Quilceda Creek Vintners was founded in 1978 by Alex and Jeanette Golitzin. Alex is the nephew of André Tchelistcheff, the legendary winemaker who put Beaulieu Vineyard at the forefront of Napa Valley Cabernet in the 1960s and 70s. He credits summer trips to visit his uncle in St. Helena, California with developing his early interest in wine. Alex’s son, Paul Golitzin is now chief winemaker at the winery.
Quilceda Creek Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon has earned some of the highest scores of any wine produced in the United States. The 2002, ’03, ’05 and ’07 vintages all scored 100-point ratings from Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate. The 2003 vintage of Quilceda Creek’s Cabernet Sauvignon was named the No. 2 Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator. Quilceda Creek produces several single vineyard Cabernets, and they also bottled a Merlot through the ’06 vintage.
The winery is located in a residential area just Northeast of Everett, WA. The location limits them to opening their doors just once a year for a Spring Release Party, where only the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon and Columbia Valley Red Wine are poured. This years release party featured the 2010 version of each. To their credit, the pours are substantial allowing you to fairly evaluate the wines.
2010 Cabernet Sauvignon – Young, tight and tannic. Perhaps the most unapproachable of any release in the last decade. Opaque purple in color. Rich and plush mouthfeel. Brown sugar and aspirin on the nose. Leather, blackberry, currants, cassis, violets and vanilla bean on the palate. The finish is long and powerful. This wine is so tightly wound that is hard to evaluate at this point. Vis a vis other recent releases, it seems less fruit forward. The components are all here, but this wine needs a decade or more in the cellar.
My rating: 93 points for now, with upside in the years to come.
$135 off the mailing list.
If you are not on the mailing list the wine can be found at retail for the next few weeks. Happy hunting!
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That was about my experience as well. I was a little concerned at first, but the finish told me that there was something special there that hopefully shows in the future. I’ll try a bottle in 5-7 years. On the other hand, the appetizer that they paired was well-designed…and tasty.
Yes, between the pours and the food, Quilceda Creek makes the drive up from Seattle worth the while.