The Cult Cab of Washington
2007 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon
"Perfection" for the 4th Time in Just Six Years?
It seems impossible that Quilceda Creek could surpass its own sky-high standards - yet here we are, staring down the (wine) barrel at what many speculate could well be its best wine yet.
Here's a staggering bit of trivia: Since 2002, Quilceda Creek’s Cabernet Sauvignon has averaged 99.6 points from Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate. As you well know, we are not a fan of point scores, but still... this howling streak of near-perfection is pretty mind-blowing.
And we're not the only ones to think so: Over the last few decades Quilceda Creek has become a true blue chip estate, with consistently rising demand (and prices) that humble the rather rapid life cycles of countless glossy Napa estates. And with the pre-review gossip calling the 2007 one of the estate's best ("exceptional" is the word the rather modest Golitzins use), things are unlikely to cool down.
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The estate refers to 2007 as an "exceptional vintage," a conclusion that the Wine Advocate has supported. Indeed, many herald the 2007 vintage in Washington State as one of the best ever. Hot in the summer and cool and clear in the fall, grapes were allowed to hang longer on the vines to develop extra flavor without excess alcohol, resulting in wines with incredible ripeness yet a wonderful sense of freshness and balance.
The signature of Quilceda Creek is unmistakable. Owner Alex and son Paul Golitzin, winemaker at Quilceda Creek, produce wines that walk the line between being flat-out gorgeous, opulent even, while also having a very rigorous expression of terroir. The Golitzins farm some of the state's most famous sites, including the Champoux and Klipsun vineyards. These are Cabernets that are ultra-dense, packed and brooding in youth (and requiring big decants if opened young).
Once allowed to stretch their massive wings however, the wine's heady aromatics fly in a blaze from just-ground Asian spices to juicy plum and cassis to truffle-dusted forest floor and back again. Underneath it all rests asmoky woodland core of wild violets and herbs - a deep sense of this place on the edge of eastern Washington where rainfall is measured in drops and day-to-night temperature swings are as dramatic as Sunday nights on HBO.
This is a benchmark wine; one of the great American Cabernets that's both dazzling enough to load up on big points the way Meryl Streep takes down Oscar nominations, yet it also retains a real authenticity. While so many wineries now seem to churn out a product fashioned by savvy marketing teams, Quilceda Creek is actually the product of top sites and rigorous vineyard and cellar work.
Today's offer is likely to move quickly - please email us at offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463 to place your order. Due to limited quantities, all orders subject to confirmation.
Ian McFadden
Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits
Compare at $175-200+
Quilceda Creek is pre-arrival
NET | No further discount