chef. After 45 mins breathing in the glass there's bright blackberry, creosote on the nose. Tannins are well-integrated and the wine drinks well on its own or with food. Finish doesn't last as long as I'd like, but the flavor profile is still youthful and complex for a 13 YO wine. Would happily drink this daily, and at the purchase price of $84 this is a bargain next to Insignia or HSS.
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9/25/2016 - redrhonewine wrote: flawed
Corked! Bummer
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7/23/2016 - thebonnydooner wrote: 92 Points
I am reminded again that getting off the mailing list was not a bad choice. Not that this was a bad wine, well stored, from magnum, from a great year, plenty of age, decent amount of air time, but could of, should have been better. This is your standard "excellent" well balanced cabernet, but lacks awesomeness or super complexity. It was blown away by three Cayuse syrahs. No way is this 100 pts.
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3/23/2016 - RJWallis Likes this wine: 95 Points
Blind tasting with 2002 Phelps Insignia, 2002 Pride Reserve and 2005 Betz Le Parrain among others. Everyone liked the QC but it did lag the Insignia and Pride for all the tasters. Smooth, silky tannins, oak well integrated and not overdone. Fruit and chocolate profile. May have fared better if tasted earlier in the lineup, palate fatigue may have been a factor.
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2/28/2016 - wineismylife wrote: 94 Points
WIML94
Tasted non blind.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of soapstone, currants and plums. Flavors of cassis, berries, raspberries and cherries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannin, full bodied. Drink now with a little air to kick start it a bit or continue to hold. Should be pretty swinging in about 3-5 years. Finally coming around.
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2/26/2016 - Big Joe Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very good but needs to open for a wow naturally. Consumed over four hours with the last glass better than the first. Still very nice!
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2/18/2016 - indiscriminate palate wrote:
TTTG Blind (North by Northwest) (ER): Plummy, chocolatey, rich, plummy, plummy, chocolaty, plummy, with rich, hot, chocolaty, plummy black fruit, and chocolaty plums.
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2/13/2016 - newkid17 Likes this wine: 95 Points
This night had a 2012 maybach as well. Incredible to compare a well integrated wine compared to a young one. Granted, different winemakers. This was a great wine. So smooth, long finish, dark blue fruits, subtle earth tones, and semi-sweet chocolate. This is a great exact of a wine with some many layers. The nose was not as big and the taste. Minimally acidity.
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1/1/2016 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 100 Points
Like drinking velvet
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12/31/2015 - patwjr Likes this wine: 95 Points
Pnp'd. A bit off at first, but with 15 min of air showed soft sweet mature fruit and very smooth. Drinking beautifully right now.
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12/14/2015 - shaferguy91 wrote: 93 Points
2 hour decant.
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11/12/2015 - ToddR911 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Should have decanted longer but only had a half hour. Initially had too much heat on the finish. Later it opened up and had nice fruit forward and a more complex finish. Overall drinking well right now and this was the first time I had tried this wine and will have it again. However, I definitely don't get to the RP 100 pts.
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11/2/2015 - PopularCar Likes this wine: 94 Points
Time to drink this one. Nice blueberry, cassis & vanilla but it's too thin to get a higher score
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7/25/2015 - Harry Cantrell Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep garnet. Nose has mellowed out a bit but still quite youthful. Hints of blueberries, cinnamon. Taste was like a 3 year old wine. Blueberries, blackberries, cinnamon. Very good, but 100 points?? Don't think so.
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7/14/2015 - Night Train wrote: 96 Points
Wow! Two years ago, I thought this had lost a little. Wrong! It is absolutely singing right now, and it shows no signs of age. Drank at a small party with a bunch of other stellar wines, so no detailed notes - except to say that it was wonderful and my WOTN. Too bad it was my last one.
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7/3/2015 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 96 Points
Decanted for 3.5 hours and followed over 2.5. Blueberries filled the room when decanting. Graphite, faint blueberry, and bright fruit are the dominant flavors. Faint charred wood provides a backbone and structure that leaves a lingering finish. While the wine itself seems relatively thin on its own, its "easy to drink" profile is more complex than it appears to be; the wood is more of a "finishing touch" like polish/wax on a red car, that really lets the flavor linger on. Bravo!
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6/14/2015 - Filippo wrote: 93 Points
Drank it straight from the cellar so a bit colder than room temp. Tasted much better than my previous bottle.
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5/25/2015 - flashvictor Likes this wine: 95 Points
Memorial Day Weekend (Anniversary Weekend); 5/22/2015-5/26/2015 (Home): Decanted 5 hours. Deep tanzanite color leads to a nose of blueberry pie and dark chocolate. Full bodies contains loads of blue and black fruit but little to no secondary flavors. Amazing finish lasts well over a minute.
This bottle seems less evolved than bottle one year ago.
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5/10/2015 - Brownvino wrote: 96 Points
Mother's Day wine. opened for two hours , re-corked and took to restaurant (John Howie Steakhouse). It was decanted at the restaurant and consumed over the next 2 1/2 hours.
The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are slow. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, blueberry, black currant (cassis) and red currant. It tastes like red currant, black currant (cassis), blueberry, forest floor and black olive. The body is medium/full. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
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5/9/2015 - John Tang Likes this wine: 98 Points
Decanted 4 hours and it is a must. A very strong wine, still a little too young, but I can clearly see the potential, both the smell and palate are superb, It smells like black currant (cassis), strawberry jam, plum, espresso, toast, smokey bacon, pine and vanilla. long long finish with over 45 seconds.
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2/26/2015 - Knicksfan wrote: 95 Points
Still packing a huge punch but nicely balanced black fruit and tannin.
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1/25/2015 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 95 Points
Coravin'd two glasses which were allowed to air for 45 mins. Rose described the nose a whatever velvet smells like, and the profile was equally approachable. Frankly this was excellent right out of the bottle and moved towards outstanding in under an hour. A quality CS that can be enjoyed on its own or with food.
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12/31/2014 - Stevethebeav Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is the last of six bottles of '02. My notes from my first in '09 were that it was a fruit and alcohol bomb. It has mellowed out nicely since then. The flavors have integrated and the heat has been tamed and refined. Heavy sediment in this bottle. But as with all QC wines the nose is amazing. 'You had me at the first whif.' While it is not a full palate of flavor, the balance and length of the experience is noteworthy. Oak and licorice are prominent with a sweet, dark cherry teaser at the end. The texture and integration are what I really appreciate. I just love the seamless, continuous experience of QC wines. I can't wait to try the '03.
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12/26/2014 - W2WineGuy Likes this wine: 91 Points
a very nice wine, but a bit underwhelming at this point. Decanted a couple of hours, nice nose, not overpowering, solid fruit and oak, but simply not as silky as you would anticipate and expect, and not as well integrated. Medium finish, vs something you would anticipate to go on for a while. Good, don't get me wrong, just not great
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12/14/2014 - Greg Pierce Does not like this wine:
Dark opaque purple. Definite heat on the nose -- reminds me of a fruit liqueur rather than a wine. As time went on, the alcohol on the nose became overpowering. Broad, dark fruits with little acid or any other kind of brightness. Again, more like a fruit liqueur than a wine. A poor showing.
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12/3/2014 - Filippo wrote: 90 Points
What can I say....this is clearly a world class wine and received many great scores...but....it didn't impress me. I found it very fruit-bomby, but also very unbalanced, despite being 12 yo.
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11/2/2014 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 92 Points
Higher End Domestic Cabs (Edina Country Club, MN): A bit out of sorts. Vanilla, spice and oak on the nose. The palate picks up coffee beans, blueberries and minerals. Long finish and hold these. Not in the same place as the last time I had this wine.
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11/2/2014 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
High End Napa Cabs - Blind (Edina Country Club, Edina, MN): Very dark purple red color. Drank 2 glasses over 3hours, the first glass blind. The nose has lots of oak, new oak, wood, black fruit. The palate is dense and chewy, glycerin, alcohol, oak, spicy, huge legs, blackberry, blackberry liqueur, firm tannins. This was the last wine poured and it was quite obvious that this was the Quilceda. Big, boisterous and hot Maybe this will tone down, but I won't be holding my breathe.
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9/19/2014 - Redteeth wrote:
I opened this bottle well in advance of drinking but did not decant. the wine had a fair amount of sediment. it was very good; big and structured. In my opinion this is a mature wine that is fully ready to drink and I am not sure there is anything to be gained by further aging.
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9/7/2014 - Stirling Likes this wine: 99 Points
One of the greatest wines I have tasted. Big and brawny, but in exquisite balance. Blueberry, cassis and a slight woodsy note come together in a full body that is the classic joining of power and elegance. I frequently find myself without much good to say about wines this big. But this managed to stay light on its feet while it delivered up a terrific intensity of flavor. If further complexity develops over the years, it could become perfect. http://www.advinetures.ca/hot-off-the-vine/2002-quilceda-creek-cabernet-sauvignon/
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8/31/2014 - madeiradog Likes this wine: 94 Points
Not quite the raging blueberry monster that some would paint this wine as, but nothing like the QCs of old. Very fruit forward with quite a mix of berry flavors protruding over the smooth tannins and secondary tastes. I do think this has the ability to age more and improve.
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8/23/2014 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 98 Points
shared with my wife and daughter at our favorite local italian place for my 55th birthday. rich, full bodied, aroma to die for, dark black cherry flavor. long finish, soft tannins and big enough to balance the meal.
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7/7/2014 - cadamson wrote: flawed
Just very, very minor TCA (only two of us picked up hints), so will not score it. Great fruit though.
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7/5/2014 - wine4ever Likes this wine: 93 Points
Much better than our last tasting, but still not as good as it was on release. Maybe it's starting to come out of it's slumber? Lots of positives….lovely nose, great fruit and depth, good structure and very smooth. Alcohol was not noticeable this time. Went great with our tenderloin, and it still has some tannins to resolve. The first glass had an unusual flavor which I could not identify, but that disappeared with subsequent glasses. I decanted it, but I didn't let it breathe before drinking…at this point it still needs some air time before serving. Will revisit in one year. Drink now with a decant or continue to hold.
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7/5/2014 - S R U D I N Likes this wine: 95 Points
Impressive and complicated wine for a Washington Cab.
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6/27/2014 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Quilceda is one of those wines which always triggers a "love or hate" response from experienced wine aficionados. The nose is so Quilceda I am totally amazed. The green, grassy tone adjoined by serious mint tells me what is in the glass. There is some serious fruit too. Deep, profound and clean red berries, blackberry and classy ballpoint pen are adjoined by perfect oak and a lovely complexity. The palate is fully packed and the balance is incredible. The structure is amazing. This wine will last for many many years if taken care of properly. The length on the finish lasts for more than a minute and adds to the keywords "amazingly good!"... I find no flaws at all in the wine, but it certainly is a Quilceda. Personally I find the green mint tone a bit difficult, but my personal taste has actually very little to do with the objective stunning qualities of this wine. (Hence, it deserves a close to perfect score tonight.) A true gem! (score is 98+)
I tasted this wine some 18 months ago and it has certainly developed since then. This wine might be a perfect wine to me in the future given this development. Tannins are e.g. much more integrated and well-behaved now compared to the last tasting.
(Tasted in a flight with 2001 Shafer Hillside Select, 2001 Napa Valley Reserve, 2002 Quilceda Creek and 2007 Hundred Acre Precious.)
