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Winemakers:
|
Alex Golitzin, Paul Golitzin, Marv Crum
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Varietal:
|
89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, 9% Merlot
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Vineyards:
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Champoux, Klipsun, Ciel du Cheval, Tapteil
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Barrels:
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100% New French Oak
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Time in Barrel:
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22 Months
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Time in Bottle
before release:
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10 months
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Case Production:
|
1600
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Drink 2004 - 2020
The 1997 vintage had almost identical heat units as the excellent 1989 vintage. There were no problems with severe winter weather or spring frosts and consequently we received all the grapes that we had planned for. However, because we are continuously striving to improve our wine with every vintage, we declassified 38% of the vintage into a red table wine, even though the quality of the declassified wine was such that we would have used it in previous vintages. This made this Cabernet Sauvignon truly excellent.
The 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon has an unctuous black raspberry
liqueur essence layered with the flavors and aromas of anise,
smoke and minerals. This wine is deceiving because it is massively proportioned
yet supple, a rare combination which we feel is the true hallmark of a great wine.
This wine should cellar well for over 20 years.
1997 Cabernet Sauvignon
"Claret-like aromas of blackcurrent, minerals, tar, mocha and
tobacco, with a floral element of I didn't pick up in the
Champoux bottling. Lush and powerful, with sweeter fruit
and more density than the Champoux cabernet. Has more middle-palate
stuffing to support its chewy tannins."
Score: 90
Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar
"The 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon was fashioned from 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9%
Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. It offers a
boisterous rosemary and black fruit-scented nose.
Bigger, broader, and chewier than the 1996, this medium to full bodied wine is packed
with black fruits, spices and hints of tar. It is masculine, concentrated, and
in need of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2020."
Pierre-Antoine Rovani, Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s, Wine Advocate
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Winemakers:
|
Alex Golitzin, Paul Golitzin, Marv Crum
|
|
Varietals:
|
98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot
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|
Vineyards:
|
Champoux, Ciel du Cheval
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|
Time in Barrel:
|
22 months
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Time in Bottle
before release:
|
9 months
|
|
Case Production:
|
250
|
Nineteen ninety seven was an extremely important year for
Quilceda Creek since it was the year that we purchased a
portion of the the truly fabulous Mercer Ranch Vineyard,
which was renamed Champoux Vineyard in honor of our
friend, partner and manager, Paul Champoux. This purchase has
given us a secure source of Cabernet Sauvignon from vines that are
10 to 20 years old whose viticultural practices we can continue to
control our quest of increasing wine quality. We have been using
grapes from the vineyard since 1986.
In celebration of this purchase we are releasing the 1997
Champoux Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. This offering can best be
described with one word - "Finesse". This wine has the aromas
and flavors of red and black fruits intermingled with violets, vanilla
bean, tobacco and Asian spices. All these elements come together in perfect
harmony in this single vineyard, velvety textured wine.
"In 1997 the Golitzin’s purchased a parcel of the Champoux Vineyard. As with the majority
of Washington state producers, the Golitzin’s must purchase fruit from growers, as
they have not previously owned any vineyards. However, many of the top estates,
including Andrew Will, Leonetti, and others, are now acquiring tracts of land and
planting vineyards. The medium to dark ruby-colored 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon Champoux
Vineyard displays creamy, sweet, Connecticut white corn, and black cherry aromas.
Medium to full-bodied and satin-textured, it is an intense, blackberry and dark
cherry flavored wine. This expressive, flavorful offering has outstanding follow-through
from its attack to its long, seamless, and focused finish.
Anticipated maturity: now-2008. While it was bottled as a single vineyard to
inaugurate the Golitzin’s acquisition, they don not plan to ever again produce
another single vineyard bottling."
Score: 91
Pierre-Antoine Rovani, Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s, Wine Advocate