Drank side by side with our last 2003 QC red, and this one too, was a crowd pleaser. Perhaps more fruit than the '03, and less spice. More blackberry, less plum. I've got one more bottle of '04, and will open it next year!
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I opened a bottle tonight and we didn't give it enough time to open and we're all cork dorks. Let it open for a couple hours and then a fragrant nose of oak, maple, and green come through. The palate is cassis, dark cheery, and deep blackberry and a minor amount of cedar and maple. The wine is dark and delicious and has more time to age, but it's amazing now at 17 years old.
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Poppin poor. Believe this is my last of the vintage; remarkable that wine at this price point can you go this long. This was soft enough to not overpower the salmon and spinach in a cream reduction sauce, yet still had enough half to go with the accompanying fillet mignon.
While an enjoyable wine, there’s kore risk than upside to holding on to these much longer.
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This is definitely a little bit of a departure from other Cabernets that were enjoyed tonight. Still extremely elegant. Enjoyed En Magnum. This is 15 years of Columbia Valley excellence. The news on this wine was clove, truffle, black cherry. The entry had a little bit of a bleu cheese, green grapestem, black cherry, fig. The middle is where this one started to settle more to a red and black fruit profile.... but mostly favored the black fruit side of things. Finishes with a little bit of black pepper, with softened tannins that carried it through to the finish. If in 750, I would say it is definitely time to start popping and enjoying these. If it is in Magnum, this is actually a rather enjoyable wine and I feel it will likely develop a bit more.
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Needed at least an hour to pull together, was better the next day. Black cherry, blackberry, herbs, and earth on the nose. Black cherry, red cherry, alcohol spice, aged wood, and earth on the palate. Rather primary still. Some annoying heat. Fair acidity, integrated tannins, good finish. Interestingly, I had some left in the fridge for a few weeks, and it was better, with more earth, some herbs, hints of leather, and so on. So, this might still be fun to follow, but I would probably still drink these up.
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Pop and pour, hooked up to nitro canister. Nose is distinctive Bordeaux, add in some barnyard and acetone. First time I've thought this about a QC Red. Comes off a bit thin, more a Pinot than red blend. Cherry, hint of cola, brief finish. Will drink the balance of this bottle with fish or pork; if this were a Pinot I'd rate it 95+. As a cab-based blend, its past its prime
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Would have been better with a decant of an hour or two, but no complaints...ruby in color with an expressive nose of red cherries...tannins are well integrated with a smooth finish. Likely at its peak with a few years left.
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This wine is certainly not haunted with over the top oak or alcohol. Actually, Greenblanket thinks it's rather nice showing the expected big blueberry fruit and some faint hints of Cab Franc. But, sadly, that's about it.
Tannin? Gone. Acidity? Probably never there. Finish? Short and sweet. Value? Don't make Greenblanket cry about what he could have done with 40 bucks almost 10 years ago.
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Over 4 years since last visiting this and am impressed. Coravin'd a few glasses and found vibrant blue fruit filling enveloping the area when pouring. Wine crosses the palate as a cab / cab franc blend, with the CF component seeming to be more than the 13% at bottling. Oak that I noted in prior bottles has been tamed and now rests more elegantly in the background. Black cherry, blueberry hints, sweet tannins, behind a slightly dry finish of toasted wood. Really in a nice place. Presently deciding whether to down the rest of the bottle or replace the dead CV capsule. Has several years remaining but clearly in its wheelhouse at present.
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Just not as impressed with this wine as the rest of you have been. I've tried over and over to really like this wine. It is a good wine, but that's it. Medium body, dark cherry fruit, spicy. It lacks depth, acidity, and alcohol lingers too much on the finish.
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At first pour, it was strong in oak and alcohol. Not much fruit initially. Settled down over an hour or so in the decanter/glass. Smooth, oak and alcohol dissipated. Still not a lot of fruit, but still good.
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Very very berry and sweet. Did not find the excessive oak or alcohol that others speak of. Still tastes pretty young, but lacks tannin and low on acidity. I don't see this lasting much beyond 2014. Had a Barbaresco open that lacked fruit and thus experimented by mixing the two together - the combo was much better than either of the two by themselves.
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This had a harsh acrid oak not with alcohol that really was bothersome. I have had better bottles of this vintage. It was better the second day, so I considered raising the score.
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I have been on Q Creeks list since 1990 and they have always been strong in every wine they have made. So it pains me to say that this over, over, over oaked alchoholic mess be not made agiain.
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Berry good indeed! Quickly becoming a Washington State devotee. The first impression is that the Cab Franc is the wild card here. Have been enjoying everyday Chinon's and tasty Cab Francs from Virginia lately and am impressed with its inclusion here. Will be pairing with " Chicken Braised with Smoked Eggplant Tapenade" and feel confident that this will be the perfect wine.
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K&L Washington Tasting (San Francisco): Nose a bit ripe, red fruits; palate has decent ripe fruit but lacks acidity and freshness/vivacity... a bit flabby overall. Poor value.
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Showed very nicely. Dark fruit, lavender, and tar. The heat is the only thing hurting it, but when the wine opens up, it has almost enough texture to suppress the alcohol. Far superior to the 2002 and 2003 which I didn't care for.
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As others have noted, this is in its drinking window and requires little to no airtime. Nose has more alcohol and oak than I'd exoect in a wine that tastes this well, but there's some plum and dark berry as well. Mouthfeel resembles a young cab franc, not a ton of tannis though they're evident, and a smooth, berry-water mouthfeel/texture. Lots of deep berry flavors, this is all about the fruit and its great. One of the best value cabs I own.
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By the far the best Quilceda Rd I have had. No decant, absolutely incfredibale and absolutely in its drinking window. This one really came across like the big brither Cab. Wife and I were blown away!! Drink up if you hae them!