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6/15/2014 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 97 Points
decanted for a couple of hours and served with grilled steak for Father's Day. smooth as silk, not a hint of tannin, medium to long finish.
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6/1/2014 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
WIML93
Tasted non blind at a wine dinner.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of aspirin, berries and cherries. Flavors of berries, cherries, raspberries and currants. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink now with some air or continue to hold.
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5/31/2014 - Harry Cantrell Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep garnet. Nose all black fruit and fresh herbs. Taste was mouthfilling, berries, herbs. Decanted 6 hours before serving. This is really good and really young. Recent published notes suggest a hot mess-not this bottle at all-bought from winery and stored in an active cellar.
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5/25/2014 - flashvictor Likes this wine: 96 Points
Deep ruby color leads to a nose of cassis, blueberry, baseball glove and dark chocolate. Medium full body shows wonderful complexity. Gone are the days over monolithic blueberry. Finish lasts 45 seconds. Decanted 4 hours prior to consumption. Wonderful wine.
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5/20/2014 - juggernt wrote: 97 Points
As close to a perfect wine as I think I've had. Dark cherries, violet, and something smokey on the nose. Black fruit on the rich palate. Supremely integrated. Can't wait to drink the rest (but then it'll be gone).
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4/7/2014 - theharve wrote: 90 Points
still rough as hell. may get to 95=. try in 3 yrs
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3/30/2014 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
A bit disappointing. Previous tasting notes apply but fruit seemed to be diminishing and heat more dominating. As previously stated it seemed to lack depth and complexity which would help carry through the higher alcohol. It seems that Quilceda Creek Cabs maybe better drunk young in order to take advantage of the dominant Red Mtn fruit. With bottle age the fruit mellows but the other flavors which develop don't seem to hold the heat.
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3/30/2014 - Dough Boy Likes this wine: 93 Points
I have tasted this wine over the past several years, and for some reason it has not held up well. I first tasted it at a dinner party, and it blew me away with it's silky fruit, balance, and soft tannins. Sadly, it has become progressively more rustic, leathery and granular with time. Maybe it's going through a "closing down" stage and, with more time, will be great again. One can only hope!
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3/4/2014 - swyang wrote:
no notes; simply a bit angular and at a transitional phase... hopefully.
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1/27/2014 - CRAUBER4242 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted and enjoyed over 2 hours. I was a bit disappointed with this wine, although it was very good but I was expecting to be blown away. Maybe my expectations were unfair...I doubt it though as everyone with Wine Advocate was all over this wine. This wine showed herbs, spices, black fruits and black cherry with a smooth finish with soft tannin.
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1/23/2014 - dsimmons wrote:
This was a disappointment relative to previous bottles. Do not know if this bottle was flawed or entering a dumb phase?
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1/21/2014 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Tasted double blind. Correctly identified as New World Cabernet (blend) 2002 or older. Much more accessible than I recall from another recent bottle, with tonight's bottle showing a great combination of robust, powerful plum and blackberry with plenty of well cooked mushroom, lots of density, balance start-to-finish. Better and longer after an hour vs when first poured.
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1/5/2014 - jbouchy wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for two hours. Served with beef tenderloin - perfect! Beautifully integrated wine with an amazing finish. Fruit on palate fading and replaced with a pleasant earthiness. Still has cellar time but I won't wait long to drink my last bottle.
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1/1/2014 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 99 Points
Decanted for a couple of hours and seved with a Tuscan rib roast. Silky smooth, lush finish and absolutely delicious. Worth the 10 year wai!
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11/9/2013 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Tasted double blind. Very big black fruit with lots of power, length, intensity and structure. Lots everything here, but a little too hot on finish.
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11/7/2013 - cabber Likes this wine: 98 Points
KB's Birthday Wine Tasting (Manhattan Beach, CA): Beautiful. Rich and complex. 1 hour decant. Wine of the Night.
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10/18/2013 - S R U D I N Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very nice grapes
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10/12/2013 - Night Train Likes this wine: 94 Points
Four years since I last (first) tasted this, and it seems to have lost a little. Same cassis, dark fruits, and coffee as the last time, along with a hint of caramel. Still flat-out delicious, but a little too soft (although I probably gave it TOO much breathing time). Nowhere near over-the-hill, but I'll open the next one an hour before drinking and let it evolve in the glass.
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9/23/2013 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 95 Points
Another delicious bottle of this Washington State elixir. This winery produces the most consistently excellent results of all the wines in my cellar.
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9/21/2013 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine: 93 Points
Charleston II - The Collectibles - Afternoon Edition; 9/20/2013-9/21/2013 (Kings Courtyard Inn in Charleston, SC): Nice dark black cherries, some light white pepper, a bit of leather, oak. This is just a pretty wine. It was a bit of an odd one though - a bit closed on first pour, after about 10-20 minutes would peak in the glass and then faded relatively fast and started to come across as a bit sour. At those peaks though this was my favorite wine of the afternoon.
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9/20/2013 - Champagneinhand wrote:
When this warmed it had nice dark fruit, a big dense wine, with touches of graphite. Thick viscosity, but I am glad that I haven't invested in QC. I didn't get great notes, but the wine was pleasant, but not my favorite of the afternoon.
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8/22/2013 - Robwild Likes this wine: 97 Points
A big, crimson colored Cabernet with slow legs. Deep, pungent aroma with long finish. Good tannins, with blackberry, black currant and cherry. Chewy but Satin-like texture. An exceptional wine - which shows that Washington State wines have truly arrived and have come into their own.
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8/10/2013 - Amerique wrote: 95 Points
Very round plummy flavors with notable heat, as good as this wine is it seems to lack chewy texture and strength-building tannins which are more characteristic of Napa Valley and Bordeaux Cabernets
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7/27/2013 - onholiday Likes this wine: 97 Points
Opened bottle four hours prior to drinking. No decant.
Still ruby red with just a touch of bricking. Amazing aromas burst out the glass...dark red fruits, a touch earth and cocoa...the aromas linger.
This wine still tastes young to me....tongue coating flavors of currant, black fruits, hints of oak. Still full bodied and fleshy with a slight tannic component that lends touch of a lip smacking.
Drinking well now, but certainly has a few years of upside potential and will likely stay at its prime for at least another five years if cellared properly.
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7/13/2013 - garambler Likes this wine: 96 Points
I opened this at a 7/13/13 birthday party. It was poured through a vinturi into a decanter and allowed to sit for an hour. The bouquet was elegant, complex, pungent and extremely expressive with floral, cassis, black cherry, vanilla, chocolate, licorice and exotic spice aromas. The palate was rich, powerful, elegant, layered and a little creamy with flavors of cassis, blackberry, vanilla, chocolate, licorice and spice…truly a joy to experience.
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7/7/2013 - wine4ever Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not the best showing for this wine. My favorite so far was on release. This wine needed at least two hours to even begin to open up. Right out of the gate the alcohol was too pronounced, but this did integrate with time. This wine also needs food to shine right now. It's lighter in weight than I remember - which is a good thing. However, most elements are still masked (sleeping) and need additional time to come together. I can tell this vintage has a wonderful future, it just needs more time to fully develop. Try next one in 2-3 years.
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7/6/2013 - Knicksfan wrote: 95 Points
1 hr decant. Tasted alongside Araujo and Dalla Valle (also 2002). Tough call. All were great. edge to Napa.
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6/30/2013 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine: 93 Points
14.9% ABV. Opaque dark garnet in the glass. Ripe black currant and black berry fruit nose with a touch of creamy oak. Full bodied with a palate that mirrors the nose. As this warmed up it began to seem a little hot. Very good, but a little disappointing considering my expectations.
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6/4/2013 - jmd60611 Likes this wine: 98 Points
still thinking about this wine day after...beautiful integration, pretty perfect, a little sweet cherry, absolutely a favorite that is drinking awesome right now
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5/27/2013 - flashvictor wrote: flawed
Sadly corked
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5/18/2013 - JPBone Does not like this wine: 89 Points
Still high alcohol even after a four hour decant. Still don't get it
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5/12/2013 - Brownvino wrote: 93 Points
Ah Mother's Day. Decanted 2 1/2 hours and rebotteled and record for taking to dinner. Very dark and fragrant. long and pleaseant finish. felt heavy in my mouth, and I consider that a good thing. I was more inclined to sip and savor.
The wine looks Crimson colored. The legs are Slow. It smells like Blueberry, Red Currant, Toast, Coffee, and Smokey Bacon.
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3/31/2013 - Knicksfan wrote: 97 Points
2 hr decant; wow! Really coming into its own.
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3/3/2013 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 100 Points
Unbelievable earthy nose, absolutely perfect mouthfeel and superb finish. The best wine I own.
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1/29/2013 - norsktorsk Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is drinking nicely.
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12/23/2012 - JPBone wrote: 90 Points
This is about the 6th time I have had this wine. I am beginning to fall into the category of .. I just don't get it.
Heavy oak (almost like whiskey in a barrel), blueberry, cinnamon. Tons of heat.
I think its time to start getting rid of the verticals of this wine I have collected .... just not my thing,
I believe the Betz Pere De Famille delivers a lot more at half the price
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12/15/2012 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
Dark color with sediment. Spice and dark berry fruit with a long finished. This was consumed at a tasting so the next bottle will be with a meal over a longer period. Solid.
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12/7/2012 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
Took some time to open up. Black brooding volcanic rock crushed over black olives, blueberry syrup and some bloody meat.
The palate was equally stunning with excellent complexity. More black and blue fruit, black olive tapenade, some dark wood and anise.
While this isn't a 100 point wine by no means, it's extremely unique, unlike any other wine, anywhere. Plus, it's a blockbuster, you can't go wrong.
The price, however, is steep and I've never quite agreed with Parker's astronomical scores vintage after vintage.
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11/15/2012 - Winetex wrote: 93 Points
This bottle was interesting as the wine is massive on the palate but somewhat lighter in weight than other QCs. Much better integrated than previous bottles. Quite good and still young for a 10 year old wine - decant for best results.
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11/15/2012 - Mrbuzz wrote: 95 Points
Jen's Fund Raiser Dinner II (Max's Bistro, Fresno Ca.): Always love this wine...still pretty tight with tannins, yet does give you plenty of dark liqueur berry fruit...to go with dusty graphite, exotic woods, spice, violets. What I really love is, that it's not too sweet...more to the graphite dry side, firm and dark. Drinks well now, but in no hurry.
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11/2/2012 - Knicksfan wrote: 94 Points
2 hr decant. Love where this is at
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10/30/2012 - Christoffer78 wrote: 95 Points
The nose offers up the same fruit attack as expected but the palate reveals much more licorice and menthol compared to the 2001 tasted in the same flight. There is an elegant touch to this wine, but the palate reveals too much tannins and "massiveness" to be fully aligned with the nose. Still a beautiful effort which will develop nicely for years to come. The overall impression is very positive, but at the moment I would rather drink the 2001 or even the 2004.
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10/25/2012 - cephomer wrote: 90 Points
I don't get it! This is a nice enough wine, or should I say Parkerized fruit bomb. Dark purple color, lots of mint on the nose, very hot, fruit forward, plumy and spicy, with some menthol thrown in. Exactly the type of wine that RP raves about, very modern style. I don't get it...100 points? My 90 is generous and I would never spend the type of cash this wine sells for. There are a hundred wines just like this on the West Coast that sell for far less and are just as fruity, lush and alcoholic
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8/26/2012 - MagnumGourmet Likes this wine:
Decanted 2 hours. I realize that this was probably consumed on the early side of it's life, but wanted to crack open a good 2002 for our 10 year anniversary dinner. Nose of cigar box, cherry, violet and graphite. With the intensity and complexity of the aromas, you knew you were in for a stand out wine. The palate had notes of cherry, plum, cedar and sea water. Although the tannin was refined, this is where the wine really showed it's youthful exuberance. Finish lasted a good minute. This could use another 5 years in the cellar to really settle down and then should drink well for a long time afterwards. Would purchase again.
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7/11/2012 - chimpanzee29 wrote: 97 Points
Decanted 2 hr, drank over 2 hr. Ruby garnet, and throwing a bit of sediment. The nose is a complete knockout with exotic incense, cedar, bramble, soy, plumb and cherry, the bouquet just wouldn't quit. And the fruit is just singing. This drank very young and can probably go at least another decade, but glad to have enjoyed our (singular) bottle last evening.The finish was at least 30 sec, but what does it say when you can still recall that profile well into the following day? It has left a huge impression on my wine memory. The best cab I have had to date.
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7/6/2012 - wine4ever wrote: 94 Points
If you are expecting something to punch you in the face and wow you over, you will be disappointed. This is pure elegance in a glass. Smooth as silk, 1st class. Truly outstanding, in the realm of extraordinary, but i think she is sleeping and has more to offer in the future. You can drink now, but i suggest you hold. :)
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6/29/2012 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 100 Points
this was spectacular, smooth, full fruit, long finish. by farmy favorite wine.
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6/19/2012 - winestem wrote: 94 Points
Which is better the 2001 or the 2002? I dunno, they were so close! I gave the edge to the 2001, but this was a delight to drink. Still youthful and not giving away anything to its age.
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6/17/2012 - rbucklar wrote: 96 Points
A wonderfully balanced wine with an amazing finish. Did not hit it's stride till after 2 hours in the decanter. A real father's day treat.
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5/26/2012 - flashvictor wrote: 95 Points
Decanted 6hrs - wow, this is still a baby. Dark purple color leads to a nose of cassis, blackberry and mocha. Medium full body shows lots of dark fruit, chocolate and a hint of coffee followed by still youthful tannin. Interestingly this wine appears more closed than previous bottle two years ago. I feel this exceptional wine is still 5 years from its peak. Please decant in drinking now otherwise you will miss the show.
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5/12/2012 - wineismylife Likes this wine: 93 Points
WIML93
Tasted non blind. Decanted for 1 hour before double decanting back into the bottle for transport. Tasted over the 2 through 4 hour marks.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lavender, white pepper and currants. Flavors of back berries, black cherries and black raspberries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink now with plenty of air (showed best around the 2-3 hour mark) or continue to hold.
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5/5/2012 - "H" wrote:
- Brick color with medium forming legs. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Polished texture with a long finish - Wonderful bottle log wine. Smooth, delicious, balanced frt. drank at Pebble Beach v
Celebrating my 50th birthday with best friends.
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3/16/2012 - plitton wrote: 93 Points
Bold and really well balanced. Very enjoyable. Ideally I'd like to taste a little more secondary and tertiary notes. Great now but certainly early in the drinking window. Certainly through 2020.
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12/29/2011 - rhalbert wrote: 95 Points
Absolutely incredible. This one has the power and balance to last forever. Wait 3 years for next bottle.
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12/25/2011 - GZ3 wrote: 91 Points
would have been higher had I decanted it for much much longer than the 2 hrs
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12/20/2011 - Wiltse Likes this wine: 95 Points
Really nice showing for this wine. Decanted for four hours. Very aromatic. Deep blueberry and cassis aromas. Velvety mouthfeel. Nicely balanced. Drank alongside a 2003 Leoville Barton and 1996 Dominus, and this was the wine of the night.
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12/19/2011 - minndavid60 wrote: 94 Points
Very elegant, by Quilceda Creek flagship Cab standards. Big nose of freshly cut mint, minerals and roasted coffee. On the palate, the trademark blueberries with a long mineral finish. The wine was a bit hot on the finish the first night but the heat had dissipated by the next night. A bit more time is probably in order.
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11/26/2011 - gutt22 wrote:
14.9% alcohol. Ripe and forward but with balance and structure. Dark red-purple color. Beautiful nose of cedar, tobacco, plum, and black currant fruit. On the palate, pleasant but quite ripe, with such a forward emphasis on the fruit that the more complex notes get lost in the shuffle somewhat. Bright acidity and moderate grip to the back end. A-
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11/26/2011 - dd wrote:
simply beautiful
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11/6/2011 - ogres3 wrote:
Doesn't get much better. Incredibly smooth, nice fruit. Not sure it will improve with any more age. May not be a favorite of those who like high octane bold CA wines.
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8/2/2011 - dontime wrote: 90 Points
Consumed at Wild Ginger, Seattle WA with Mike S. Man, what a disappointment. Had a 2007 Dariōush and a 2005 Spottswoode the night before. This feel way short of those. Disjointed, out of balance and down right harsh. Decanted table side but I think it needed a lot, I mean a lot, more time in the glass. Didn't even realize it was a 100 point Parker when we ordered, but in any event a major let down.
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7/21/2011 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
Sacred Cow Rocky Mountain Offline - Day 2 (CAVU Cabin, Hartsel, CO): WIML92+
Tasted non blind. Opened and decanted about 30 minutes before serving.
Garnet to perhaps dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of flowers, currants, plums, smoke and berries. Flavors of black cherries, black berries, plums, a hint of currants and a dash of raspberries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink now with a fair amount of air or continue to hurry. No rush.
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6/6/2011 - cubswinws wrote: 93 Points
Very nice and balanced. A very good Quilceda Creek but not a great one. Liked the 2003 more.
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5/19/2011 - patwjr wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for 6 1/2 hours, put back into bottle and reopened at restaurant 3 hours later. Blind tasting with other WA/CA Cabs. Came in 2nd to last amongst 9 bottles. Not sure why it's a 100 pointer. Certainly not now. Will wait on my other bottles for any chance of them reaching full potential.
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4/29/2011 - mwanasheria wrote: 98 Points
Quilceda Creek Vertical (Zum Hirschen, Aarau, Switzerland): A spectacular wine that hides the alcohol much better than its predecessor. Copious amount of fruit that shines through a very tannic backbone, nice sweetness and while heavy still silky and elegant.
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4/23/2011 - floydtp wrote: 91 Points
5th Annual Burgers and Cabernets: Enjoyed non-blind at a tasting, handling and provenance unknown. Lovely nose that reminds me of a cake my great aunt used to make when I was a kid that I haven't smelled or tasted in almost 30 years. There is some fruit on the nose but hard to pinpoint through the caramel and chocolate aromas. Very tannic with sweet, black fruit turning sour just before the finish of rubber and cigar box. Hold this one a few to several more years.
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3/20/2011 - BMG Wine wrote: 91 Points
Though 91 is a good score, it is far below expectation. I really wanted to be blown away by this wine. It is still WAY too young. Inky black purple in the glass. Nose is very hot. Fruit is quite muted behind chocolate coffee extract. Decanted through a straining funnel 10 hrs prior to open. Re-decanted several hours in with Vinturi. Little improvement. Hopefully another 5 yrs or so will be kind to this wine. I can only imagine how long I need to wait for the newer vintages...If my daughter grows up and decides to have kids of her own, maybe the grand kids will see its maturity.
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3/12/2011 - Amerique wrote: 95 Points
Tasted much like 6 mos ago. However, I don't remember the wine being so "hot." Maybe I was just so impressed by the richness of fruit, complexity, and overall elegance of the wine. But would prefer slightly less alcohol. It's no wonder that Parker gave this wine a 100 given his palate biases.
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1/30/2011 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 97 Points
Had this for my birthday dinner. Beautiful wine. Layer upon layer of fruity complexity. perfect balance. Double decanted three hours prior. The bottle just evaporated.
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12/31/2010 - pdemaio wrote: 92 Points
Disappointing showing for this wine. Compared with other high end WA cabs, merlot and Syrahs (Cayuse, double back, Leonetti, Cote Bonneville etc). It was many, including my, least favorite. Not a bad wine, just dissappointing. Nose was solid. Body was integrated, but reserved and lacked excitement. Finish was medium, but again, the palate wasn't exciting. I didn't prep the wine, but supposedly it was decanted for a few hours... Perhaps it needed more air or more time.
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12/27/2010 - devman wrote:
Tons of sediment, so we decanted right away. Upon opening, it was disjointed, with a lot of acid masking the fruit. The alcohol in it really stole the show from the fruit, but it calmed down a bit after about 2 hours in the decanter. Still though, the alcohol burn was a bit disappointing for a wine of this caliber. It's still drinking like a young wine, so it's got plenty of time left to be cellared, but if you open it with the next few years, decant it for a long long time.
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12/25/2010 - thebonnydooner wrote: 90 Points
So I opened one of these to try out my new fabulous Riedel extreme cabernet glass - a thoughtful Xmas present from my wife. Unfortunately the wine did not live up to the glass. I decanted this a full three hours before drinking and either that was not enough (which seems unlikely since I am penning this a full 6 hours after decanting) or this wine is just pretty variable.
The nose is somewhat thick, with a reduced almost jammy quality, that you dont normally see with QC. Nose is definately full of fruit, but really lacking in complexity. Palate is much better, thick and ripe, sweet blackcurrant and black berry fruit, decent cherry acidity. Balanced and tasty but again lacking complexity.
This wine tonight only deserves 90 points, this is a far cry from the last oneI had - all the pieces are still there but there is not the WOW of additional compexity.
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12/11/2010 - jonphillips wrote:
ugh. I want to like this wine. I do not like this wine. Thick, raisiny, hot.
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12/3/2010 - Jeff Leve wrote: 85 Points
This wine is so rich, sweet, powerful, thick and concentrated with ripe, jammy, blueberry and chocolate flavors, it would excite Charlie from the Chocolate factory! On the other hand, it's safe to assume Charlie and I do not share the same taste. This immense wine was stuffed, packed and stacked with blueberry, chocolate, vanilla and jammy notes. With textures akin to molten lava, it was too much of a thing I did not find good. I understand why the wine wins fans. It is a unique style not found in many wines. But for my palate, the wine lacked elegance, balance and freshness. It earned an average score because it's obviously well made. But the sum of its part did not offer an experience I want to repeat.
I tasted the wine about 4 years ago and it has not budged an inch in development. I imagine this will last decades, but I am not sure it will morph into an elegant or refined wine. Not that it should, but people thinking this will gain complexities with time, might discover that is not what happens.
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11/13/2010 - johnnyo wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 5 hours before serving at a blind tasting. Initially it came across a bit hot and unbalanced as observed by others. Tasted later in the evening and discovered a much different wine. The fruit had come alive (black cherry, currant, dark chocolate) with very smooth tannins and great long finish. This is a huge wine that commands serious decanting time. 6+ hours.
