2009
Quilceda Creek
Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
The growing season started a week late, but once we had bud break the weather stayed warm, veraison took place on time, and everything moved forward on schedule. August and September were hot and dry, and although the diameter of the grapes was small, the flavors were big. The finished wine (98 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 2 percent Merlot) aged for 22 months in new French oak barrels.
At release, our 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon was graced with layers of blackberry, plum, and cassis fruit with complex floral nuances of violets, star anise, dark chocolate and Asian spices. The wine has always showed incredible texture and depth while also exhibiting great purity, elegance, and focus. Its inherent complexity has developed over the years: The fruit has melded with the tannins, the tannins have mellowed, and the wine is showing signs of entering a new phase of mature finesse without losing its youthful enthusiasm.
Paul Golitzin, Director of Winemaking
99 points
"The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot) is a ripe, flamboyant and brilliantly proportioned effort that oozes kirsch, licorice, lead pencil shavings and dried spice on the nose. Showing the perfume and headiness of the vintage, it nevertheless stays vibrant and lively on the palate while delivering layers of fruit and texture. While formidably structured and tannic, it can be enjoyed now due to the overall tannin quality and purity of fruit. It will evolve and drink well for over two decades. Drink now-2029."
96 points
"Incorporating a mere 2% of Merlot (from Palengat Vineyard) and dominated by fruit from Champoux, with strong assists from Red Mountain's Klipsun and Tapteil, Quilceda Creek's 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon perpetuates the deeply toasted nuttiness, bittersweet herbal intensity, and above all chocolate and dark berry confiture familiar from its stable mates. But here there are liberal sprinklings of baking spices; headily decadent floral garlands; and high-toned suggestions of fruit distillate – kirsch, framboise, sloe – to add complexity and allure. As with the other Quilceda 2009s, torrefaction and richness are not purchased at the expense of vivacity, as this flagship cabernet positively courses with energy, leaving the tongue aquiver. The sheer palate-staining finishing intensity of berry concentrate brings some realization of the tannin underlying this powerful cabernet, but given how mouth-coating and sweetly rich it is, no obvious sense of grain let alone roughness can be detected. I suspect this will have two decade's solid aging potential."
96 points
"Pure and impressively expressive, with focused currant, plum, blackberry and black olive aromatics turning on the palate to a more complex profile, weaving in coffee, crème brûlée and chai tea notes, all wrapped in a polished texture. The finish doesn't want to quit. Best from 2015 through 2024. From Washington."