Ratings & Tasting Notes:
100 points Decanter
Review Date: 04/2021
This is as good as it gets for Washington Cabernet Sauvignon. Right away the gorgeous crème de violette and crème de cassis tones join blackberry cordial, exotic spices and dark chocolate shavings. The combination of finesse and texture is downright scintillating. Sweet pipe tobacco is woven together with Black Forest cake, and fresh blueberries and graphite with shades of tar take shape on the palate. Truly sensational even at the three year mark, this will provide drinking enjoyment over the next 20 plus years. (OB)
98 points James Suckling
Review Date: 02/2022
This is really gorgeous with crushed berries, currants and dark chocolate. Really aromatic. It’s full-bodied and soft with precise tannins and great length. Such polish and balance. Plush and focused. Lovely freshness. Subtle and complex. Sophisticated. Beautiful center palate. Pure cabernet sauvignon. So drinkable now, but will age nicely.
98 points Wine Advocate
Review Date: 04/2021
The capsule of the 2018 celebrates the 40th vintage, otherwise unnoted specifically to keep the consistency of the label. The nose is soft and delineated with lifted dark red and black fruit essences that waft with a delicate floral lift. Showing a softer and compact frame that delivers fine and focused aromas, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon packs complex layers in the nose, with a fresh bouquet of red and purple flowers, violets, lilac and sakura before overflowing with a fruit bowl of aromatics, including black raspberry, black cherry and juicy plum with blackberry nuances, all shining through with a thoughtful frame of French oak tones. Medium to full-bodied at 14.8% alcohol, the palate bursts with precision and finesse and there’s an elegant frame that offers lively acidity and succulent, fine-grained tannins. The 40th vintage marks a brilliant success for Quilceda Creek, attaining a lighter chassis that captures the same magic without being overly generous. The 2018’s tighter frame has allowed the wine to express layers of beautiful dark red fruit flavors and supple oak spices that make the wine slightly spicy with cinnamon essence while offering the same precision without any sacrifices to the overall experience. Ultimately, the wine glides to a remarkably long and textured finish that will last for a couple of decades. Bravo! This is another successful vintage for Quilceda Creek. Run, don’t walk to get this into your cellar! (AM)
Cult Wines International Notes:
The 2018 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a monumental release, marking the estate’s 40th anniversary vintage. This commemorative bottling is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, primarily sourced from the legendary Champoux Vineyard (90%) and supplemented by the high-elevation Mach One Vineyard (10%) in the Horse Heaven Hills. The 2018 growing season was nearly ideal, featuring a warm summer that gave way to a cooling trend in September, which preserved acidity while allowing the tannins to achieve perfect physiological ripeness. The result is a wine that bridges the gap between opulent power and a newfound sense of “ethereal” finesse, often described by critics as having a slightly more compact and focused chassis than previous years.
On the nose, the 2018 is exceptionally aromatic and complex, bursting with high-toned notes of crème de violette, black raspberry, and cassis, intertwined with savory layers of black truffle, graphite, and exotic spices. The palate is a study in seamless texture; it is full-bodied and luxurious yet guided by a vibrant mineral tension and “pillowy” tannins that prevent the weight from feeling heavy. Deep flavors of Valrhona chocolate, sweet pipe tobacco, and blueberry cordial undulate toward a finish that lasts for over a minute. At 14.8% alcohol, it maintains a classic balance that many have compared to the structural integrity of a top-tier Pauillac.
The critical reception for this milestone vintage was superlative, highlighted by a 100-point score from Owen Bargreen and 98-point ratings from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, Jeb Dunnuck, and James Suckling. It was also ranked #9 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2022. Aged for 20 months in 100% new French oak, the wood is impeccably integrated, adding a kiss of cinnamon and nutmeg without masking the purity of the fruit. While approachable now after a significant decant, this anniversary wine is built for two decades or more of evolution, with a drinking window extending comfortably through 2040–2045.
Bottle Size:
750 mL
Storage History:
Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled cellar.
Condition:
Outstanding condition.
Please note: The condition of the bottle you will receive is accurately reflected by the one shown in the images.