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11/13/2010 - ogres3 wrote:
An impressive bottle of wine. Hard to imagine packing any more fruit into 750 cc, but well integrated with not too many tannins or too much alcohol. Wow factor with price and friend from SF.
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10/24/2010 - cubswinws wrote: 91 Points
Spicey and bright fruit profile. Oak seemed in balance. A nice bottle but not a "wow". Not sure it
will get much better.
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10/18/2010 - pdemaio wrote: 94 Points
Double decanted 5 hours prior. Big wine with excellent integration. Nose with light coffee, chocolate, smoke and plums. Would have preffered a little more powerful nose, with a bit more top notes from the oak (vanilla or backing spice). Terrific balance and structure. Tannins were georgeous and the finish was exceptional. Light cherry. Truely turning into something special, but probably drunk too soon.
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10/17/2010 - SteveHyde wrote:
Confirmation that dropping off the list was the right thing to do. Well made, deep, and expressive, but too extracted and too much oak for my taste. Hyper-ripe grapes. Lots of spice. By the last glass, something had begun to unravel. Came across at the end of the bottle as hot, out of whack. Earlier glasses had not shown this.
I can understand why this wine has such strong fans. It is not to my taste, especially at current pricing.
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9/18/2010 - Amerique wrote: 95 Points
Rich, delicious black raspberry/plum fruit with cassis, meaty, soily, and black olive flavors, little sweetness on the palate, intense perfumey nose, excellent structure and finish, multi-layered, dense wine which needed time to open up, beautiful Washington terroir, drinking very well but stil young, maybe the best Quilceda Creek Cab that I have tasted
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8/23/2010 - remeny1 wrote: 95 Points
Really great wine, lived up to the reviews, just a little jammy for my taste
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8/19/2010 - JS199 wrote: 94 Points
Orris restaurant, Los Angeles. A massive, young wine. It slowly opened up over the 3 hrs it was open at dinner. Layers upon layers hit your palate, a cabernet assault. Lots of life left in this one. 94+
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7/5/2010 - phenricsson wrote: 96 Points
Decanted 2 hours and drunk over 3 hours. 93;88. Very dark, dense and young looking. Not black core but dense all the way to the rim and very thick coating on glass. Nose was a bit herbaceous, but with fresh, ripe black currants. Very full and rich in the mouth. Very good balance with sweetness and big tannins, perhaps a touch low in acidity. Lots of aromatics and a long aftertaste with fruit and ashes. Not an ingratiating wine but impressive.
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7/5/2010 - James B wrote: 96 Points
Wonderful wine. Floral (rose) and cedar on the nose. Dark red fruits and pepper on the palate. Nice, long finish--a bit hot. Give this hours in the decanter before serving. It's still quite youthful.
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6/18/2010 - canan wrote: 96 Points
Misc CA tasting at Kenneth: A little raspberry showing nicely on the nose mixed with sweet black olives, black fruits and even a little boiled cabbage.
The palate also has this cabbage note with plenty of black berry fruit. Huge fruit intensity and an almost insane acidity. Still a very pleasant wine.
Impressive wine.
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6/16/2010 - Eric wrote:
A nice showing. I thought this bottle might had had a touch of TCA, but despite that this was large-scaled, dense, with great fruit. It struck me however as a bit more fresh and less ripe and funky than some bottles I have had in years past.
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6/7/2010 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 97 Points
Dark and brooding this wine is delicious, complesx and has a long future. Decanted for 5 hours, the wine was inky garnet, slightly cloudy. It was not giving a whole lot ont he nose but the taste was delightful. The bottle disapeared much too quickly.
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6/6/2010 - Mrbuzz wrote: 94 Points
Jen's Fund Raiser Dinner (Max's Bistro, Fresno Ca.): HUGE dry sawdust-like tannins here! Dark berry fruit...monster fruit underneath the wall of tannin. Powdery graphite, deep spice, violet florals, exotic woods. This wine at first was dry.....but it REALLY gained on me as a sleeping giant, and showed fascinating flavors underneath. I LOVED this wine! I should have spent more time on it. Needs more time. ++pts
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5/22/2010 - GalvezGuy wrote: 95 Points
CellarTracker Texas Offline; 5/21/2010-5/22/2010 (San Antonio): Definitely a Parkerized wine. I think the term I used to describe this wine was slutty. Nose was full of black fruits, blueberry, and something floral (violets maybe). One the palate, huge sweet blast of black fruit, cassis, spicy oak, mocha. Finishes with strudy tannins and a crisp backbone. I think this wine has a big upside, but it needs at least 6-8 years to calm down. My #3 of the QC’s. Outstanding
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5/21/2010 - wineismylife Likes this wine: 92 Points
CellarTracker Texas Offline - Part One (San Antonio, TX): WIML92-93
Decanted for 4 hours before double decanting back into the bottle for transport to the restaurant. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. BIG wine with a huge nose of coffee, chocolate, smoke, currants, soapstone and plums. Flavors of currants, black cherries, berries and plums. Medium to bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied for sure. Drink now with plenty of air or continue to hold.
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5/1/2010 - flashvictor Likes this wine: 97 Points
Similar to previous notes. I agree with previous taster that this is first time I have seen 100 point potential.
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4/29/2010 - vinocerus wrote: 94 Points
Incredibly tight from the outset. Not decanted and this was a mistake. Tasted after an '86 Lafite and an '82 Lalande, this seemed clumsy, disjointed, but with potential. After 2-3 hours improved significantly. The '02 was tasted in a flight with an '03 QC that had been double decanted about 3 hours prior to drinking and it made a huge difference as the '03 was drinking much better and would score that one a 97. Massive black fruits, hint of creosote, and noticeable oak influence. Palate is full with noticeable tannins. Out of balance at first but coming together at the end, never really reached full potential. Will definitely decant my next bottle at least 6 hours.
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4/25/2010 - JPBone wrote: 97 Points
Note: this wine is stored in a passive cellar at close to room temp since purchase from the winery.
Wine was decanted for 9 hours prior to drinking
Best showing of this wine yet. Color is dark purple, wine is opaque, no bricking. Gives up little on the nose. The palate is entirely different story. The tannins are extremely well-resolved. A beautiful coating of dark fruit on the tongue, but no where near overbearing. Startiing to develop secondary characteristics of cedar box. This is beginning to closely mimic a fine Bordeaux (for Bordeaux lovers). The most amazing thing about the wine is that even after 8 years you can tell this is still a baby.
This is the first time I have seen the 100 point potential of this wine down the road. Parker (Rovanni) may have been right after all.
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4/21/2010 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 95 Points
Minneapolis Wine Club does US Cabs; 4/18/2010-4/21/2010 (Shari's House): Another great showing. Decanted 5 hours. Forest floor, spices, coffee, cherry and earth dominate the nose. Very integrated wine with tons of complexity. No flaws on any part of the wine. The finish is long and shows spice, floral, coffee, cherry, plum and leather. This wine has it all and is drinking well now but I will revisit down the road.
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4/10/2010 - last chance wrote: 90 Points
Blind California Cult Cabernet Tasting (Mill Creek, WA): Tasted blind. This brought the heat and the volatility right away. Wow, there was a lot of the Sharpie smell on the nose of this bottle. This was almost as hard for me to drink as the 02 Pride Reserve. I’m wondering how it would have shown next to the 01 Dominus? This was a disappointment for me and a few other people in the group. Once it was revealed, a few people were noticing the blueberry nuances of the palate, but I just didn't get them in this showing. I had ranked this last in the flight.
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3/26/2010 - Lazy JH Likes this wine: 95 Points
The wine looks Purple colored.
The legs are Slow.
It smells like and Black Pepper.
It tastes like Black currant (cassis), Mineral, and Black Pepper.
The body is Full.
The wine is textured Round.
The wine finishes Long.
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3/25/2010 - Margauxguy wrote: 99 Points
beautiful, gorgeous , long life ahead.
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3/14/2010 - tobinw wrote: 98 Points
A 50th birthday celebration that lived up to it's 100pt ratings. Soft, tootsie roll, with caramel underpinnings and nice fruit. Served with homemade BBQ ribs.
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2/17/2010 - jnscellar wrote: 100 Points
As close as it gets to perfection, along with '03.
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2/14/2010 - meyerm wrote: 98 Points
pulled out for a special occasion and it did not disappoint. Decanted at restaurant for about an hour prior to drinking, then consumed over the next 2 hours. Color was inky purple, very opaque w/thick legs. Nose was smoky/tary, with anise and fig notes over a ripe blue fruit base. Palate was spicy and dense with cassis and dark black cherry fruitiness; powerful but soft tannins; a little white pepper and minerality to finish out the secondary flavors. Incredible complexity and balance. Very full-bodied with a finish that lasted the better part of a minute. This wine is still very young and has the strength of components to continue to improve for a long time to come. Note to self: keep the second bottle down until at least 2020.
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2/12/2010 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Quilceda Creek Vertical (Hughes House - Chicago IL): Double blind tasting. Plum and black cherry aromas with cassis, mint chocolate and moderate spice. Very ripe, powerful ans tannic on palate. Clearly lots of concentrated fruit with interesting potential, but frankly not supplying lots of pleasure tonight.
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2/12/2010 - winefool wrote: 93 Points
Wineflock - Quilceda Creek Intro/Retro (Home): Group #8, My #9 - Opaque deep red color. Medium forward nose of black spice with hints of camphor. Tight focused mineral black fruit wit a long searing tannic finish.
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1/4/2010 - olm2000 wrote:
popped and poured...very tannic and tight on day 1 over 2 hours...remaining half bottle poured into a half bottle and recorked...day 2 - tired on nose and shy on palate...expected it to be singing given the day 1 showing...very perplexed, not sure this will age or improve...i suppose it will but the windoe may be tighter than expected
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1/1/2010 - TomTom wrote:
Decanted 4 hours and still really a tannic beast.
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12/31/2009 - phenricsson wrote: 97 Points
Lynn and I opened for New Years Eve the 02 Araujo and the 02 Quilceda Creek and had them side by side. They sure changed a lot over time in the glass. Decanted for about 2 hours. Initially the Araujo was very typical; sweet expensive oak, vanilla, black currant and Asian spices both on the nose and on the palate. Explosive and delicious with great aftertaste. Exquisite balance. After a while in the glass, however, it lost some of its structure and deliciousness. Initially it was by far the best wine and close to 100 points but later it dropped dramatically. The QC was the other way around. Initially it was big, tannic, clumsy with ash and dirt as the most prevalent aspects – not very delicious. After an hour or so, however, the fruit started to come out and the tannins softened. We started to understand the high marks from WA. I would not give it 100 points but at least I realized it is a very impressive wine and it will probably get better still. We have had both wines close to 10 times and it was the best QC 02 and the worst Araujo 02 we’ve had. We ended up giving both 97 p, for different reasons and for different development over the time they were open. We saved a large glass of each in a glass with inert gas and seran wrap on top and both wines were in very good shape the next day. Araujo was actually better than it was in the end of the previous evening.
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12/29/2009 - petromack wrote: 96 Points
Decanted four hours, gorgeous dark purple color, rich and long, one of the best wines I have ever consumed.
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12/25/2009 - Kaya wrote:
Fabulous. Very good after one hour of decanting, served with beef for Christmas dinner. Fully opened up with an additional two hours of decanting.
