Ratings & Tasting Notes:

95 points Wine Advocate

A blend of 61% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and the balance Petit Verdot, the 2011 Palengat Vineyard has a great bouquet of sweet plum liqueur, blackberry, graphite, lead pencil shavings and toast. This is followed by a full-bodied effort that has beautiful concentration (especially in the vintage), loads of texture and ripe underlying tannic structure. Reasonably approachable now, it will nevertheless evolve gracefully on its overall balance. (JD)

Cult Wines International Notes:

The 2011 Quilceda Creek Palengat Vineyard Red is a testament to the Golitzin family’s mastery during one of the coolest and most challenging growing seasons in Washington State history. Unlike the heat-driven 2009, the 2011 vintage required extreme diligence in the vineyard to ensure proper ripening, resulting in a wine that favors elegance, acidity, and aromatic complexity over raw power. This release is a meticulously crafted from the high-density plantings of the Palengat vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills. Aged for 20 months in 100% new French oak, this wine showcases a more “European” structural profile, offering a refreshing departure from the massive scales typically associated with Eastern Washington reds while maintaining the estate’s signature polish.

In the glass, the 2011 Palengat reveals a sophisticated and lifted profile that has evolved beautifully with time. It opens with an expressive bouquet of red currants, dark plums, and dried flowers, accented by intricate notes of sandalwood, graphite, and wild sage. On the palate, the wine is medium-to-full-bodied, characterized by a seamless texture and remarkably fine tannins that reflect the cooler year’s slower maturation process. The cooling influence of the vintage is evident in its vibrant acidity and savory mineral undertones, which lead into a long, clean finish of cedar and spice. While it possesses the concentration to satisfy long-time fans of the estate, it is particularly prized by collectors who appreciate a more nuanced, structured, and food-friendly expression of Horse Heaven Hills terroir.

Bottle Size:

750 mL

Storage History:

Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled cellar.

Condition:

Please note: The bottle shown is the exact bottle being sold.

Perfect.