2006 Palengat Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage Notes:

Winemakers:	Paul Golitzin, Marv Crum, Alex Golitzin
Varietals:	80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot
Vineyards:	Palengat Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills AVA
Barrels:	100% New French Oak
Bottled:	August 2008

Winemaker's comments

The debut release of the Quilceda Creek 2006 Palengat Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon displays the wonderful aromatic perfume of the Horse Heaven Hills A.V.A. This vineyard was planted in 2000-2002 on deep, consistent, Sagehill series soil. It is located on an ideal south facing slope on Phinney Hill, right next to Champoux Vineyard, which is the source of most of the Cabernet Sauvignon for our flagship wine. This vineyard is 8.5 acres in size with 59% of the vines being high density (2270 vines/acre). Having this many plants per acre fills in the mid-palate often missing from varieties such as Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This source allows us to make wines with these varietals that are dense, rich, full bodied and complex. The wine showcases floral black and red fruits, smoked meat, anise, minerals and spicy cedar characteristics. Aged in 100% new French oak for 22 months, it is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. This wine should age gracefully for 25 years. Jay Miller writes:

"Some good news from the winery is that beginning with the 2006 vintage, there will be a new vineyard designate, a Cabernet Sauvignon from the Palengat Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. The vines are only 7 years old but the potential is enormous as a taste from barrel attests."
Wine Advocate, Issue 177, 6-30-08.

International Wine Cellar Review

$83; 15.2% alcohol; from vines planted at high density in 2001 and 2002; the Golitzins purchased this vineyard across from Champoux in 2006) Deep red. Sexy, expressive aromas of dark fruits, lead pencil, licorice and smoky oak. Silky-sweet, broad and mouthfilling, with highly concentrated dark fruit and graphite flavors. Finishes with chewy, ripe, broad tannins and palate-coating sweetness.
Score: 92

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, Nov/Dec 2009

Wine Advocate Review

This is the first vintage of the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Palengat Vineyard, located in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. The wine also contains 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Purple-colored, it offers up a splendid perfume of wood smoke, spice box, pencil lead, espresso, violets, black currant, and blackberry. Full-bodied, plush, and concentrated, it is already revealing considerable complexity despite the youth of the vines. In spite of its size, the wine manages to retain a sense of elegance, a trademark of all of Quilceda Creek's wines. Give it 5-7 years of additional bottle age and drink it from 2015 to 2026.
Score: 95

Jay Miller, Wine Advocate, #185, October 2009