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12/25/2009 - NY Wino wrote: 95 Points
Opened and double decanted at 11am, then decanted again at 6pm before drinking it. The nose is beautiful with lots of cherries up front then flowers and spice with a bit of alcohol. The wine has really nice fruit followed by good spice and a really nice long finish. The only downside is that there was still a little heat, which is not surprising w/ 14.9% alcohol. Overall an outstanding wine but I'm not sure I would rate this as a 100 pointer.
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12/4/2009 - flashvictor wrote: 97 Points
Decanted for 6 hours and drank with a selection of cheeses. Tasted multiple times over decanting time prior to drinking. Initially quite closed and brooding after about two hours this entered a weird stage of piecing alcohol and over the top fruit. At the six hour mark, magic happened! All the rough edges smoothed away, the alcohol integrated leaving an amazing wine. Nose of classic Quilceda violet, leads to a full body of black fruit, cedar, chocolate, and tobacco. Incredibly well integrated finish lasts 60 seconds. Amazing bottle of wine which requires some time in the decanter.
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11/27/2009 - bbraun wrote: 98 Points
What a terrific experience -- everything wine is supposed to be and do.
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11/22/2009 - zimmy07 wrote:
i have always felt a 100pt rating to quilceda is a bit much, and the wines have been good but nothing special at all. Last night I was converted. this wine really had it all together, really hard to find any flaw in this wine.
Decanted for a few hours, massive core of blueberry, vanilla, espresso, herb and perfectly integrated oak. Not a sharp edge to this wine at all, pure seduction. Had next to the 2005, this one was a lot broader and more concentrated with flavor profile and layer after layer of aromas, textures and a finish that went on for 40+ seconds. awesome wine
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11/21/2009 - Night Train wrote: 98 Points
Decanted 30 to 60 minutes before drinking. Absolutely wonderful nose, floral and packed with cassis. Round, rich, viscous, and plush, with layers of dark fruit and coffee. Incredible depth and no rough edges. Extremely long (30 to 40 second) finish. Best domestic cabernet I've ever had, with the probable exception of the '84 Caymus SS.
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9/24/2009 - Greg Pierce wrote:
Dark opaque purple. Brooding, dark fruit with a hint of spice and a little alcoholic heat on the nose. Eventually it developed a little bit of a mineral/graphite note on the nose. Initially (for the first hour or so) this was Blueberries, Blueberries, Blueberries on the palate. As time went by, it developed a bit, to include a bit of cherry, tar and licorice.
I can't say it's a bad wine, but really didn't make me too happy -- even considering it's a cab and not burgundy/champagne/nebbiolo/rhone. Just not really interesting or particularly yummy. I keep trying to like these new world wines from my wine drinking "youth," but, more and more, I can only say "why bother." YMMV(?)
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7/25/2009 - last chance wrote: 94 Points
The nose of this wine was unmistakably Quilceda Creek. Packed full of blue/black fruit and violets. The violet descriptor, while often used with Quilceda, has never been clearer to me than with this vintage. The palate had dark, ripe cherries and blackberry flavors. There was some heat evident as well. The mouthfeel was very smooth. Much smoother than the 03, and 05 Galitzine that we tasted this next to, and even the 04 that I had the night before. Full bodied and a medium-long finish. The heat was the only real detractor from what was otherwise a pretty nice finish - though it could have lasted longer. This doesn't have the same amount of structure as the 03 does, and I don't think it will last as long. This was the first time that I have tasted the 02 QC since the release at the winery. I've always thought this was my favorite Quilceda cab, but I was back and forth with this and the 03 as my favorite all night. While the 02 has a better nose, and smoother mouthfeel, I don't think it will age as well as the 03. I ended up rating both wines the same, but would drink 02s before 03s.
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7/22/2009 - phenricsson wrote: 92 Points
100 point dinner in Sweden. This is a wine I do not understand. And nobody else really liked it that much either. Totally different from the other wines. Darkest wine but very clear looking. Smokey and alcoholic. Massive but almost flat. Tough and unyielding.
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6/23/2009 - JJL wrote:
We had a hard time with bottle, which had a 4 hour decant prior to serving. It was just so big, hot, tannic and jammy. Even the big cab drinkers thought this was over the top. At first on the nose, I got some menthol, tar and pine forrest, so I thought it might be a recent Chave. However, whereas Chave is able to hide the alcohol, it was overbearing in this bottle, which made it very difficult to enjoy now and tough to figure where this is going. If I owned any, I would either sell or sit on for 5 years before trying again.
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6/7/2009 - jasonh wrote: 94 Points
Dinner @ Mom's: Opened and given a brief decant. That is all that is necessary. I have never bought QC but with a family member a long time list member, I do get to drink them on occasion (and have been given a few bottles). I really like these wines. Big smooth and soft. The aromatics are big and ripe along with lots of oak but I really enjoyed the balance. This is a big wine but far from being over the top. This is good big for me. The purple fruit is at front but there are some earthy and herbal qualities on the palate. Not too heavy on the palate. And I really enjoyed how the ripe fruit carried no cloying sweetness. I find the tannins and acid soft so I don’t know why you would want to age this further but the few QCs I have had with 10 or more years on them have still been singing. Not sure what I will do with my lone bottle of this.
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5/26/2009 - markcvino wrote: 98 Points
Pleasant ... fine wine but ... finish not long enough - less than I would expect from a 100 point wine.
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5/24/2009 - dsimmons wrote:
Absolutely delicious wine
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4/23/2009 - jlgnml wrote: 94 Points
HDH BYOB at Custom House (Custom House Chicago IL): Haven't been able to wrap my arms around these wines. Awesome color, long on the palate, muted cabernet smell. I like them, just need to try more.
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4/14/2009 - ikkaariainen wrote: 96 Points
Stellar wine, greatly enjoyed last night at the monthly meeting of the Hickory Wine Club at Lake Hickory CC as part of a blinded '00 - '06 vertical tasting, what an unreal flight of wines. So big, bold, spicy and muscular that I thought all of these wines were Australian shirazs before being un-blinded. Surprisingly floral bouquet of oak, violets, blueberry and white pepper. Inky black, very well balanced, very full bodied and complex with enough tannins and structure in place for many years of cellaring. Primary flavors include oak, dark fruit, blackberry, licorice, black currants with development of smoke and granite on a long aftertaste. Absolutely great, highly recommend this.
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3/23/2009 - Knicksfan wrote: 93 Points
This was TIGHT upon opening. Two hours in the decanter and this baby opened up - beautiful aromas and stood up to a massive steak. Our WOTN after a tough start
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2/21/2009 - Clarkmeister wrote: 91 Points
Disappointing.
Had this a few months ago, and it was drinking fabulous. I found this bottle to be a little over-oaked with lots of sweet smooth vanilla up front, an unbelievable finish that was consistent with the prior sample, but a ton of heat from start to finish. Just way too much alcohol. Not sure if time will help that aspect or not.
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1/2/2009 - Winetex wrote: 94 Points
Dark purple in color with a red rim; Dark fruit on the nose with a spice note with blackberry, cinnamon, leather, kirsch and a touch of minerals in the middle. It had a very long and aromatic finish with chalky, mineral notes. Great finish! Superb complexity. This bottle did not display the blueberry characteristics common in QCs shortly after release so it is was probably firmly in the secondary phase and not maturing very quickly. The balance was slightly off with prominent tannins and alcohol on the finish (a nit but worth noting). An outstanding bottle of wine that should continue to improve with cellar time. Recommend a decant of at least 30 minutes. Served with steak (probably a must).
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12/22/2008 - remeny1 wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for 2 hours . . . . initially some heat on first pour, but after about 20 minutes in the glass notes of leather, red berry, cherries, and cinnamon? showed up. Tasted amazing, a little spice that softened wonderfully as we worked our way thru the bottle. Worked great with the bone in rib-eye. This is not a subtle bottle of wine.
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11/24/2008 - TomH wrote:
Opened and consumed over five hours. Decanted the last two. Despite being an apparently un-compromised bottle, this never rose above being a fairly interesting cab meriting in the high eighties. The more air it received, the more out of balance it become. Perhaps it has not been given enough time, but this bottle was scary. Judgment deferred .
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11/15/2008 - Zweder wrote: 97 Points
Occasional tasting group: Wines with 100 Parker Points. (@ L in Z): My first wine from Washington and what a start! Intense and complex bouquet with ripe blackberries, flowers and lots of other impressions. Enormously concentrated, loaded with soft ripe black fruits. Ink. Enormously long and complex aftertaste. The bottle was opened in the morning and double decanted, so the wine really showed itself and it was surprisingly friendly and ready, but no doubt there is a lot of future here. This belongs to the best wines I ever tasted and the only reason I don't score it even higher is because of the high alcohol impression you get. Possibly a crime to say, or showing my limitations as a taster, I knew what I had in my glass, but if the wine was poured to me blindfolded, I could have said this tastes like an Australian top shiraz.
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11/4/2008 - hcampana wrote: 96 Points
Had at Chuck's house in Kansas City.
What an odd nose this wine offers. Had I not known it was a Cab, I would have never guessed. This effort shines on the palate, and falls a bit short on the nose. The latter is framed in a floral, violet infused aromatic profile. While the black fruit is obvious, the nose is, above all, understated. When the wine hits the palate, initially it offers its stuffing very gradually. At first in an understated fashion, and as time went by, increasing in intensity. By the second glass, this is singing, although never going over the top. This is quite different from the more concentrated and flamboyantly ripe wines of Napa and Sonoma. Clearly the product of a cooler climate. By the end of the night, this wine had slowly won me over and defeated my initial skepticism. A great, balanced, richly flavored wine that is intellectually challenging at first.
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11/3/2008 - Clarkmeister wrote: 97 Points
Unbeleivable bottle of wine. Had at Emeril's in NOLA. Tremendous balance with a finish that simply kept slowly expanding for seemingly forever. Only two knocks: nose was a little muted for a cab this big, and there was a little heat midpalate. Still, these are minor nits.
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9/13/2008 - thebonnydooner wrote: 95 Points
Just a great bottle of wine. Right on pouring into the decanter you could smell the intensity. An initial taste confirmed the upfront sweet blackcherry, blackcurrant and blueberry fruit. Showed some complexity with air, notes of brush, oak was well integrated and not noticable. Really tasty, complete on the palate, long, long finish of blackcherry and currant with sweet fruit more than offsetting the tannins. Did not bring tears to my eyes - so no 100 points - but this ties for my highest scoring wine ever.
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8/28/2008 - phenricsson wrote: 96 Points
(92;87) We should probably have chosen the 03 instead since that seems to be showing better right now. We had one earlier in the month and it was delicious. This is a monster. Extremely dark and young looking. It was one of the thickest looking wines we’ve seen – it almost sticks to the glass. Dark, rich and at the moment it is not showing that great to me – BIG but not enough fruit and balance. But I do think it will come around in a few years. We’ve had 03, 04 and 05 over the past two months and rated them 97-99 points.
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8/25/2008 - Knicksfan wrote: 95 Points
Popped and poured. I was surprised to see how "tame" this monster had become. Nicely integrated although still showing dark fruit and good backbone. Big difference from a year ago, Stood up fine to a 32 oz strip but with much less noticeable oakiness and tannin.