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Popped, poured, and gave 30-45 minutes standing in glass. Tempted to give it a 94+ but just a bit too hot for that. But seriously, WOW. This is a phenomenal wine for the money (if you can find it). Dark cherry, blackberry, and I dunno, licorice? aromas. Silky mouthfeel, amazing blackberry, blueberry, black cherry maybe flavors lingering with that trademark QC hint of what everyone seems to call "violet" (though having never tasted a violet before, I can't reliably vouch for that). Just so enjoyable to sip, and continues to get better as it goes. I'm amazed at all of the reviews that see this as a merely very good wine. I guess it's the high alcohol - that's the only common ground I have with some of the lukewarm reviewers. I don't find it obnoxious, but it is certainly present. Last one of the 04s, sadly. My advice would be to buy if you have the chance, and give it an hour + in the decanter if you can to let the alcohol blow off. My experience with QC is that the alcohol needs a solid 1-2 hours to integrate and mellow, and then you have some of the best wines you can imagine. This one is no exception to that rule.
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Not as light on its feet as the promising cardamom and mint aromas suggested. A typical blackberry/cassis profile, and a little boozy. Solidly "very good."
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Decanted one hour. Dark plum and roses on nose. Initially cherry, plum and licorice in the mouth. Mid-palate dark fruit with smooth yet stemmy tanins. Finish lingers.
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Rich, dark fruit, strong oak influence, nice interplay of blackcurrant and plum vs. tobacco and herbs; Improves with air time in the glass, but ready to go now if in the mood for a bruiser of a red wine.
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This is ready to drink now, popped and poured and it was very good from the first sip; rich, dark, vanilla, plum, and fruitcake flavors; ripe and rich, but the flavors are integrated and softened. Definitely a ripe/full style, but well done.
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Decanted 2 hours, then consumed half the bottle over the next 3. Nice complex nose of dark fruits, loam, black cherry and some minerals. Tannins somewhat rough on the palate, but overall a pleasurable wine. A touch of heat on the finish.
Day 2 - the tannins are much more tame, wine has smooth out and has a silky texture to it. More enjoyable on day 2, bumped the score from 91 to 92.
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At first when I opened this it was like sniffing a rubbing alcohol bottle and the palate was hot with a strong blackberry streak. I set it aside and let it decant for about 3 hours and wow what a difference that made! The alcohol blew off and the nose was blackberry, blueberry, currant, and violets. The tannins were round with more dark fruit flavors and violets with a nice 30 sec finish. S
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Initial pop and pour was a little out of balance, but I liked the profile: cherry, blackberry, wet moss, vanilla. After a hour or two, it pulled together more but tilted toward black things: smoke, charcoal, tar, blackberry, black cherry, blackcurrant, black licorice. Also some herbs, cedar, and vanilla. Room filling aromas. Big but smooth on the palate, with some spice and fair acidity. Very long finish that ends with the pleasant sensation of a blackberry shake. The heat on the finish lowers my rating a bit. Overall, a very nice wine, but to me, it's more interesting than pleasurable.
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Decanted for a couple hours on first night, then finished up second half on the next night. Bit of a cola smell, but a nice chocolate & tobacco taste. Not sure on the value of this, but it is tasty.
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A solid wine, yet simple, and unimpressive for $35. Nothing overtly wrong, but it felt dark, closed, and less fruity vs the more nuanced '04 David Family cabernet it was paired against. A nice bottle, but nothing special. Not that different that a columbia crest or chateau st. michelle, or a number of other solid washington state cabs at half the price.
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dark, blur fruit nose open fist opening. Decanted 60 minutes. Smoke, dark fruit, tar and vanilla dominate. High alcohol creates significant heat on midpalate and on finish. Presents itself as mid-bodied, but acts heavier. Could easily pair with a t-bone or porterhouse; we had it with pizza.
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best bottle yet. typical QC blue fruit out of the gate. but after 10 minutes seemed to go into a shell. that lasted an hour. and what emerged was a beauty of a wine. well integrated, nice balance of oak for those who are worried. this was the best bottle yet of this.
looking forward to trying some of the 05's next year.
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Dark color with brambly fruit on the nose. Very ripe fruits such as raspberry and dark cherry with a hit of oak on the palate. Fairly long finish. Good wine for the price if you like them ripe and woody.
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Decanted for 90 minutes. Hardly any sediment. Dark purple-red. An elegantly styled medium bodied cab blend. The nose leads with dark fruit and a hint of oak. Palate reveals more dark fruits (blueberries, cassis, sweet dark cherries), as well as some spice and toasted oak. A bit of heat is detected on the finish (14.9% alcohol). Well endowed with plenty of acidity to pair well with Ribeye steaks. Drink now thru 2015.
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Dark and pleasant. Did not enjoy as much as the 2003. We had with a lovely barbecue that was not spicy. The wine did stand up to the food. The wine is ready to drink.
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Nice bottle of wine for a last minute choice to go with pulled pork sandwiches. Same notes as written for a bottle consumed about 6 months ago. Dark fruit and spice with a hit of oak.
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This Q Creek blend was a pleasant surprise to go with a Friday night dinner at St. John. A blend of predominantly Cabernet sauvignon, cab franc and a touch (6% if I recall correctly) merlot, this had a nice spiciness on both the nose and palate that made me appreciate how blending can sometimes elevate and add complexity to a wine. How this can be considered a "second" wine is beyond me...nice and clean with no hint of brett.
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Coming along really nicely, but still a bit disjointed. The fruit has picked up nice spice flavors and the tannins have softened, but the oak still looms large; either decant for a few hours or wait 6-12 mos. This will be very tasty at its peak!
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First bottle of the 04 I have tasted and not nearly as good as a prior bottle of 03. Very simple wine, lots of red fruits, relatively short finish. Quite drinkable, just lacking the body I was expecting.
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I was disapointed in this one, poped and decanted for three hours. This never opened up, the nose was lacking and the finnish very short. At this price point I don't see this as a good value. I would rather have a Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains (declassified Monte Bello) than this one. I can only hope it is significantly better the second day.
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After aeration, this wine is drinking well for a youngster. There is a lot of sweet, dark fruits and some funk on the nose. The oak does show up, but not out of balance. Spicy with a long finish. The bottle disappeared quickly!
