Decanted for an hour. I contend this is the best $50 Cabernet on the market. The wine probably still needs time, but it is drinking well now. My sweet spot is 5 - 7 years, but the wine can be enjoyed with a decant. Red fruit and sweet tarts on the nose. I get beef jerky and ripe red fruit on the palate. Glad I have several more to enjoy.
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Pnp, not decanted. Smokin' great from the start to the all-too-fast end of the bottle. Solid grip on the stem but it comes across very approachable and well-balanced. While you know his is cab-driven, its soft enough to easily pair w tonights halibut puttanesca.
Don't think my bride could've drank this any faster if she had a straw. Bravo...yet again!
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Teamrehfeld wrote a review and the review took the words directly out of my mouth. Ounce for Ounce the best very wine per dollar spent. Yet all the other Cabs are great too.
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This wine shows in such interesting ways - up front a healthy dose of oak/vanilla. But that disappears quickly. Set aside the fruit for a moment - lots of spices, like pumpkin pie spice and sage and dry forest wood. But the fruit is big here, and not I’m-a-Napa-cab ridiculous big. It’s tall and round and deep - blackberry, black cherry and plum with the plum carrying the finish along with Washington cab signature baker’s chocolate. Long finish that only shows the wine’s youth near the very end. Really fun and hit the spot on a Wednesday that felt like a Friday evening.
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Coravin to glass from this twice earlier this week, but pulled the cork tonight. Brief decant, the prior coravin access gives this a bit of a leg up. Nose is old.....old tea bag, barrique, maybe a 20 YO CdP.
The wine itself is fairly soft, much more so than my coravin pours earlier in the week.
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Still youthfully exuberant in a way that detracts a bit from the overall impression of the wine. A bit hot right now but that should calm a bit, I hope, as it demonstrates one of Quilceda’s flaws which is port-like alcohol. That aside, it has black/blue fruit depth, red fruit in the mouth early, typical Quilceda smooth mouth feel, and a lengthy finish. Some new oak on the palate and the finish and the finish ends up a bit sour. Overall, good beat, hard to dance to. I give it a B.
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Very tight with heavy tannins and a taste of leather , smoke and tobacco. Opened up nicely in the glass to reveal black cherry, cassis and dark chocolate Tannins relaxed a bit, good acid and a lovely long finish. Fantastic with grilled steak.
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This was a pop and pour and it came out strong with great fruit and integration. It was open for about 4 hours and as time went on the wine thinned out and became less approachable. A couple friends are convinced they tasted smoke which would make sense based on the 2020 fires. I'll be curious to see if any other CT reviewers find smoke in these wines. I also purchased a the Estate Cabernet and really hope it does not have that flavor profile.
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Deep color, nose is plum, blackberry, and black cherry. Notes of black fruit and plum, and leather. This is so balanced and wonderful and the mouthfeel is pure Quilceda; soft and delicate with a great, lasting finish. Truly, the best value for an amazing bottle of wine.
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This is an extreme tasting note. I PNP yesterday for XMAS and allowed to decant for 2 hours and the wine got progressively better through the evening, however this wine held up magnificently after a 24 hour decant! After 24 hours, the nose is expressive of vanilla, chocolate, and cherry notes. The color is still young, deep red to purple (well duh). The palate is tons of demure fruit; lots of blackberry, black cherry, boysenberry, hint of tar, tobacco, and a load of vanilla and toasted oak. There is a very agreeable tinge of bitterness in the long supple finish. A 24 hour decant, and this is a monster wine and a pleasure palace in my glass. I dare you to decant 24 hours and try this. I am going to buy my allotment of the QC 2020 because if it's better than this, then I pray I live long enough to enjoy it. Merry Christmas everyone.