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8/11/2008 - nvandyk wrote: 99 Points
I drank this bottle by myself over a period of about five hours and it was an evening very well spent. Deep, purple with good clarity but nearly impenetrable. Beautiful nose of vanilla scented oak and crushed black fruit. Silky, rich tannins that coat the teeth and a velvety, thick mid-palate of fruit without a rough edge in sight. The finish is a good minute long. I imagine it will gain complexity in the bottle and could well be a 100 point wine in 5 years time.
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5/25/2008 - flashvictor wrote: 96 Points
6th Anniversary Weekend; 5/23/2008-5/26/2008 (home): Drank on 6th anniversary with waygu filets and black truffle mash pototoes. Decanted 10 hours prior to dinner - deep garnet color leads to big nose of violet, blueberry and chocolate. Velvety palate carries those flavors forward while adding blackberry, dark cherry and anise. Finish last well over a minute. While the big ripe, overly extracted style may not be for everyone, count me a fan. This is the real deal and will only improve with time.
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4/30/2008 - astrauss wrote: 96 Points
Another great bottle with loads of intensity and weight. If you love cabernet this wine is for you!! Dark purple color with vanilla and blueberries and dark cherries on the nose. Loads of structure and a finish that goes on and on and on.
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3/2/2008 - spacewrangler wrote: 85 Points
Tasted this blind today. Poured it back into the decanter b/c it was nothing but oak and dense blueberry KoolAid masked by the great wall of tannin.
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2/8/2008 - phenricsson wrote: 96 Points
Decanted 45 min. 90;85Very thick looking with dark core, color all the way out and a thick coating on the glass. Nose a bit reticent but with coaxing it shows spice, rich black currant with smoke and licorice. In the mouth it is thick but a bit hard right now (opened up a bit later).Excellent balance - great T'nA and ample sweetness. Firm exit. Aftertaste has huge chocolate factor (55%). Licorice, dark Tahitian vanilla. Very long, sweet, dark smoke, caramel. Maybe a bit woody on the aftertaste. This wine is not quite integrated and smooth yet but we'll see in a year or two.
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1/27/2008 - dsimmons wrote: 100 Points
Vertical tasting of Quilceda Creek (1999-2004): This was my WOTN and hands down the best bottle of wine I have had. For my tastes everything was perfect. I have to believe that this kind of bottle simply makes you a better person. Bravo to QC.
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12/15/2007 - mwhite wrote: 99 Points
This was my first bottle of any Quilceda Creek. I was eager in trying this. I was not disappointed. What a fabulous wine. Very smooth and very silky. My definition of a perfect wine. I think it was still to young but even with that, still fantastic. I bet it would be a 100 point tasting in about 5 to 8 years. Highly recommend this wine and considering how much lafite is going for, what a bargain at $230 (wine commune). This is a must if you like lafites or dominus.
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11/10/2007 - Redteeth wrote:
We had four Quilceda Creek Cabs in a blind tasting with a lamb dinner. The four were 2002, 1999, 1998 and 1996. In my opinion the 2002 will probably be the best wine of the group. it was very dark and concentrated. The fruit did not exhibit the residual sweetness that many Cabs from Washington State have. There were firm tannins to support the strong fruit. Also, in my view 2002 has the potential to age way longer and will benefit from aging. I thought it a shame to have consumed it so young but otheres there liked it as is. My favorite wine of the evening to drink was the 1998. It appeared and tasted as an older wine. I thought it had a very nice balance of dried fruit, a bit of earth and blended tannis. It was excellent and went very well with food. I think it will age longer but is quite nice now. The 1999 was also very good drinking. It was deeper in color than the 1998 and appeared and tasted younger. I would have guessed there was more than a year difference between these two wines. The 1999 really opened up over the course of the evening to a very well balanced wine. The 1996 was the group's least favorite. It looked and tasted like an older wine but was more astringent than the 1998. All bottles were decanted and poored back into the bottles a couple of hours before consumption.
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9/15/2007 - steffenpelz wrote:
Rick's birthday dinner (Aquarelle (Austin)): I withhold judgment on this wine. Way too young to tell where it's headed. On the positive side, I didn't think it was hot or alcoholic tasting. It was a wall of fruit puree and tannins though. My stylistic preferences are in the opposite direction. Needs 10 years+ alone in the cellar unless you're jonesing a fruitbomb to accompany a slab of ribs.
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8/18/2007 - conadoc wrote: 95 Points
Sweet, luscious wine. Minimal tannin remains. Dark fruity nose and large scaled dark fruit palate. Black raspberries.
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6/20/2007 - conadoc wrote: 95 Points
Wonderful, large scaled wine with lovely nose, a lot of fruit in the mouth, dark fruit, no remaining tannin and long finish.
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6/18/2007 - moutondoc wrote: 92 Points
I drank this at a restaurant in Milwaukee, good price on the list, found it a bit hot but well rounded with nice finish. Don't agree that this is 100pt. wine. although I enjoyed it.
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5/13/2007 - davidandrose wrote: 95 Points
About 3 hrs in a decanter. Great fruit aromas, wonderful taste, and a 20+ second finish. A little light in weight, but an outstanding wine popped to celebrate my wonderful wife on Mothers Day.
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4/21/2007 - win wrote: 94 Points
Tasted at large dinner party. Minimal notes. 92-97
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4/21/2007 - wineismylife wrote:
Dallas Offline - April 2007 (MikeB's house in North Dallas, TX): WIMLNR,WA100,WS93
Tasted April 21, 2007 at an offline. Decanted at least 3 plus hours before tasting. Tasted from a Spiegelau Authentus Magnum glass. Dark purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Tight nose not giving up any fruit, just aromas of fennel and saddle soap. Chewy flavors of black currants and berries. Medium acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. Hold at least another five plus years and then we’ll talk. No rating.
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3/30/2007 - phenricsson wrote: 99 Points
Drank over 2 days. 93;88. first day it was good, saved about 2 glasses in the bottle over night with the cork put back in. Next day it was really impressive. It had lost a touch of freshness but it was massive, thick and coating the mouth. Huge sweetness and massive flavors. Aftertaste was really long with very dark lingering flavors of licorice, tar, creosote, violets and dark fruit.
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3/4/2007 - buckeye76 wrote: 97 Points
JUST A SLIGHT NOTCH BELOW THE '03 THOUGH STILL DEEP FRUIT IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR, BLACK CHERRIES, BLACKBERRIES, AND CURRANTS. NICE COMPLEXITY AND A LONG FINISH.
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2/23/2007 - conadoc wrote: 95 Points
Not round, pomegranet fruit, a bit chalky, fine tannins, loads of fruit. Young!
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2/16/2007 - tsutton wrote: 92 Points
Hmmmm....good
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1/4/2007 - dbkitc wrote:
(at Craft – NYC) This was well priced on the list so I wanted to try it. After my fairly unpleasant experience with the 2003, this was better. Still this is a wine that I guess just is not my style. Very dark – ripe blueberry cream soda. Not as heavy or alcohol dominated as the 2003. There was some complexity, but I felt this just hits you over the head and did not complement the food. A good wine, no doubt, but not to my taste at this stage. Would like to try a bottle in 5 to 7 years to see how it evolves. (15?)
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1/1/2007 - MarkC wrote: 94 Points
This appears to be in a shutting down stage - it is not singing like it was 18 months ago. It's still very intense, pure black and blue fruit, with a lot of richness, structure, and delineation, but the wow factor has gone away and it appears that this will be even more closed over the next 6-12 months. Still very enjoyable, this will reward those with the patience to let them age (and probably disappoint those who drink them now).
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12/1/2006 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 94 Points
Quilceda Creek Vertical (Michael's House, St. Louis Park): Underbrush, floral, mint, cherry and oak. This is drinking pretty well for its young profile. Medium plus finish and I would cellar for five plus years. Decanted 2 hours.
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12/1/2006 - yovinny wrote: 98 Points
with braised short rib(The Basin) WOW....100pt? Not as much backbone as the 02 Hillside Select ...comparable to the 98 Hillside at French Laundry
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12/1/2006 - burcusabrews wrote: 94 Points
Quilceda Creek Vertical 1990-2003 (My house): At first this had a real expressive nose, but it was apparent that there was a lot that was left unseen. In this manner it reminded me of the '03 Reva I had a couple months ago. But that is where the comparisons with an Alban wine ceases. I never did find that depth and it seemed to be fleeting. Big and inky with some iodine. Found some blueberries and I think that there is a chance that this will get better and was really shutdown, but there was some signs that the depth was just not there.
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11/22/2006 - Vino Me wrote: 91 Points
This was opened at the CWM cellar dinner at Courtrights and paired with a course of Petite Rack of New Zealand Lamb, Potatoes-Bacon, Fennel Gratin and Lamb Jus. Scubarex brought this to the dinner. One of the wines I was looking forward to the most and also the most disappointing. Decanted for 11 hours. Just about got hit in the face with a 2x4 when I first smelled this wine. Very oaky. Young and tight on the palate. Thick texture and extremely primary at this stage. Notes of boysenberry, leather and toasted oak. Big wine but not much complexity now. 91+ points.
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11/18/2006 - thelostverse wrote:
Scubarex contribution to the Courtright Dinner. I have no rating for this wine as it was giving up nothing. I believe there was a mixup in the decanting instructions at Courtrights. It clearly was not long enough, whatever the case may be. As this is the first QC I've had, I do not want to skew the ratings with my impression from this tasting. NR
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11/18/2006 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Chicago Wine Mafia Dinner in the Cellar (Courtright's Restaurant, Willow Springs, IL): Scubarex brought this bottle. Inky color, opaque almost all the way to the rim. Notes of mint, blueberry, alcohol and oak. A big wine, with blueberry, cassis, oak and sweet tannins. While this is a big wine, there was a hollowness on the midpalate, and it finished very short.
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11/4/2006 - mattiasjansson wrote: 89 Points
Robert Parker 100-point dinner (Bellavino, Thousand Oaks, CA): Oak. Full-bodied. Acidic attack. Some nice fruit on the mid-palate. A little bitter and hot on the finish. Closed?
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11/4/2006 - Winetex wrote: 93 Points
VC's Third Annual Cult Smackdown (Sunnyvale, CA www.lionandcompass.com): Tasted single blind. Probably 93.5 points and just below the Pride Reserve in my ratings. It was clear that this wine was different from the others. I had this as the QC early on due to its blueberry aromas and flavors along with something that smells like bacon to me. This wine was balanced with no hint of heat. There was the impression of big structure but it was significantly lighter in weight than the other wines in the flight except the Ridge Monte Bello. The 02 may be a better wine than the 03. The rest of my bottles will continue to sleep. This was my #2 wine of the flight of 6 wines.
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11/4/2006 - hudamang wrote: 94 Points
VC's Third Annual Cult Smackdown (Sunnyvale, CA www.lionandcompass.com): FUNKY!! Of all the 02 vintage bottles tasted, this one stood out as being funky. What the heck is it? I thought perhaps Ridge since it was so unique but should have guessed Q.C. due to it's blueberry taste. Not a 100 pointer in my book. It's still a great wine and goes well with rich meaty food with lots of fat.
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9/21/2006 - KellyW wrote: 98 Points
Sexy rich nose and palate. Super balance and elegance though massive in structure.
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9/2/2006 - yovinny wrote: 98 Points
at Marinus WOTN by me, put the Haute Brion '89 to the test.
