1985 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Washington
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Tasting notes
At a tasting in Seattle in August, I had a chance to take another look at the 1987, 1986, and 1985 regular bottlings (the Reserve designation was not employed in those vintages). I rated the 1987 (93), the 1986 (92), and the 1985 (94). These wines, made by the Golitzin family, with, no doubt, some inspiration provided by proprietor/winemaker Alex Golitzin's uncle, Andre Tchelistcheff, are extraordinary! Make no mistake about the Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignons - they are world-class Cabernets that compete with the finest wines from Bordeaux, Napa Valley, Sonoma, and Santa Cruz Mountains. Unfortunately, there are only 1,000 cases of their regular bottling and 200 or so of their Reserve, which was inaugurated with the 1988 vintage. The wines spend two and one-half years in small oak casks, of which thirty-three to fifty percent are new. Most of the fruit comes from the Red Mountain Vineyard.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Deep red. Complex nose melds red berries, saddle leather, smoked meat, olive, fresh herbs, menthol and a hint of old wood. Soft and supple, but rather green. The fruit faded quickly as the wine sat in the glass. Finishes with a suggestion of dry oak and slightly astringent tannins.
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.