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Winemakers:
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Alex Golitzin, Paul Golitzin
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Varietal:
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100% Cabernet Sauvignon
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Vineyards:
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Ciel du Cheval, Kiona, Klipsun, Mercer Ranch(Champoux)
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Barrels:
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100% New French Oak
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Time in Barrel
before release:
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22 Months
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Time in Bottle:
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14 months
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Case Production:
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1700 Cases
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Drink 2005 - 2030
There is a consensus among Washington winemakers that 1994 is a classic vintage. The harvest was early and hot with low yields, resulting in very ripe grapes with a great concentration of fruit. All of our vineyards were picked in a two week time span from mid to late September.
The 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon was produced in our highly acclaimed Reserve style, which is now the standard for Quilceda Creek. The wine has an impressive opaque purple color, an amazing intensity, great sweetness and an almost syrupy/viscous texture. It is packed with black fruits, smoke, Asian spices and Vanilla, with a layered finish that last over a minute.
Although delicious now, the wine will attain its plateau of maturity in 2002 and last for 30+ years . We feel it is the finest wine we have released to date.
1994 Cabernet Sauvignon
"Deep ruby-red. Aromatic nose of cassis, black cherry, red
currant, coffee, tobacco and loam, plus a soupcon of smoky oak.
Quite supple on the palate, with lovely red berry and tobacco
flavors and a suave, claret-like texture. Rather large-framed
and broad, but not yet filled in. Avoids the medicinal flavors
and gritty evidence of over-extraction shown by so many
Washington State red wines. Dusty, very even tannins coat the palate. Deceptively gentle today, but well worth aging. "
Score 90
Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar,
September/October ’98 Issue 80
"The dark ruby-colored 1994 Quilceda Creek is an extraordinary wine
that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as California’s
top offerings. I recently served a bottle of it blind to
Robert M. Parker, Jr. amidst wines from Dominus, Harlan Estate, Colgin,
and others. While it did stand out as being different (it is much
more Bordeaux-like than its California brethren) it was their
qualitative equal. It offers deep and compelling aromas of
red and black fruits, lead pencil, and traces or oak
spices. This full-bodied, concentrated, and chewy wine is thick,
dense, and gorgeously defined for such a massive wine. Its
combination of power and elegance brought to mind the 1986 Margaux,
one of the finest wines ever produced by that illustrious estate.
When I first tasted the 1994 Quilceda Creek at the estate in Snohomish,
Golitzin was worried that it was too big and powerful. I found myself
in the all-too-rare position of defending a wine’s qualities to
the person who had made it! At a subsequent tasting, the wine had
lost some of its youthful exuberance and Golitzin was enthused to
see that it was gaining focus and elegance. This is truly
magnificent wine, and it will age remarkably well. Drink it between 2004-2015+. "
Score 94+
Pierre-Antoine Rovani, Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s, Wine Advocate
Closing Date: 10-30-98 Issue 119
"Bright and flavorful, a generous mouthful of blueberry,
blackberry and currant shaded with spicy oak notes on the
persistent finish. Fine-grained tannins need cellaring; best from 2000 through 2005. 1,700 cases made. "
Score: 92
Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator