2004 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Red (CVR)
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Tasting notes
(81% cabernet sauvignon, 13% cabernet franc and 6% merlot) Good deep ruby-red. Sexy aromas of plum, chocolatey oak and spicecake. Suave, fat and sweet, with a lovely layered texture to the plum and milk chocolate flavors. Very harmonious use of oak here.
Critic scores
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Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2004 Red Wine is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Merlot from declassified fruit and may be considered a second label. Purple-colored, it gives up a toasty nose of vanilla, violets, cassis, black currants, and blackberry. This leads to a rich, layered, black fruit-flavored, and smoothly textured wine that offers considerable elegance. There is enough ripe tannin to support 3-4 years of further evolution and it should drink well through 2022. It is an excellent introduction to the style of Quilceda Creek. Tel. (360) 568-2389; www.quilcedacreek.com
(81% cabernet sauvignon, 13% cabernet franc and 6% merlot) Medium ruby. Dark fruits, loam and tar on the nose; shows a bit less verve than the '03. Supple, sweet and smooth, but with less depth and definition of flavor than the 2003 bottling. Here there's a bit less finishing sweetness and slightly rougher tannins. Paul Golitzin noted that in this growing season following a severe winter freeze, some of the damaged sections of vines did not ripen their grapes properly and thus more of the winery's raw material was declassified.
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.