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Quilceda Creek's 2020 CVR was sourced from the Champoux, Galitzine and Mach One vineyards. A deep ruby blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc that was aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak, it is quite possibly the best CVR that the winery has produced to date. Loaded with dark bramble fruits, red currants, bittersweet chocolate, licorice, savory herbs and baking spices, it is a full-bodied, freshly acidic wine with well-integrated alcohol (14.8%) and plentiful polished tannins. Although the oak has not yet fully integrated, it is still a treat to enjoy this outstanding red in its infancy, as the dense mid-palate portends its lengthy finish. This particular bottle was decanted through a Vinturi aerator and serially tasted over three hours. If you choose to pop the cork at this early stage, give it at least an hour in carafe if possible. A couple more years in the cellar would be preferable. Drink 2025-2040.
Nose is maybe best I’ve ever experienced for this wine! Balance is impeccable! Pop and pour and don’t be surprised when it’s gone in 40 minutes. I like to study a wine maybe more than anyone but damn! Big time fruit with mouthwatering acidity and the balance in this wine is the best I’ve witnessed for the CVR ever! Haven’t had every CVR but a healthy majority growing back to 2005 or so. Great wine 93+
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4/28/2024 - Troon wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for an hour. I contend this is the best $50 Cabernet on the market. The wine probably still needs time, but it is drinking well now. My sweet spot is 5 - 7 years, but the wine can be enjoyed with a decant. Red fruit and sweet tarts on the nose. I get beef jerky and ripe red fruit on the palate. Glad I have several more to enjoy.
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4/28/2024 - Troutnymph wrote:
Entry error. Entered 20 s/b 12
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4/26/2024 - Zinlady wrote: 91 Points
Not as big as I had hoped for. Enjoyed with tenderloin. Good color
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4/19/2024 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
As delicious as the last bottle!
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3/29/2024 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pnp, not decanted. Smokin' great from the start to the all-too-fast end of the bottle. Solid grip on the stem but it comes across very approachable and well-balanced. While you know his is cab-driven, its soft enough to easily pair w tonights halibut puttanesca.
Don't think my bride could've drank this any faster if she had a straw. Bravo...yet again!
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12/30/2023 - PHIL74AU@ICLOUD.COM Likes this wine: 94 Points
Teamrehfeld wrote a review and the review took the words directly out of my mouth. Ounce for Ounce the best very wine per dollar spent. Yet all the other Cabs are great too.
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11/23/2023 - randyjc wrote: 93 Points
This wine shows in such interesting ways - up front a healthy dose of oak/vanilla. But that disappears quickly. Set aside the fruit for a moment - lots of spices, like pumpkin pie spice and sage and dry forest wood. But the fruit is big here, and not I’m-a-Napa-cab ridiculous big. It’s tall and round and deep - blackberry, black cherry and plum with the plum carrying the finish along with Washington cab signature baker’s chocolate. Long finish that only shows the wine’s youth near the very end. Really fun and hit the spot on a Wednesday that felt like a Friday evening.
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10/13/2023 - Mike's Wine Collection wrote:
Did not rate
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9/17/2023 - Teamrehfeld wrote:
New vintage, same old result! Best wine for the price. Anywhere. Period! Great right out of the bottle.
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8/4/2023 - davidandrose wrote:
Coravin to glass from this twice earlier this week, but pulled the cork tonight. Brief decant, the prior coravin access gives this a bit of a leg up. Nose is old.....old tea bag, barrique, maybe a 20 YO CdP.
The wine itself is fairly soft, much more so than my coravin pours earlier in the week.
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6/11/2023 - Tsliwinski Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich dark fruit with hints of fest and game. Finishes well for a young wine.
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4/15/2023 - randyjc wrote: 89 Points
Still youthfully exuberant in a way that detracts a bit from the overall impression of the wine. A bit hot right now but that should calm a bit, I hope, as it demonstrates one of Quilceda’s flaws which is port-like alcohol. That aside, it has black/blue fruit depth, red fruit in the mouth early, typical Quilceda smooth mouth feel, and a lengthy finish. Some new oak on the palate and the finish and the finish ends up a bit sour. Overall, good beat, hard to dance to. I give it a B.
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4/9/2023 - mreinitz wrote:
Needs 2 or 3 hours in a decanter to open up - then it’s delicious.
