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2006 Quilceda Creek - Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley

UNITED STATES / WASHINGTON /
abv 15.2%
  • 96 WA
  • 94 WS
  • Variety
    Cabernet Sauvignon
See all wines from Quilceda Creek
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SKU: 202233-2006
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  • Wine Advocate | Rating: 96

    The most evolved of the lineup, with complex spice box, wild herbs, dried flowers, currants and scorched earth aromas all emerging from the glass, the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon is beautifully textured, full-bodied and seamless on the palate. Up-front and approachable, it nevertheless has the back-end richness, depth and structure to continue to evolve for another decade or more. Drink now-2023.
    Drink Dates: 2013-2023

  • Wine Spectator | Rating: 94

    Very ripe and generous. Not a big wine, but brims with plum, currant, black olive, cedar and roasted meat flavors, all playing against crisp tannins and lingering on the tight finish. Needs time in the cellar in order to open and flourish.
    Drink Dates: 2012-2020
    Author: Harvey Steiman
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  • Self | Rating: 90

    Author: Naperwino

  • Self | Rating: 96

    Author: Vineman

  • Self | Rating: 93

    Drink Dates: 2010-2025
    Author: Lawrence

  • Self | Rating: 98

    Amazing! Every bit as good as the 2005. Quilceda Creek is the best Cab producer in the USA in my opinion.
    Drink Dates: 2009-2020
    Author: Winecaptain

  • Self | Rating: 96

    Had with a 2010 Continuum. Blew away the Continuum. This was fruit filled, smooth as silk and just lovely balance. One of the better QC's I have had. From the first sip until gone, wonderful. Decanted about 2 hours, first taste was wonderful.
    Author: Charley

  • Self | Rating: 93

    leather, licorice and chocolate on the nose with a medium body and perfectly melded tannins. Not sure it will get any better with time but was pretty darn good.
    Author: JCashman

  • Self | Rating: 89

    Rich, but not weighty, nice balance. Not great at first, opens some with decanting but for the cost an underwhelming wine. Color: Garnet to claret red, dark red core Nose & Palate: Black currants, spicy oak, herbal, chocolate and some cassis. Finishes a tad oaky. Very underwhelming.
    Drink Dates: 2010-2025
    Author: Koby

  • Self | Rating: 98

    This is an outstanding bottle of wine!!! Probably the best bottle I've had in 2014. Cork broke multiple times trying to open and had to put it through a coffee filter 3 times before the decanter, but it was worth the effort. Elegant nose of dark floral and cocoa scent. Upon first fast my eyes lit up. Smooth, romantic flavors and just the right balance of earth, structure, and dark fruit. I have got to get more of this
    Author: rdalehite
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No Washington winery commands more attention from wine collectors than Quilceda Creek, with repeated 100-point scores and subsequent appreciating bottle value. Since 1978, the Alex Golitzin and his son Paul have been lauded for their flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, which is elevated by the Bordelais practice of declassification of up to one third of production into a second label each year. The fruit for their 4,000-case production is sourced from the finest vineyards on the far side of the Cascade Mountains, and the Golitzins are meticulous in their oversight of the viticultural practices. Driven to produce the greatest wine possible, Alex and Paul "know what they want in a wine and what to do to get it."

See other similar producers:Cadence Winery
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In a state most often associated with rain and apples, vineyards occupy more land each year. Nearly all of this vineyard expansion has taken place in the eastern part of the state, where arid, almost desert-like conditions prevail. Winters are harsh and frost is always a threat, but such conditions, along with sandy soils, have allowed most Washington vines to grow on their own rootstocks—a rarity among wine regions throughout the world. 
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Cabernet Sauvignon is a thick-skinned variety that is high in color, flavor, tannin, and body, displaying aromas of black currant, blackberry, violet, bell pepper, and black cherry. It is late-ripening and therefore struggles to grow in cool climates. Quality can vary tremendously depending on terroir, vineyard management, and winemaking style, with the highest quality wines coming from the Haut-Médoc and Graves in Bordeaux, and Napa and Sonoma in California.

The powerful flavors, tannin, and body of Cabernet Sauvignon make it well suited to ageing and allow it to stand up to a large proportion of new oak without overpowering the wine. 225-litre barriques are the most popular size barrel and French oak is commonly used by the best producers to add structural complexity and flavors of chocolate, vanilla, and clove to the nose and palate. The best wines, many of which are below, can age further in the bottle for decades.

Old-World Cabernet Sauvignon is often blended with Merlot, which ripens earlier than Cabernet and adds plum, softer tannin, and lighter body to this Bordeaux blend. These wines typically have earth-driven aromas such as wet leaves and truffle along with bell peppers and leather. First-Growth producers such as Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Latour, and Château Margaux consistently produce some of the highest-quality Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends.

New-World Cabernet Sauvignon is seen both as a blend and single varietal. Warmer climates and long sunlight hours result in an extended growing season, bearing grapes with richer fruit, bigger tannin, higher alcohol, and lower acidity than their Old-World counterparts. Some of the best expressions of these full-bodied wines come from producers like Screaming Eagle, Hundred Acre, Schrader and Scarecrow.

All Cabernet Sauvignon pairs phenomenally well with meat-forward dishes such as rib-eye steak, short ribs, lamb shank, or a cheeseburger. Vegetable-forward dishes featuring mushrooms are also a great choice for this variety. 

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Collector Data For This Wine

  • 2281 bottles owned
  • 379 collectors
  • Average collector rating: 94
    (Out of 379 collectors)