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7/24/2006 - prosp wrote: 92 Points
I had this last night alongside of the 2003 QC. Decanted for 4+ hours. The 2003 was definitely better than the 2002, but neither wine blew me away. This was a very big wine, that definitely needs more time in the bottle, as after 6+ hours it was still not giving much more. No heat, good mouth feel, but not a big finish. Not as much fruit coming through as the 2003.
This was a very good wine, but did not meet my expectations for a 100 point wine.
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7/20/2006 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
Thinkin' About a 10 Vintage Quilceda Creek Vertical ('89 to '03) (Think Cafe - Chicago, IL): A big wine that is quite tight. A good dose of violets, blue and black fruits on the nose. On the palate, fruit picks up intesnity over the night - which helps to overcome a brooding tannic strucuture. Gains complexity in the glass with green pepper and saddle leather.
Stunningly this was opened at 11am the day BEFORE dinner. Open for 30+ hours!
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6/20/2006 - phenricsson wrote: 94 Points
Not at all as good as I had expected. Maybe in a tunnel? We also had a 99 QC that was much bigger and tannic than the 02. The 99 was at it’s best the next day
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6/19/2006 - Eric wrote:
Old Bordeaux and young Cults with Jeff Leve (Los Angeles, CA): Very oaky and cheddary. Showing very hot. This is at a really awkward stage right now and desperately needs to sleep.
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6/4/2006 - anacapa1 wrote: 93 Points
I took the advice of others and drank this over a few days. Took forever to open up and show itself (my last glass on day four), and even then, it's clear to me that this is something you stash away for several years before enjoying. I can't personally understand why restaurants would have the 2002 on the menu right now....I just don't have the sensory skills to determine future greatness as I would prefer to drink things that are stunning today with some short-term decanting.
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5/21/2006 - EricBe wrote: 96 Points
A bit of cherry, tobacco, and plum for me, very nicely harmonized. Great mouth feel through finish. Very, very nice wine.
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5/15/2006 - jmd60611 wrote: 93 Points
Humongous at all levels, nose, richness, tannins, even acids...I look forward to these as they become more drinkable in the future...Reminded me of the 99 Pavie a bit
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3/26/2006 - Eric wrote:
A impromptu tasting of Washington wines (Seattle, WA): This was my fifth try of the 2002 Quilceda Creek. This bottle was popped and poured at a tasting and could have been a few degrees cooler. Some medicinal elements and heat (think cough syrup) come to the front of the nose, then some candied fruit and seawater, hints of cheddar-cheese later. The palate starts out sappy, soft, very saturated, amazing color, sweet and a bit oaky, surprisingly round and approachable. Of the four tasters present, no one was especially enthralled with this, and three of four tasters guessed its identity. Once we unveiled it, I suggested decanting for the remainder of the time, as I have seen this wine show very awkwardly without a lot of aeration. The decanting helped a lot, as this picked up a LOT of weight in the mid-palate. However, this was NOT a strong showing for this wine. Let 'em sleep...
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3/2/2006 - MTC wrote:
Found in a restaurant for a very reasonable price. Drank after little areation. It needs a lot more.
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2/25/2006 - tederf wrote: 95 Points
Wow. I have been trying to taste this for some time. Saw it on the menu at Tosoni's in Bellevue at what seems to be a great price ($105). Great blue/black fruit. Long finish. Got better as the evening wore on. Smooth. Tannins softened with time - didn't decant. I would have had another if I weren't driving.
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1/20/2006 - Blair Curtis wrote: 96 Points
Qulceda Creek Vertical w/ Alex Golitzin (Vancouver Museum): (3400 cases of this made, fruit cropped at 3.1 tons/acre.) Very similar nose to the 2001, but this one had icing sugar as well as the violets. These two vintages really make a great first impression on the nose. On the palate, blackberries, blueberries and cream - plush, velvety fruit. A touch more heat showing than on the 2001 (mainly why I marginally prefer the 2001). This is a pure-bred puppy dog.
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1/14/2006 - winefool wrote: 91 Points
CFTG Quilceda Creek Vertical (Glen's): Deep opaque black purple color. Right round bright black fruit nose. Right metallic black fruit on the palate. Sure did not see what all the fuss was about in this particular bottle. Very young.
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1/14/2006 - GlenD wrote: 95 Points
Quilceda Creek 1996-2002 vertical (Chicago suburbs): Nose of buttery oak and purple fruit. Concentrated blueberry and purple fruit on the palate, followed up by spicy oak. Very similar in spice to the 02 Insignia I tried a month ago, but more intense blue fruit here. Just so dark and primary. Tons of wood showing now, and obviously needs time to integrate. Plenty of stuffing here. This is the real deal.
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1/14/2006 - Deadbird wrote: 96 Points
Impenetrable purple color. Totally seamless, voluptous and silky with the tannins buried deep. A great time. The only thing i couldnt find was the expressive nose that should develop with time. No hints of heat or alcohol that some have mentioned recently.
A great time.
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1/11/2006 - Wineosseur wrote: 93 Points
I was motivated to open my first bottle of '02 after reading many positive reviews including the fact that this wine was dubbed a 100-pointer by Rovani and Parker recently in the Hedonist's Gazette. Splashed into a decanter at 530, and consumed with some amazing smoked pork shoulder at a friend's house from 730-1030. There was about one glass left over which I tried the next evening. This wine is an opaque crimson, purple. Another taster's first comment was, "Hot!" I am not sensitive to heat (enjoy Turley, Marquis Philips, etc.), but I have to agree that this wine shows heat both at 3 hours and 28 hours after opening. There is great concentration of fruit (red and black) with a good dose of oak and hint of chocolate. The palate is med-full with smooth but quite firm tannins on the finish. This bottle was quite good but far from a perfect cabernet to me this night.
This wine has the materials for improvement, but seems a bit disjointed now. It is only my second experience with QC, but the '99 I had a year and a half ago showed better balance and complexity. I hope the '02 is just too young and will integrate with more time as many report for this winery. I did not find any earthy, tobacco, leather aromas which I have read in some other QC reviews and associate with fine Bordeaux. This was tasted alongside '94 Rausan Segla, '98 Olivet Papet, and an '04 Pax (forget the bottling). The Pax was higher in alcohol (by about .5% I believe) and obviously younger, but was much better integrated and showed no heat.
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12/3/2005 - SGates wrote: 95 Points
Dinner at Cafe Juanita - If this tasted any more like blueberry pie, I would have had to order it a la mode! Second time I have tried this wine and this time I thought it was even better. I remembered this having more complexity when I tried it six months ago, but this time the initial flavors were overwhelmingly blueberry and oak. Over 90 minutes, it started to develop some more personality and evolve into the wine I remembered (hot chocolate and Chai spices, but still overwhelmingly berry). Tannins are soft for such a young Cab, but that helps it drink so well this early.
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8/22/2005 - lorenzo wrote: 95 Points
<Sun Valley>
Drank with 8 hours of air and 36 hours of air.
Better with more air.
Fairly noticeable oak, but the rich blueberries and spice can hold it up.
I am hopeful that with age this will develop further, and the wood won't increase its presence.
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8/19/2005 - Wusman wrote: 94 Points
Opened and decanted for ~6hrs prior to consumption. Medium to dark purple. Nose seemed to be somewhat closed, but still notable hints of flowers, berries, cassis. On the palate this is nice and smooth. The tannins were minimized by the weight of the wine and fruit. Lingering dark berries with what to my platate tasted like a touch of minerals. Over the next 2 days the wine had a bit more herbal tone to it. Nicely balanced wine, but I wonder if there is enough tannin to go the distance. I have only had two other vintages of QC and truly enjoyed this wine, but have yet to determine if it lives up to all of the hype. Perhaps this speaks more to my lack of experience with QC.
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8/15/2005 - BonnieM wrote:
big, grapey wine. no fruit on the first taste, maybe some chocolate. Was very funny that just as I took my first sip ever of a Q Creek cab and earthquake hit. A small one but enough to make me stand still with my mouth full of wine and think gee, this really is some wine! Tasted over the course of the next five days. Just with the cork put back in. We never really tasted any distinct fruit but the wine continued to be huge, mouthfilling, a "pay attention to me" wine. We are eagerly anticipating trying a mature Q Creek in a few years.
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8/13/2005 - GlenD wrote: 93 Points
The Best for The Best 2005 (Chicago NW Suburbs): Couldn't ever really get her to wake up and perform as I expected, although still a very nice experience (especially if you count the 2nd day). I started with an 8 hour decant, which wasn't enough. Toward the end of the first evening, it was opening up, but acting restrained and coy. The nose was always the most unusual on the table, with violets and other florals. So I stuck a cork in it an put it in the fridge. Opened her back up for dinner the next night and she had really come around. It was very enjoyable and the first bottle finished with dinner that night. I see so many notes mentioning the 2nd day, so maybe you really do have to plan a day ahead on this right now.
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8/12/2005 - sivilli wrote:
Decanted for 2 hours, pours the dark opaque color you get with a big cab. Smells like nothing while sitting in the decanter, first pour and swirl releases waves and waves of licorice. A little spice shows, as well as heat and a little oak. Palate is rich and layered, very smooth, and has a very sweet core of fruit with way less tannin than you would expect. Finishes a little hot. Other notes say this will improve, I don't have much experience with aged Quilceda, but hopefully some of the oak will integrate. Honestly, though, you wouldn't be wasting anything drinking now, I can't see it improving a ton.
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8/8/2005 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Blueberry syrup for flapjacks. That's what I get immediately on opening. Decanted half to air and returned to the bottle after 3 hrs. Re-opened and sat for 2+ hrs. Odd turpentine nose. Still an intense blueberry experience with wood dust and hints of vanilla. Not my thing, to be honest. Certainly admirable for intensity and purity, but I found it very monochromatic. Brought slight remainer home and Elena's perception matched though she enjoyed more.
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7/16/2005 - tsutton wrote: 97 Points
What a difference 24 hours makes. I opened this yesterday and drank a glass while preparing dinner. I was let down because I generally think Quilceda Creek is some of the best wine I have in my cellar.
After a so so reaction I recorked the bottle and drank something not worth remembering with my steak. About 27 hours later and with the bottle sitting on my counter the whole time I was reminded again why I love this wine. The blueberry was present on both nights but the wood, heat and volatiles on the nose were so much more in tune on the second night. I seem to have a keen sensitivity to VOC's and often I can't get past that when evaluating a young wine as was the case with this on the first night. The second night I was able to get past that and say "holy f'in cow, this is great!" Who knows, one day, I may enjoy this as much as the '94
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7/14/2005 - SGates wrote: 94 Points
Dinner at Jak's. WOW - this is very nice right now but has tons of potential to really mature into an awesome wine. Very young on the nose and palate, but already showning dark, thick, complex flavors. Will only get better over the next ten years or so. Drank with a group, so everyone got one glass, not enough time to decant or really let it open up. Wouldn't open my bottles of this for at least 5 years.
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7/5/2005 - jamesbadd wrote:
Appearance: Dark, inky purple. Some cloudy dark violet at the edges. Dense looking wine.