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this is drinking pretty damn well. the Blueberries are there right out of the bottle. but 10 minutes later the balsa wood nose really takes over. this medium body wine really looks like it has a nice long life ahead of it. can't wait to open it's big brother in 5 years.
second day the tannins are more prevalent, a little more acidity. but the fruit seems to have a few more nuances to it.
one of the best wines of the year so far.
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First glass was straight from the bottle with no air. This wine has come ito a lot of balance since my last tasting. It was oak dominated but not overwhelmed, dark fruit, nothing green at all and I didn't note any blueberry sweeteness. Note to be updated after the bottle is finished tonight
On night 2 (was in a 375 overnight with no air space) this was even better in balance. There was oak, tannins, dark fruit and a bit of road tar all working just right.... and none of that signature blueberry pie..
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Worst showing yet for this wine. Disjointed, alcoholic, monolithic and just sort of a mess. Huge sappy, liquer elements were not pleasant. Begining to wonder if this wine is just going through a typical QC evolution or if there is an issue with this vintage and wide bottle variation. Hoping it is the former and the wine will settle into its upside potential.
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very nice red table wine! Had it next to the 01 WWV res cab and I thought it held up very well. It was very cab franc dominate on the nose at first with lots of green peppers and veggies. Some at the tasting said too much oak and disjointed but I really thought the balance was nice (although I think it will get better with time!). Lots of cool earthy flavors and tons of fruit. A very nice introduction to Quilceda Creek!
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Initially very oak dominated, with dark fruits, sweet tobacco, peppers and coffee...definitely up parkers alley but not what I dig especially next to the walla walla vintners cab.. When this hits the palate it was a little too oaked for me, perhaps just too young. There was a lot of cab franc speaking on the palate, with intense dark fruits, coffee and an intense but bitter transition to the finish....a little too fakey fakey....the grapes aren't really doing the talking here....I think this wine will resolve some w age though.
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Decanted for 2 hours. Needs more time. This was very tight and high in alcohol right out of the bottle, and really evolved during the 4 hour drinking window. After 6 hours in the decanter this was more of a 93 pointer than the average noted above; very approachable, well-balanced, typical QC blueberry notes, and the structure to last a long time. This sampling the night prior to the QC release prompted me to up my order of the 05 to a case rather than the 6-pack I've bought the last few years.
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Brought to a local restaurant and decanted for about an hour before dinner. This has smoothed a bit since the last bottle - the fruit and tannin are a bit better integrated though the trademark blueberry is still definitely there.
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Decanted shortly before dinner. The aromatics are definitely there...floral, ripe fruit...as you'd expect with QC. On the palate, blueberry pie is an apt descriptor. Lots of ripe blue fruits, oak, and vanilla. The thing that's missing here is the tannic backbone. It's all fruit a la Aussie shiraz right now. Will wait for a while before opening another...
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Still a baby... dark garnet color with a very funky nose -- my partner called it "ham salad." Needs air to open up, but has silky tannins, rich currant, mint, and coffee notes, long finish. This will be amazing in a year.
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Very distinctive... blueberries, mint, green tobacco, hints of chocolate on the nose. Not too heavy in the mouth but with a fair shake of drying tannin. The herbal minty note and the blueberries really define the wine. Not quite hot, but a bit heady for sure, checking in at near 15%. This holds up well to the 2nd day. Though it is not my favorite wine at the moment (a personal stylistic preference -- the quality is undeniable) I am still happy to have it and it should prove to be quite enjoyable over the next several years.
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Unfortunately I think that QC wines need a bit more time in the cellar before they start to open up. This wine was starting to show some positive attributes at the end of the evening (3 hours in) but I will get to those later. Nose was somewhat closed at the beginning of the evening. I was getting what I can only describe as aromas of a pumpkin pie dropped in the mud (not a bad thing). Nose was a bit hot and liquered. I wanted more of the spice and dirt, but each time I'd give it a good sniff it felt like I was burning my nose hairs. Initial taste was dominated by tannins. This needs more time. Fruit was hiding and the finish was clipped. By the end of the night altough the nose was starting to close up, there were elements of blueberry pie starting to come out on the palate. The tannins (though ever present) were beginning to provide structure to the overall profile. Would purchase again and let rest in the cellar for 2-3 years before I started to drink them.
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The wine started off very tight but improved with time in the decanter. It was still getting better even after 3 hours. So, decant for 3 to 4 hours and serve at around 65 to 67 degrees farenheit. The nose shows some cassis and cherry. The palate is medium bodied with moderately firm tannins and nice acidity. The finish is on the short side but shows some nice vanilla and oak. Paired really nice with steak.
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Not a great showing tonight, but it wasn't the wine's fault. Popped and poured after a '97 Cali Cab turned out corked. Should've decanted for and hour or three.
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Gave this about a 3 hour decant on night1. It was enormously tight, oaky and tannic but did display a lot of structure. Poured it into a 375ml and left it on the counter for a day. On day 2 it was starting to open up, there was good black fruit in a more austere profile. This wine definitely needs a lot of time but I think the points will rise a lot.
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Day 1 Definitely a well constructed with a serious backbone. Medicinal black cherry on the nose with a touch of oak. Nose follows through on the palette. The tannins are a little rough, but they are encompassed with serious sweetness of fruit. This wine should improve some.
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Nose had the classic violets but other than that not that exciting. I decanted this over 4 hours and still felt that it was really holding back its potential.
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Was moderately disappointed. Heavy oak and not overly enjoyable on its own. Dramatic difference when I drank with NY steaks, but I still picked up what was almost a syrah flavor on the back. Hope the other 4 bottles I have don't show like this one.
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Needs some bottle time. Dark fruit, did not find all the oak expressed by others. A little flat. I will check the PH on the next bottle bet it is a little high. All in all this wine has a lot going on and needs time to intigrate itself.
