Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 Quilceda Creek

Professionele reviews

Robert Parker (96)

Tried and true, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon displays classic typicity for the bottling. Displaying a dark ruby color at the core with a solid ruby edge, the wine continues to be a clear champion of Washington Cabernet. Succulent blackberry, cassis, lavender-infused dark cherry, currant and layers of elegant baking spices on the nose flutter on top of streams of red and purple flowers with hints of dusty cocoa powder. Full-bodied, rich, elegant and tied up with a bow, the palate is generous, overflowing with dark red and black fruit essence that begins to break into the blue fruit territory. The structure is generous yet balanced, like watching a jumbo jet land with ease. While still young, the tannic structure is firm and will ease over the next three to six years before stretching its legs and hitting its stride. Ending with the long, winding and ever-evolving finish, the wine delivers pleasure at every turn. The wine spent 20 months in 100% new French oak and then rested for a year in bottle. Collectors already know that Quilceda Creek continues to be a juggernaut of Washington state Cabernet, producing quality wines, year after year. Just under 5,000 cases were made.

James Suckling (97)

Really juicy and savory at the moment with beautiful freshness and linear tightness that frames the wine. It’s full and flavorful with currants, coffee and walnuts. Mahogany, too. The tannins are polished and spread across the palate. Accessible and hard not to drink now, but will age wonderfully, too.

BOW (8.75)

Vinous (96)

Bright medium ruby to the rim. Very ripe aromas of blackberry, cassis, licorice pastille, bitter chocolate, cocoa powder and minerals, lifted by a note of lavender; just this side of liqueur-like. Dense, sweet, silky and firm, with wonderfully suave, dense flavors of dark berries, bitter chocolate and violet dominating. This savory wine finishes with a slowly building whiplash of flavor and the sophisticated seamless tannins to support a long evolution and graceful evolution in bottle. I still give the edge to the 2016 for its energy and lift, but this very deep, youthfully medicinal wine is potentially great as well. Real nobility of texture here (it saturates every square millimeter of the palate) and outstanding palate-staining length. Lots to come!

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

The flagship 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley is all Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in new barrels (mostly Taransaud and Darnajou). Beautiful crème de cassis, graphite, spice box, and lead pencil notes all flow to a full-bodied, soft, elegant wine that has beautiful tannins, no hard edges, and a seamless texture. It shows the more upfront, charming style of the vintage and is already hard to resist. Nevertheless, it should easily evolve for 20+ years.