Initial Impressions: Right from the bottle the nose was full of fresh blueberry pie with sugar sprinkled on top of the crust. Some red berry and pumpkin pie spices join in too . There is a good deal of wood on the palate, but the tannins are so smooth and the wood isn't too much. Creamy chocolate blueberries and red berries make up the mouth flavors. The finish is medium-long and full of creamy milk chocolate. It is drying and woody; this is where the tannins come in the most. This calls out for a high quality steak. Overall, very balanced and attractive. It may be young, but we have a winner.
After sitting in the decanter for 2 hrs: The blueberries seem to have closed a bit on both the nose and palate. The tannins are more apparent. I still like this, but not as much as I did on the pour for a freshly opened bottle. The finish seems to have gotten too drying for my tastes.
Day 2: Whoa where did this nose of basil and oregano come from? It still has that sweet bluberry jam scent, but this has changed quite a bit. The palate has the herbal streak too. Blueberries and cream are still there, but I think someone seasoned my wine.
Day 3: On the nose, blueberries, cassis red fruit, some spice . Sweet and structured. No heat, just velvet. The palate still a good tannic backbone, but this has got a body on it. Blueberries, cedar, still some oak, but that silky, creamy, smooth, chocolate fruit! Wow. My wine has returned and a hit a new high.
Day 4: On the nose this seems to combine the herbal element from day 2 with the fruit from day 3. The palate is similar; herbs have returned, but only to a minor degree. This has taken the silky smooth mouthfeel to a whole new level. Still has that tannic backbone and drying finish. This will age and age and age.
Comments: I enjoyed this wine. It is well made and can only get better and better with time. I would love to try this again in a decade. All that said, it isn't my style. I like a bit more spice, cedar/leather, or cigar smoke elements in my reds. I can love this for what it is and what it will become. I am happy I tried a bottle. Great wine that gets a grade of A. Best and most interesting red I have had in a while.
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6/16/2005 - JasonD wrote: 94 Points
Drank over two days (36 hours.) Deep dark color that you can just barely see through. Tight nose to begin with showing only dark fruit (interestingly not blueberry) and oak. The second day much better integration, showing blueberry, blackberry, casis, and raspberry. Very thick mouthfeel, very dark, blackberry, carmel and vanilla and very tannic. The flavors are so massive that they take over your mouth. In a few years this could end up a profound wine. At this point a much better wine than the 02 Latour and better than the 01 Quilceda was at this point.
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6/11/2005 - MarkC wrote: 99 Points
This is arguably the best wine I've ever tasted, bar none. I know this is young, but given the ream of others who have tried it already, I couldn't help myself. Blueberry nose, layered flavors of rich chocolate, decadent coffee beans, gobs of red fruit. Layer after layer of flavor. Opened 8+ hours before tasting, it was simply stunning. This is a wine that I'd rather just drink and enjoy vs. having to think about and trying to write cogent notes. Was 6 bottles enough of a purchase? No - back up the truck if you can find this one!
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6/6/2005 - anthonyiez wrote: 97 Points
wow, what a great bottle of wine. righ now it has been open for about 32 hrs and it is just starting open up. all i can say is hold hold hold. this wine has great balance, unbelievable silky tannins, gobs of fruit and a finish that just doesn't stop. 97 points and i can't see any reason this wine can't improve a couple of more points with time.
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6/4/2005 - dd wrote:
well its hard to say things about this wine other then rasberries blueberries and woodynotes and tannins tannins and more tannins. we decanted for about an hour and a half and this wine gave the same from beginning to end . it will be a number of years before i open another, that said i loved the wine big bold and huge well integrated and balanced i found this to be unlike anything i have had before
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5/27/2005 - Jason wrote: 96 Points
I have been waiting to spend a day or two with the new release. Today I finally go my chance.
Day 1: Popped and poured. The nose screams oak and blueberries. Served blind I would have guessed South Australia Shiraz based on the nose. With an hour of air, the oak integrated a bit and overall it picked up some complexity. I now find dark chocolate, smoke, dried herbs, and some heat. The palate, however, is terrific. I have never had a thicker, lusher Quilceda. I also am blown away by the silky tannins. This doesn't have any of the hard tannic edge of the 01 or 99. I don't know the pH, but this seems to be the lowest acid QC I have had. Regarding the thickness (this may sound nuts), I noticed when I swirled the wine that it seemed to move slower than I expected. I could see ripples form on the surface. I find tastes of dark chocolate, earth, and just a hint of the fruit. Its there, but it is really hiding. I look forward to checking back in tomorrow. If I had been served this blind I would have given then 94 points.
Day 2: The nose is now far more integrated. I don't get nearly as much new oak, and I get no heat. It is now dominated by super sweet blueberries (like the 00). I also find dark chocolate and dried herbs. I am bit perplexed by the palate. It is very lush and soft. It is virtually seamless. In fact it strikes me as approaching too soft. Luckily some tannins appear right before the finish. This is certainly the softest, most approachable young Quilceda I have had. This certainly deserves its high rating, but I am not sure it is my favorite vintage. I like the wildness of the 94 or 99 better. 96+
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5/19/2005 - Eric wrote: 96 Points
When I first opened this I was a bit surprised: loads of blueberry (which I have only seen on the 2000), heat and HUGE amount of wood, like a trip to the sawmill. I didn't decant, just popped, poured and savored a half bottle very slowly over 4 hours. Finally after about 3 hours I got a better sense of where this was going, as the wood integrated nicely and left behind a huge, intense, focused, extracted example of Quilceda. On the palate there was dark fruit, mineral and liqueur-like intensity, seamless from start to finish. This wine is going to need a number of years to drink up the barrel treatment, but it seems to have no shortage of stuffing to handle it in time.
DAY 2: Wow, here come the Quilceda violets. A day of air (not gassed, just corked the half-empty bottle up and put it in the cellar) did wonders for this wine. Violet, cedar, and sawdust leap from the glass. The palate is smooth, seamless and dark without the faintest trace of alcohol. The structure is more apparent now, and wow is this loaded with tannins and a ton of oak just below the surface. This is really going to need a few years to integrate some of this, but the intensity and supple mouthfeel are off the charts. I still have a slight preference for the more overtly structured 2001, but that is splitting hairs. Upgrading from 94 to 96. I'm a believer!
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5/15/2005 - ScottG wrote: 96 Points
opened at 11 AM, poured out a couple of ounces and recorked. Those first few ounces were surprisingly nice considering pop and pour at cellar temp. The rest was sipped along with NY steak, carmelized shallot and stock reduction, and Risotto. This was a far superior wine to what I tasted at that open house. Blueberry, currant, cedar, graham. Lots of currant/cassis and less blueberry and vanilla than some previous years. Ripe tannins. The only real flaw was a bit of hotness. Nice wine.
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4/24/2005 - lorenzo wrote: 95 Points
<QC Release Party>
Arrived Late to the event and they were pouring from cold bottles. Would have prefered a little more time to spend with this wine. But there is no mistaking the quality of this juice. I am going to open one soon and watch it evolve with some air, because I thought it was Outstanding today. Nose was fairly unrevealing. After swirling, I was able to sneak some cassis out. VERY nice sweet fruit and dried cherries on the rich palate. Chocolate notes lead into lengthy finish comprised of fine tannins. It was just starting to loosen up when they started locking the doors, but even slightly tight, this was still very enjoyable. 94-95+ now under the right conditions. And although I'm no prophet, I've got no problem seeing this arrive at something close to perfection at its peak.
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4/23/2005 - Jason wrote: 97 Points
Quilceda Creek Pick-up Event 2002 Vintage (Snohomish, WA): As good as advertised. The nose is far more closed than it was from barrel last year. With air it began to reveal toasted oak, spice, violets, minerality, and a slight touch of heat. The mouthfeel was awesome. It was the most silky and seamless palate I have yet encountered on a QC. I found tastes of smoke, rosemary, sage, and tons of fruit and structure. For a wine to be this big and so balanced is extraordinary. The only other wine that shares that element in my mind is the 94 Harlan.
I find the palate on this wine to be far more accessible at this point than the 01 was on release. I think the nose on the 01 was a touch more open. I look forward to opening a bottle soon, so I can follow it over the course of a few days. 97++
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4/21/2005 - Spencer wrote: 95 Points
I've opened bottles of QC right after release in every vintage since '94, and this is by far the most opulent and open at this stage. Huge and lush, with no hard edges whatsoever. Deep, concentrated and complex, and loaded with jammy fruit, but it has enough structure so that it all manages to stay in balance. I think this wine is as qualitatively as good as anything they've made, but I think it may represent a stylistic turning point. I opened a '94 alongside this, and as good as this was, I still prefer the '94 - although I think that's as much a reflection of personal taste (and sentiment) as anything else. I look forward to following the evolution of this wine.
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4/14/2005 - Dteng wrote: 93 Points
I held out a total of 1 hour after bringing the bottles home. No travel shock that I could detect. All I can say is blueberries blueberries blueberries. Extremely primary and big with cassis and mildly heavy oak which I assume will integrate. To me not off putting. The thing that sets this 02 apart from the 00 and 01 is that it is incredibly smooth in the finish, with tannins in check and not overbearing as with the previous vintages. There also seems to be more focus or elegance or something that I can't quite pinpoint comparing this to the 98 thru 01 versions. Maybe I am on drugs but this reminded me of the 02 Pride Cab Franc! Quite enjoyable and delicious. Everything you would expect from this producer, and then some. For those who have a case or more, open one and try it, if for anything, the experience. Excellent potential, excellent buy. Will try this again over the next few days.
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4/11/2005 - syrahlvr wrote: 91 Points
Definately good but it didn't blow me away. Maybe it was overshadowed by the '02 Pride Res Cab and '02 Merus that we had with it but it didn't thrill me. I will give it the benefit of the doubt and lay the rest away for a while.
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4/1/2005 - winefool wrote: 92 Points
Opaque dark purple. Serious deep dark aroma of black fruit and a hint of chocolate. Big mouthpuckering black fruit. Chocolate and coffee flavors. Very tannic and tight. Should definitely improve with age. 4/05
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3/31/2005 - asianwinehunter wrote: 94 Points
Upon opening - huge nose of and massive concentration of black fruits stewed fruit notes - some residual sugar. Minimumum aeration time in '05 was 12 hours. Monolithic and has a somewhat of a hot finish - flip flops over time trying to decide if it was blackberry jam, port or a cab. Things seem to come into balance after 24hours in the bottle - some of that hot finish seem to smooth itself out although not completely. Fruit still primary and dominates everything else including tannins and acidity at times ( though its there). Suspect this is going to need alot of time in the cellar. Wine yet to collapse even after 48+ hours in bottle.
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3/19/2005 - nvandyk wrote: 97 Points
Drank a bottle early to see what the fuss is all about. Undeniably going to be a monster. Impenetrable black ink, tons of fruit but balanced by earth. After decanting for an hour, virtually no change. This is quite young. I'll leave the decanter for the night and try some tomorrow. A great wine requiring some time in the cellar. 95+?
Update...24 hours later, no sign of oxidation and the wine is still pretty closed. Powerful, well structured, and in need of a couple of years, easily. But a fantastic wine if we can wait it out!
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6/8/2004 - Jason wrote: 98 Points
Wow. The nose is extremely young and screams of vanilla, char, and blackberries. The palate is tremendously thick and lush but is in absolutely perfect balance. It also offers great complexity and a long, explosive finish. 98++ Not hard imagine that this will be the first 100 point wine from Washington.
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