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Quite a contrast to the 03 Red Wine, as this conveys a more structured and serious tone to the proceedings. The QC violets are apparent on the nose, as is a good dose of new wood. The blackberry scents carry a meaty side; might have guessed a Syrah if served blind. Concentrated black fruits on the palate; primary and firm, but warm and satisfying. At the mid palate and finish, the wines youth becomes a bit of a distraction as the vanilla flavors are bit too much and some heat pops up on the finish. I’m sure a year or two will help integrate this into a very nice drink down the road
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This is much better than the 2003 Red Table from QC and much more in line with the QC style. It carries a hint of the violet on the nose that is a Quilceda signature and has an awesome thick, yet supple, mouthfeel. The tannins are super balanced (as always with QC). The finish is shorter than I would like but may develop over time. This is a 3-5 year wine and is great for the price.
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Smells/tastes like a typical QC Red. I don't know if it has the tannin to go the distance, but it's really great now. Really expressive nose just out of the bottle.
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2007 Passport to Woodinville weekend; 3/31/2007-4/1/2007 (Woodinville, WA): Deep garnet to purple color. Nose of dark cherries and blackberries with some spices. The blackberry and blueberry flavors also had a tinge of bing cherry that brought just a little tartness to the fruitiness. There was just a little heat at the finish, but since we were tasting this at the 04 Cab release, we didn't wait too long for this one to open up because of being too anxious to get to the big boy. I felt like that little boy in the Disney commercials the night before his family goes to Disneyland who says,"I'm too excited to sleep." This was a great wine, and we're looking forward to it's release this fall. This second label is always a huge crowd pleaser, and a bottle that not everyone will be fortunate enough to be able to pick up. Not quite as good as the 03 Red Wine that we had just tasted the night before, but really close.
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1/14/2023 - BobbaWA Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank side by side with our last 2003 QC red, and this one too, was a crowd pleaser. Perhaps more fruit than the '03, and less spice. More blackberry, less plum. I've got one more bottle of '04, and will open it next year!
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10/10/2021 - Zambraia Likes this wine: 91 Points
Hints of cardamom and fresh tobacco. Long smooth finish.
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7/30/2021 - aerosol Likes this wine: 93 Points
I opened a bottle tonight and we didn't give it enough time to open and we're all cork dorks. Let it open for a couple hours and then a fragrant nose of oak, maple, and green come through. The palate is cassis, dark cheery, and deep blackberry and a minor amount of cedar and maple. The wine is dark and delicious and has more time to age, but it's amazing now at 17 years old.
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4/23/2021 - Wine Spam wrote: 90 Points
A nice mix of forest and cedar nose with a relatively still sweet palate. Very enjoyable and great value. Drink now.
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3/13/2021 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 91 Points
Poppin poor. Believe this is my last of the vintage; remarkable that wine at this price point can you go this long. This was soft enough to not overpower the salmon and spinach in a cream reduction sauce, yet still had enough half to go with the accompanying fillet mignon.
While an enjoyable wine, there’s kore risk than upside to holding on to these much longer.
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3/22/2019 - mflesh wrote: 92 Points
This is definitely a little bit of a departure from other Cabernets that were enjoyed tonight. Still extremely elegant. Enjoyed En Magnum. This is 15 years of Columbia Valley excellence. The news on this wine was clove, truffle, black cherry. The entry had a little bit of a bleu cheese, green grapestem, black cherry, fig. The middle is where this one started to settle more to a red and black fruit profile.... but mostly favored the black fruit side of things. Finishes with a little bit of black pepper, with softened tannins that carried it through to the finish. If in 750, I would say it is definitely time to start popping and enjoying these. If it is in Magnum, this is actually a rather enjoyable wine and I feel it will likely develop a bit more.
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1/1/2018 - mebarry Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cassis and dark cherry flavors. Balanced and lasting flavor.
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10/1/2017 - rmh66 wrote: 89 Points
Needed at least an hour to pull together, was better the next day. Black cherry, blackberry, herbs, and earth on the nose. Black cherry, red cherry, alcohol spice, aged wood, and earth on the palate. Rather primary still. Some annoying heat. Fair acidity, integrated tannins, good finish. Interestingly, I had some left in the fridge for a few weeks, and it was better, with more earth, some herbs, hints of leather, and so on. So, this might still be fun to follow, but I would probably still drink these up.
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5/3/2017 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pop and pour, hooked up to nitro canister. Nose is distinctive Bordeaux, add in some barnyard and acetone. First time I've thought this about a QC Red. Comes off a bit thin, more a Pinot than red blend. Cherry, hint of cola, brief finish. Will drink the balance of this bottle with fish or pork; if this were a Pinot I'd rate it 95+. As a cab-based blend, its past its prime
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2/10/2017 - hanasowner wrote: 87 Points
Popped and poured...some bricking and better than decent for a 12/13 year old wine, but not much going on...time to drink up.
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12/23/2015 - hanasowner wrote: 91 Points
Would have been better with a decant of an hour or two, but no complaints...ruby in color with an expressive nose of red cherries...tannins are well integrated with a smooth finish. Likely at its peak with a few years left.
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12/1/2015 - greenblanket Does not like this wine:
This wine is certainly not haunted with over the top oak or alcohol. Actually, Greenblanket thinks it's rather nice showing the expected big blueberry fruit and some faint hints of Cab Franc. But, sadly, that's about it.
Tannin? Gone.
Acidity? Probably never there.
Finish? Short and sweet.
Value? Don't make Greenblanket cry about what he could have done with 40 bucks almost 10 years ago.
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10/27/2015 - Knicksfan wrote: 93 Points
What a nice bottle and great QPR; Rich fruit still expressed and nicely complex and interesting.
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8/15/2015 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 93 Points
Over 4 years since last visiting this and am impressed. Coravin'd a few glasses and found vibrant blue fruit filling enveloping the area when pouring. Wine crosses the palate as a cab / cab franc blend, with the CF component seeming to be more than the 13% at bottling. Oak that I noted in prior bottles has been tamed and now rests more elegantly in the background. Black cherry, blueberry hints, sweet tannins, behind a slightly dry finish of toasted wood. Really in a nice place. Presently deciding whether to down the rest of the bottle or replace the dead CV capsule. Has several years remaining but clearly in its wheelhouse at present.
