2005
Quilceda Creek
“Galitzine” Cabernet Sauvignon
Made of 95.5 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 4.5 percent Merlot and aged for 22 months in 100 percent new French oak, it is packed full of juicy blackberry and blueberry fruit with aromatic notes of smoked meat, coffee, roasted herbs, and vanilla beans. I find that its body, purity, focus and overall delineation are second to none and it puts the wonderful terroir of the Galitzine Vineyard right in your glass. Despite the youth of these vines (only their fifth leaf) the wine should continue to evolve through 2035.
Paul Golitzin, Director of Winemaking
97 points
“The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard comes from the fifth leaf of this estate vineyard and in this vintage contains 4.5% Merlot. The wine was aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak. Opaque purple-colored, its distinctive aromatics leap from the glass. Toasty oak, scorched earth, a hint of truffle, black cherry, black raspberry, and blackberry liqueur aromas are quite mesmerizing. On the palate, this sizable effort is firm, full-bodied, and structured, demanding 6-8 years of cellaring. It falls a bit short of the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon in terms of complexity but bear in mind that this is still a very young vineyard. It should be hitting its stride by 2015 and remain at that level through 2035.”