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3/25/2023 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very tight with heavy tannins and a taste of leather , smoke and tobacco. Opened up nicely in the glass to reveal black cherry, cassis and dark chocolate Tannins relaxed a bit, good acid and a lovely long finish. Fantastic with grilled steak.
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3/24/2023 - PDXWineO Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was a pop and pour and it came out strong with great fruit and integration. It was open for about 4 hours and as time went on the wine thinned out and became less approachable. A couple friends are convinced they tasted smoke which would make sense based on the 2020 fires. I'll be curious to see if any other CT reviewers find smoke in these wines. I also purchased a the Estate Cabernet and really hope it does not have that flavor profile.
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3/14/2023 - Tsliwinski Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great fruit forward WA cab
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2/25/2023 - Tsliwinski Likes this wine: 94 Points
Vibrant dark red fruit with lasting finish. Youthful but good
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2/11/2023 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious ripe blackberry, plum and cassis notes on the nose and rich palate with chocolate and oak notes with refreshing tannins on the long finish.
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2/7/2023 - Tsliwinski Likes this wine: 91 Points
Beatiful rich red fruit, nuanced finish
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2/5/2023 - Tsliwinski Likes this wine: 92 Points
Full throttled WA state cab. Plenty of fruit, rich game, forest floor
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1/25/2023 - Tsliwinski Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bold red fruit, tamed earthy flesh. Good drinking now, only better in future
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1/10/2023 - temoore48 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great wine, loved it.
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1/1/2023 - jim@promolab.com Likes this wine: 95 Points
Deep color, nose is plum, blackberry, and black cherry. Notes of black fruit and plum, and leather. This is so balanced and wonderful and the mouthfeel is pure Quilceda; soft and delicate with a great, lasting finish. Truly, the best value for an amazing bottle of wine.
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12/26/2022 - aerosol Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is an extreme tasting note. I PNP yesterday for XMAS and allowed to decant for 2 hours and the wine got progressively better through the evening, however this wine held up magnificently after a 24 hour decant!
After 24 hours, the nose is expressive of vanilla, chocolate, and cherry notes. The color is still young, deep red to purple (well duh). The palate is tons of demure fruit; lots of blackberry, black cherry, boysenberry, hint of tar, tobacco, and a load of vanilla and toasted oak. There is a very agreeable tinge of bitterness in the long supple finish. A 24 hour decant, and this is a monster wine and a pleasure palace in my glass. I dare you to decant 24 hours and try this. I am going to buy my allotment of the QC 2020 because if it's better than this, then I pray I live long enough to enjoy it. Merry Christmas everyone.
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12/2/2022 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 94 Points
Quilceda Creek's 2020 CVR was sourced from the Champoux, Galitzine and Mach One vineyards. A deep ruby blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc that was aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak, it is quite possibly the best CVR that the winery has produced to date. Loaded with dark bramble fruits, red currants, bittersweet chocolate, licorice, savory herbs and baking spices, it is a full-bodied, freshly acidic wine with well-integrated alcohol (14.8%) and plentiful polished tannins. Although the oak has not yet fully integrated, it is still a treat to enjoy this outstanding red in its infancy, as the dense mid-palate portends its lengthy finish. This particular bottle was decanted through a Vinturi aerator and serially tasted over three hours. If you choose to pop the cork at this early stage, give it at least an hour in carafe if possible. A couple more years in the cellar would be preferable. Drink 2025-2040.
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11/29/2022 - Jhalpern27 Likes this wine:
This is the first time I’ve had the CVR, what a great wine for the price. Already so drinkable, no decant needed just PNP. 92/93.
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11/17/2022 - Zoso wrote: 93 Points
Nose is maybe best I’ve ever experienced for this wine! Balance is impeccable! Pop and pour and don’t be surprised when it’s gone in 40 minutes. I like to study a wine maybe more than anyone but damn! Big time fruit with mouthwatering acidity and the balance in this wine is the best I’ve witnessed for the CVR ever! Haven’t had every CVR but a healthy majority growing back to 2005 or so. Great wine 93+
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