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8/7/2014 - wine4ever wrote: 87 Points
Just not as impressed with this wine as the rest of you have been. I've tried over and over to really like this wine. It is a good wine, but that's it. Medium body, dark cherry fruit, spicy. It lacks depth, acidity, and alcohol lingers too much on the finish.
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2/1/2014 - BMG Wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Brought this to a friend's house for dinner with a bunch of wine rookies. Think it REALLY made an impression. Great juice!
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1/2/2014 - BMG Wine Likes this wine: 91 Points
This one took the "Best of the Night" spot. Impressively rich and complex with layer after layer of dark fruit, mocha, leather, tobacco, coffee....
And this is the second label from this house....as this was so huge, I won't be opening any of the estate juice anytime soon.
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12/29/2013 - rhalbert wrote: 93 Points
Awesome tonight.
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12/22/2013 - KPieper Likes this wine:
At first pour, it was strong in oak and alcohol. Not much fruit initially. Settled down over an hour or so in the decanter/glass. Smooth, oak and alcohol dissipated. Still not a lot of fruit, but still good.
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11/23/2013 - jefe-alto wrote: 90 Points
Soft and round. Good fruit, no tannins. Does not seem to be fading.
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9/1/2013 - wine4ever wrote: 88 Points
Slightly different than the bottle we had 3 weeks ago...fortunately not as sweet. Still lacks the tannin and acidity to raise the score.
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8/11/2013 - wine4ever wrote: 87 Points
Very very berry and sweet. Did not find the excessive oak or alcohol that others speak of. Still tastes pretty young, but lacks tannin and low on acidity. I don't see this lasting much beyond 2014. Had a Barbaresco open that lacked fruit and thus experimented by mixing the two together - the combo was much better than either of the two by themselves.
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8/10/2013 - team-blackburn wrote: 86 Points
Same as last bottle, never came to life no nose to speak of good fruit.
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6/6/2013 - wineack wrote: 83 Points
This had a harsh acrid oak not with alcohol that really was bothersome. I have had better bottles of this vintage. It was better the second day, so I considered raising the score.
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5/27/2012 - dleaf wrote: 90 Points
Needs lots of air but patience rewards!
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5/16/2012 - cepageyakima wrote: 84 Points
I have been on Q Creeks list since 1990 and they have always been strong in every wine they have made. So it pains me to say that this over, over, over oaked alchoholic mess be not made agiain.
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5/4/2012 - Bristolian wrote: 92 Points
Berry good indeed! Quickly becoming a Washington State devotee. The first impression is that the Cab Franc is the wild card here. Have been enjoying everyday Chinon's and tasty Cab Francs from Virginia lately and am impressed with its inclusion here. Will be pairing with " Chicken Braised with Smoked Eggplant Tapenade" and feel confident that this will be the perfect wine.
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1/28/2012 - aagrawal wrote: 88 Points
K&L Washington Tasting (San Francisco): Nose a bit ripe, red fruits; palate has decent ripe fruit but lacks acidity and freshness/vivacity... a bit flabby overall. Poor value.
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1/16/2012 - DollarMenunaire wrote: 93 Points
Showed very nicely. Dark fruit, lavender, and tar. The heat is the only thing hurting it, but when the wine opens up, it has almost enough texture to suppress the alcohol. Far superior to the 2002 and 2003 which I didn't care for.
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12/29/2011 - Knicksfan wrote: 93 Points
A surprising winner. Packed with fruit and bottle age has been rewarded. Dark fruit, soft tannin, long finish = winner.
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10/29/2011 - Vette Z06 wrote: 92 Points
Nice juice! Gave it 45 minutes in decanter and had with beef. Surprised me for price point. Nice fruit mainly dark berry.
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8/23/2011 - Zinlady wrote: 91 Points
Lovely wine. Had with broiled salmon and it was lovely. Great body. Long finish. Violets
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7/4/2011 - Zinlady wrote: 91 Points
Enjoyed much better this time. Had with steak - so delicious you wanted to drink all the bottle
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6/11/2011 - davidandrose wrote: 93 Points
As others have noted, this is in its drinking window and requires little to no airtime. Nose has more alcohol and oak than I'd exoect in a wine that tastes this well, but there's some plum and dark berry as well. Mouthfeel resembles a young cab franc, not a ton of tannis though they're evident, and a smooth, berry-water mouthfeel/texture. Lots of deep berry flavors, this is all about the fruit and its great. One of the best value cabs I own.
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5/30/2011 - rhalbert wrote: 94 Points
By the far the best Quilceda Rd I have had. No decant, absolutely incfredibale and absolutely in its drinking window. This one really came across like the big brither Cab. Wife and I were blown away!! Drink up if you hae them!
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5/2/2011 - morellyn wrote: 93 Points
Popped, poured, and gave 30-45 minutes standing in glass. Tempted to give it a 94+ but just a bit too hot for that. But seriously, WOW. This is a phenomenal wine for the money (if you can find it). Dark cherry, blackberry, and I dunno, licorice? aromas. Silky mouthfeel, amazing blackberry, blueberry, black cherry maybe flavors lingering with that trademark QC hint of what everyone seems to call "violet" (though having never tasted a violet before, I can't reliably vouch for that). Just so enjoyable to sip, and continues to get better as it goes. I'm amazed at all of the reviews that see this as a merely very good wine. I guess it's the high alcohol - that's the only common ground I have with some of the lukewarm reviewers. I don't find it obnoxious, but it is certainly present. Last one of the 04s, sadly. My advice would be to buy if you have the chance, and give it an hour + in the decanter if you can to let the alcohol blow off. My experience with QC is that the alcohol needs a solid 1-2 hours to integrate and mellow, and then you have some of the best wines you can imagine. This one is no exception to that rule.
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4/4/2011 - Philly-O wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 3 hours, rounded into a bold cherry theme. smooth, intricate,lasting finish. No nedd to go on, it's QC. Great effort.
