2012 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard
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Tasting notes
(15.2% alcohol; 3% of this Cabernet comes from Wallula): Bright, dark ruby. Very refined, high-pitched aromas of blackberry, cassis, boysenberry and violet; smells lighter than the flagship Cabernet and more peppery. Dense, silky and weightless in the mouth, conveying a refined texture to its very intense flavors of cassis, licorice pastille and dark chocolate. Less fleshy and sweet today than the Cabernet but this wine is still youthfully imploded. Big, building tannins are less suave than those of the Cabernet, despite the fact that both wines are made with the same Cabernet Sauvignon clone. Finishes with a sexy cocoa powder quality that must be from the Taransaud barrels.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Bright, dark ruby. Very refined, high-pitched aromas of blackberry, cassis, boysenberry and violet; smells lighter than the flagship Cabernet and more peppery. Dense, silky and weightless in the mouth, conveying a refined texture to its very intense flavors of cassis, licorice pastille and dark chocolate. Less fleshy and sweet today than the Cabernet but this wine is still youthfully imploded. Big, building tannins are less suave than those of the Cabernet, despite the fact that both wines are made with the same Cabernet Sauvignon clone. Finishes with a sexy cocoa powder quality that must be from the Taransaud barrels. (ST) 94+
Another classic Cabernet Sauvignon from the Golitzin's, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard comes from the dry, windswept Red Mountain AVA and is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. It's a big, structured effort that offers lots of minerality and dusty earth in its blackcurrants, black cherry liqueur, smoked earth, licorice and charred-meat-driven bouquet. Firm, focused and tight, this has closed down substantially since I tasted it from barrel, yet has serious concentration, lots of tannin and a great finish. It needs 4-5 years to integrate all its components, and should evolve gracefully through 2035.
About the producer
Founded in 1978, Quilceda Creek helped put Washington Cabernet on the world stage. Mentored by André Tchelistcheff, the family-owned winery became renowned for its powerful, age-worthy Cabernets and was the first U.S. winery outside California to earn 100 points from Wine Advocate.