2017
Quilceda Creek
“Palengat” Red Wine
The 2017 Quilceda Creek Palengat Proprietary Red Wine continues the refinement and honing in on our vision we began with the planting of the Palengat Vineyard in 1997. All the fruit is sourced from vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA and once again we’ve increased the amount of Cabernet Sauvignon to achieve our goals with the wine.
The blend for this release consists of 90 percent Cabernet Sauvignon from the Champoux and Mach One Vineyards and 10 percent Cabernet Franc from the Palengat Vineyard. Approachable in its youth, it will repay your patience after several decades in the cellar. Aromatically you can sense its Old World inspiration from the chocolate, graphite, and coffee rising from the glass, while on the palate there are dark currants, cherries, blueberries and plums. All are transported by a multi-layered, full-bodied but not-too-heavy texture supported by a complex tannic structure that’s silky and luxurious while maintaining the wine’s accessibility. It’s a balancing act that’s been a dozen years in the making, but absolutely worth the endeavor. Drink it now to 2040.
Paul Golitzin, Director of Winemaking
96 points
"A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Palengat is a darker, richer effort that has loads of blackcurrant, chocolate, toasted nut, scorched earth, and violet notes. Straight, focused, and beautifully concentrated, with nicely integrated acidity, it's a powerful, full-bodied, opulent yet textured wine to enjoy over the coming two decades."
96 points
"The 2017 'Palengat' Proprietary Red is nothing short of fascinating in this vintage. This instantly begins to impress as it releases incredibly fresh aromatics of black cherries, dark currants and cassis, which are woven together with tobacco, fresh cut violets, loam, graphite, mocha and hints of melted licorice that all take shape beautifully in the glass. On the palate this is full-bodied, layered and well-polished with excellent overall structure. This continues to impress as it possesses excellent concentration and focus, with a core of beautiful ripe dark fruits that gushes on to the graceful finish. Displaying a fantastic combination of power and elegance, this gorgeous wine can be enjoyed in its youth, however it also has the potential to evolve for decades. Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc which was sourced from Champoux, Mach One, and Palengat Vineyards."
96 points
"The 2017 ‘Palengat’ Red Wine is a stunning new bottling by superstar winemaker Paul Golitzin. A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Cabernet Franc, this opens with dense Turkish coffee aromas that meld with shades of tar, anise and creme de cassis, that give off an err of seduction. Once on the palate you are consumed by the wonderful combination of verve and freshness that combines with a plush texture and light tannins. Mocha, creme de cassis, anise, espresso bean and shades of creosote and a touch of blueberry pie. The seamless quality through the mid-palate is gorgeous. Stunning in its youth, this wine is showing beautifully with several hours of air as the wine is best enjoyed in a few years. This is truly one of the great ‘Palengat’ Red Wines ever made. Drink 2021-2040"