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3/5/2011 - subir wrote: 92 Points
First time I've had this wine and it's felt even remotely ready. I drank all the other bottles too early :-(
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3/1/2011 - phantphant wrote: 91 Points
back to what i expect from this wine....earth and a touch of barnyard....rich
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3/1/2011 - David@mooredc.com wrote:
Loved it
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2/20/2011 - emdub wrote: 86 Points
Same as the 06. Alcoholic mess.
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1/24/2011 - RSK wrote: 86 Points
Not as light on its feet as the promising cardamom and mint aromas suggested. A typical blackberry/cassis profile, and a little boozy. Solidly "very good."
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1/22/2011 - tairanosaurus wrote: 92 Points
Decanted one hour. Dark plum and roses on nose. Initially cherry, plum and licorice in the mouth. Mid-palate dark fruit with smooth yet stemmy tanins. Finish lingers.
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1/16/2011 - phantphant wrote: 81 Points
Disappointing for this fine winery. Much thinner than usual with no finish.
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1/15/2011 - sdatl Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich, dark fruit, strong oak influence, nice interplay of blackcurrant and plum vs. tobacco and herbs; Improves with air time in the glass, but ready to go now if in the mood for a bruiser of a red wine.
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1/9/2011 - tthorn wrote: 92 Points
Really changes as it decants. Cool climate profile, w/ smoke, black fruits, and a long but clean finish. Very good.
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12/19/2010 - phantphant wrote: 93 Points
Just total yummy silk -- deep, intense, smooth and long lasting. Just liquid awesomness.
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12/18/2010 - sdatl wrote: 91 Points
This is ready to drink now, popped and poured and it was very good from the first sip; rich, dark, vanilla, plum, and fruitcake flavors; ripe and rich, but the flavors are integrated and softened. Definitely a ripe/full style, but well done.
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11/6/2010 - bubbachumps wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 2 hours, then consumed half the bottle over the next 3. Nice complex nose of dark fruits, loam, black cherry and some minerals. Tannins somewhat rough on the palate, but overall a pleasurable wine. A touch of heat on the finish.
Day 2 - the tannins are much more tame, wine has smooth out and has a silky texture to it. More enjoyable on day 2, bumped the score from 91 to 92.
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11/6/2010 - mulder wrote: 92 Points
At first when I opened this it was like sniffing a rubbing alcohol bottle and the palate was hot with a strong blackberry streak. I set it aside and let it decant for about 3 hours and wow what a difference that made! The alcohol blew off and the nose was blackberry, blueberry, currant, and violets. The tannins were round with more dark fruit flavors and violets with a nice 30 sec finish. S
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9/3/2010 - rmh66 wrote: 90 Points
Initial pop and pour was a little out of balance, but I liked the profile: cherry, blackberry, wet moss, vanilla. After a hour or two, it pulled together more but tilted toward black things: smoke, charcoal, tar, blackberry, black cherry, blackcurrant, black licorice. Also some herbs, cedar, and vanilla. Room filling aromas. Big but smooth on the palate, with some spice and fair acidity. Very long finish that ends with the pleasant sensation of a blackberry shake. The heat on the finish lowers my rating a bit. Overall, a very nice wine, but to me, it's more interesting than pleasurable.
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8/31/2010 - Wine Sparty wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for a couple hours on first night, then finished up second half on the next night. Bit of a cola smell, but a nice chocolate & tobacco taste. Not sure on the value of this, but it is tasty.
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8/6/2010 - wine4ever wrote: 90 Points
Same notes as last time
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7/30/2010 - redrhonewine wrote: 93 Points
Wow, this was really wonderful and rich. The flavors just kept giving and giving. Don't think it needs any more bottle age. Fantastic
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7/12/2010 - MLwine wrote: 91 Points
Very rich, balanced, with dark fruit. Quite enjoyable.
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7/11/2010 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
Drinking better than the last bottle. Some variation? Not overy oaky or charred. Nice red fruit and spice.
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6/4/2010 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
Easy drinking with dark fruit and more charred oak notes than apparent in previous bottles. Good with home ground burgers.
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5/21/2010 - Black Pearl wrote: 90 Points
A solid wine, yet simple, and unimpressive for $35. Nothing overtly wrong, but it felt dark, closed, and less fruity vs the more nuanced '04 David Family cabernet it was paired against. A nice bottle, but nothing special. Not that different that a columbia crest or chateau st. michelle, or a number of other solid washington state cabs at half the price.
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5/4/2010 - Jchernoff wrote: 87 Points
dark, blur fruit nose open fist opening. Decanted 60 minutes. Smoke, dark fruit, tar and vanilla dominate. High alcohol creates significant heat on midpalate and on finish. Presents itself as mid-bodied, but acts heavier. Could easily pair with a t-bone or porterhouse; we had it with pizza.
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4/2/2010 - dleaf wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for an hour or more. Dark, started out with black cherry fruit. Followed with smoke,meat and a lot of oak. Alcohol was pervasive.
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3/19/2010 - Tom Dan wrote:
Blackberries and tar; very excited to try another one in six months. But, a bit hot/high in alcohol.
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2/28/2010 - John wrote: 91 Points
best bottle yet. typical QC blue fruit out of the gate. but after 10 minutes seemed to go into a shell. that lasted an hour. and what emerged was a beauty of a wine. well integrated, nice balance of oak for those who are worried. this was the best bottle yet of this.
looking forward to trying some of the 05's next year.
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2/10/2010 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
Dark color with brambly fruit on the nose. Very ripe fruits such as raspberry and dark cherry with a hit of oak on the palate. Fairly long finish. Good wine for the price if you like them ripe and woody.
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1/25/2010 - phantphant wrote: 93 Points
YUM..this is silk....deep intense fruit with significant texture. Finish is long and smooth. Very lovely....silky silky silky.
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11/22/2009 - wine4ever wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 90 minutes. Hardly any sediment. Dark purple-red. An elegantly styled medium bodied cab blend. The nose leads with dark fruit and a hint of oak. Palate reveals more dark fruits (blueberries, cassis, sweet dark cherries), as well as some spice and toasted oak. A bit of heat is detected on the finish (14.9% alcohol). Well endowed with plenty of acidity to pair well with Ribeye steaks. Drink now thru 2015.
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9/5/2009 - JAKurek wrote: 90 Points
Much more impressive than previous bottle a few months back.
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8/16/2009 - Zinlady wrote: 89 Points
Dark and pleasant. Did not enjoy as much as the 2003. We had with a lovely barbecue that was not spicy. The wine did stand up to the food. The wine is ready to drink.
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8/15/2009 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
Nice bottle of wine for a last minute choice to go with pulled pork sandwiches. Same notes as written for a bottle consumed about 6 months ago. Dark fruit and spice with a hit of oak.
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8/15/2009 - E wrote: 93 Points
This Q Creek blend was a pleasant surprise to go with a Friday night dinner at St. John. A blend of predominantly Cabernet sauvignon, cab franc and a touch (6% if I recall correctly) merlot, this had a nice spiciness on both the nose and palate that made me appreciate how blending can sometimes elevate and add complexity to a wine. How this can be considered a "second" wine is beyond me...nice and clean with no hint of brett.
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8/7/2009 - sdatl wrote: 90 Points
Coming along really nicely, but still a bit disjointed. The fruit has picked up nice spice flavors and the tannins have softened, but the oak still looms large; either decant for a few hours or wait 6-12 mos. This will be very tasty at its peak!
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6/29/2009 - JAKurek wrote: 87 Points
First bottle of the 04 I have tasted and not nearly as good as a prior bottle of 03. Very simple wine, lots of red fruits, relatively short finish. Quite drinkable, just lacking the body I was expecting.
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5/9/2009 - team-blackburn wrote: 86 Points
I was disapointed in this one, poped and decanted for three hours. This never opened up, the nose was lacking and the finnish very short. At this price point I don't see this as a good value. I would rather have a Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains (declassified Monte Bello) than this one. I can only hope it is significantly better the second day.
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3/21/2009 - DJButters wrote: 91 Points
An excellent value wine
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2/28/2009 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
After aeration, this wine is drinking well for a youngster. There is a lot of sweet, dark fruits and some funk on the nose. The oak does show up, but not out of balance. Spicy with a long finish. The bottle disappeared quickly!
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1/25/2009 - John wrote: 90 Points
this is drinking pretty damn well. the Blueberries are there right out of the bottle. but 10 minutes later the balsa wood nose really takes over. this medium body wine really looks like it has a nice long life ahead of it. can't wait to open it's big brother in 5 years.
second day the tannins are more prevalent, a little more acidity. but the fruit seems to have a few more nuances to it.
one of the best wines of the year so far.
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11/18/2008 - msny98 wrote: 91 Points
First glass was straight from the bottle with no air. This wine has come ito a lot of balance since my last tasting. It was oak dominated but not overwhelmed, dark fruit, nothing green at all and I didn't note any blueberry sweeteness. Note to be updated after the bottle is finished tonight
On night 2 (was in a 375 overnight with no air space) this was even better in balance. There was oak, tannins, dark fruit and a bit of road tar all working just right.... and none of that signature blueberry pie..
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10/9/2008 - Rob A wrote: 85 Points
Worst showing yet for this wine. Disjointed, alcoholic, monolithic and just sort of a mess. Huge sappy, liquer elements were not pleasant. Begining to wonder if this wine is just going through a typical QC evolution or if there is an issue with this vintage and wide bottle variation. Hoping it is the former and the wine will settle into its upside potential.
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9/4/2008 - bajayngo wrote: 90 Points
very nice red table wine! Had it next to the 01 WWV res cab and I thought it held up very well. It was very cab franc dominate on the nose at first with lots of green peppers and veggies. Some at the tasting said too much oak and disjointed but I really thought the balance was nice (although I think it will get better with time!). Lots of cool earthy flavors and tons of fruit. A very nice introduction to Quilceda Creek!
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8/30/2008 - LPskeleton wrote: 90 Points
Initially very oak dominated, with dark fruits, sweet tobacco, peppers and coffee...definitely up parkers alley but not what I dig especially next to the walla walla vintners cab.. When this hits the palate it was a little too oaked for me, perhaps just too young. There was a lot of cab franc speaking on the palate, with intense dark fruits, coffee and an intense but bitter transition to the finish....a little too fakey fakey....the grapes aren't really doing the talking here....I think this wine will resolve some w age though.
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8/17/2008 - davidandrose wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Needs more time. This was very tight and high in alcohol right out of the bottle, and really evolved during the 4 hour drinking window. After 6 hours in the decanter this was more of a 93 pointer than the average noted above; very approachable, well-balanced, typical QC blueberry notes, and the structure to last a long time. This sampling the night prior to the QC release prompted me to up my order of the 05 to a case rather than the 6-pack I've bought the last few years.
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8/17/2008 - dd wrote:
really great wine vanilla dark berry soft great mouth feel
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7/26/2008 - winenewb068 wrote: 89 Points
Brought to a local restaurant and decanted for about an hour before dinner. This has smoothed a bit since the last bottle - the fruit and tannin are a bit better integrated though the trademark blueberry is still definitely there.
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5/28/2008 - shaferguy91 wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 2 hours.
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4/26/2008 - winenewb068 wrote: 86 Points
Decanted shortly before dinner. The aromatics are definitely there...floral, ripe fruit...as you'd expect with QC. On the palate, blueberry pie is an apt descriptor. Lots of ripe blue fruits, oak, and vanilla. The thing that's missing here is the tannic backbone. It's all fruit a la Aussie shiraz right now. Will wait for a while before opening another...
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3/8/2008 - sdatl wrote: 92 Points
Still a baby... dark garnet color with a very funky nose -- my partner called it "ham salad." Needs air to open up, but has silky tannins, rich currant, mint, and coffee notes, long finish. This will be amazing in a year.
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2/29/2008 - pbjosh wrote:
Very distinctive... blueberries, mint, green tobacco, hints of chocolate on the nose. Not too heavy in the mouth but with a fair shake of drying tannin. The herbal minty note and the blueberries really define the wine. Not quite hot, but a bit heady for sure, checking in at near 15%. This holds up well to the 2nd day. Though it is not my favorite wine at the moment (a personal stylistic preference -- the quality is undeniable) I am still happy to have it and it should prove to be quite enjoyable over the next several years.
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1/27/2008 - norm@bontjeco.com wrote:
much better than 03
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1/26/2008 - MagnumGourmet wrote:
Unfortunately I think that QC wines need a bit more time in the cellar before they start to open up. This wine was starting to show some positive attributes at the end of the evening (3 hours in) but I will get to those later. Nose was somewhat closed at the beginning of the evening. I was getting what I can only describe as aromas of a pumpkin pie dropped in the mud (not a bad thing). Nose was a bit hot and liquered. I wanted more of the spice and dirt, but each time I'd give it a good sniff it felt like I was burning my nose hairs. Initial taste was dominated by tannins. This needs more time. Fruit was hiding and the finish was clipped. By the end of the night altough the nose was starting to close up, there were elements of blueberry pie starting to come out on the palate. The tannins (though ever present) were beginning to provide structure to the overall profile. Would purchase again and let rest in the cellar for 2-3 years before I started to drink them.
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1/14/2008 - yovinny wrote: 91 Points
potential to go higher with 6-12 mo.s of cellaring.
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12/26/2007 - bubbachumps wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with my prior note except it was more open for business .
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12/21/2007 - kris.h wrote: 89 Points
The wine started off very tight but improved with time in the decanter. It was still getting better even after 3 hours. So, decant for 3 to 4 hours and serve at around 65 to 67 degrees farenheit. The nose shows some cassis and cherry. The palate is medium bodied with moderately firm tannins and nice acidity. The finish is on the short side but shows some nice vanilla and oak. Paired really nice with steak.
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12/8/2007 - Rob A wrote: 89 Points
Not a great showing tonight, but it wasn't the wine's fault. Popped and poured after a '97 Cali Cab turned out corked. Should've decanted for and hour or three.
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12/8/2007 - msny98 wrote: 89 Points
Gave this about a 3 hour decant on night1. It was enormously tight, oaky and tannic but did display a lot of structure. Poured it into a 375ml and left it on the counter for a day. On day 2 it was starting to open up, there was good black fruit in a more austere profile. This wine definitely needs a lot of time but I think the points will rise a lot.
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12/7/2007 - bubbachumps wrote: 89 Points
Day 1
Definitely a well constructed with a serious backbone. Medicinal black cherry on the nose with a touch of oak. Nose follows through on the palette. The tannins are a little rough, but they are encompassed with serious sweetness of fruit. This wine should improve some.
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12/6/2007 - mulder wrote: 85 Points
Nose had the classic violets but other than that not that exciting. I decanted this over 4 hours and still felt that it was really holding back its potential.
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12/1/2007 - DukeDrew wrote: 87 Points
Was moderately disappointed. Heavy oak and not overly enjoyable on its own. Dramatic difference when I drank with NY steaks, but I still picked up what was almost a syrah flavor on the back. Hope the other 4 bottles I have don't show like this one.
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11/14/2007 - rsepulve wrote: 87 Points
Didn't work for me. Too much oak. Needs time.
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11/8/2007 - parathesis wrote: 91 Points
Needs some bottle time. Dark fruit, did not find all the oak expressed by others. A little flat. I will check the PH on the next bottle bet it is a little high. All in all this wine has a lot going on and needs time to intigrate itself.
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11/6/2007 - dd wrote:
way to early dbl decanted still to early needs time
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11/3/2007 - ScottG wrote: 87 Points
Seems solid, but dominated by oak notes at this point. Only had one hour to breathe.
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11/3/2007 - Bunski wrote: 92 Points
Full of fruit, excellent aromas and very heavy. A little lack of elegance on the finish, but overall a tremendous wine and value
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11/1/2007 - Rob A wrote: 91 Points
Blueberry pie . . . in a good way. QC violets and bold fruits coming through. Much more balanced out the gate than the 03.
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10/28/2007 - Dale M wrote: 89 Points
Quite a contrast to the 03 Red Wine, as this conveys a more structured and serious tone to the proceedings. The QC violets are apparent on the nose, as is a good dose of new wood. The blackberry scents carry a meaty side; might have guessed a Syrah if served blind. Concentrated black fruits on the palate; primary and firm, but warm and satisfying. At the mid palate and finish, the wines youth becomes a bit of a distraction as the vanilla flavors are bit too much and some heat pops up on the finish. I’m sure a year or two will help integrate this into a very nice drink down the road
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10/3/2007 - rhalbert wrote: 92 Points
This is much better than the 2003 Red Table from QC and much more in line with the QC style. It carries a hint of the violet on the nose that is a Quilceda signature and has an awesome thick, yet supple, mouthfeel. The tannins are super balanced (as always with QC). The finish is shorter than I would like but may develop over time. This is a 3-5 year wine and is great for the price.
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10/2/2007 - ml wrote:
Smells/tastes like a typical QC Red. I don't know if it has the tannin to go the distance, but it's really great now. Really expressive nose just out of the bottle.
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4/1/2007 - last chance wrote: 91 Points
2007 Passport to Woodinville weekend; 3/31/2007-4/1/2007 (Woodinville, WA): Deep garnet to purple color. Nose of dark cherries and blackberries with some spices. The blackberry and blueberry flavors also had a tinge of bing cherry that brought just a little tartness to the fruitiness. There was just a little heat at the finish, but since we were tasting this at the 04 Cab release, we didn't wait too long for this one to open up because of being too anxious to get to the big boy. I felt like that little boy in the Disney commercials the night before his family goes to Disneyland who says,"I'm too excited to sleep." This was a great wine, and we're looking forward to it's release this fall. This second label is always a huge crowd pleaser, and a bottle that not everyone will be fortunate enough to be able to pick up. Not quite as good as the 03 Red Wine that we had just tasted the night before, but really close.
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