Well, they shouldn’t be too difficult to sell, especially the 100 pointers. While I can relate to you in that my palate just doesn’t prefer that style, I will say that I cracked an 05 a few months back and found it to be quite lovely. Like many wines that are massive in their youth, they go down much easier with considerable bottle age.
Turned mine into Raveneau and Allemand about 13 years ago. And now most of those are gone too😢
I offered an '02 on CC at well below auction and got no interest. Of course, it was a singleton and since it was a singleton I declined to ship.
I would look to Commerce corner. There are people on WB who would probably buy them.
I found the 99s (and later), to be significantly more ripe than the 98s and earlier, the the 2000s on to be another step up. Fwiw.
How many total bottles do you have? If it’s a lot, it doesn’t seem crazy to try one or two before you decide.
One possible outcome is you might decide to sell some or most, while keeping a few for certain mood, company, occasion.
They certainly don’t turn into Leoville Barton with age or anything like that, but I have found at 15-20 years, they are more relaxed, balanced and enjoyable than they were when young.
When was the last time you tried one, and how old was the bottle?
Great move.
I wish I had done it with more stuff I bought back then. Probably too late now.
The last one I opened was a 2000, recently - Sept. of this year. The wine was fine, but again, just not a style I crave. Honestly, with the scores and hype (back in the day, anyway), I expect to be blown away by these - and I never am.
I have about two cases left.
Sounds like selling them is your move, then.
Turned mine into Raveneau and Allemand about 13 years ago. And now most of those are gone too😢
I feel you got some good pricing too…
QC was in low hundreds, Raveneau and Allemand was in the high tens. Those were the days.
The last one I opened was a 2000, recently - Sept. of this year. The wine was fine, but again, just not a style I crave. Honestly, with the scores and hype (back in the day, anyway), I expect to be blown away by these - and I never am.
I have about two cases left.
Approx. two cases is very much worth selling them. A bottle or three — perhaps not worth the hassle, but two cases? Yeah … sell sell sell! I have to imagine you would clear about $3k, and I’m sure you can find plenty of different ways to spend $3k on wines that actually interest you.
Short story: I was on QC’s waiting list for a few years many years back. My name finally came-up for the 2007 vintage, which I did buy. My preferences shifted right around that time, and I never bought another vintage. I sat on those '07s for quite some time — I originally split my original purchase with a friend, so “those '07s” amounted to a grand two bottles. Last year, I cleared a little bit of cellar space by selling-off some stuff. I sold one of the two '07 QCs, and not both of them, because I was simply curious (never having had one). I can’t recall what I got for my singleton that I sold, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t below original price. A few months ago, I opened the bottle I kept: did not like it at all — oaky mess — wouldn’t buy it regardless of price; too bad I’m not a psychic, as I’d love to have a nice bottle of Bdx. instead. Oh well … curiosity was satisfied. ![]()
I had a similar experience to Grafs, but got more lucky. We had signed up for list in 2009, but had the opportunity to taste several times, a few new/recent release wines at a few Red Mountain and Champoux vineyard wine events, and a friend shared an aged bottle. Never was impressed, nor could see any route for us being fans. When we got the “you’ve been accepted, here is your allocation” e-mail a couple years later, we easily passed. We still buy too much WA wine, but we dodged having to decide whether aging these for 10/20+ years.
Mid 2000s I would be like buy it. But palate now does not like over oaked wines. Here is the review of their Red which is still not cheap.
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2015 Quilceda Creek CVR Columbia Valley - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (12/3/2022)
Twin Cities Wine Club Washington State Bordeaux & Syrah Tasting (Edina, MN): Oak up front but after some decanting and Vinturi it got better. Blueberries, dark cherry, menthol and blackberries. Some tobacco on the finish. My least favorite wine of the tasting and I think Quilceda Creek is the most overrated wine in Washington. 88-89. (88 points)
Their Merlot is worth the dough.
Their Merlot is worth the dough.
Do they still make this? Thought they stopped in the early 2000s. Last time I remember buying was when release was still at their house
Their Merlot is worth the dough.
The couple times I tried the Palengat Red Wine (which I think was a Merlot / cab blend and was about maybe 60% the cost of the cab), I liked it and thought it was probably worth the price tag.
Though it was still in the ripe and well oaked style of the house, so I’m not suggesting it would win over any strident AFWEs.
They made a one in 2018 maybe, from HHH. Not sure if one off or a new bottling. The ‘old’ Merlot bottling stopped around 2009/10 perhaps. Still worth buying if you see it.
I had Quilceda Creek once and that was enough for me. It was the '03 and my wife and I were staying at the Montage in Laguna living it up for one last time before our first was born. It happened to be the day that WS announced that the '03 QC was its #2 WoTY. It was like $150 on the list and I figured I should order it before the price jumps. Since my wife pregnant and not drinking I figured I would get the whole bottle to myself. Bonus right? I could not even drink half the bottle. It was so oaky, sweet and hot. Looking at the CT notes today, there are people who love it, but just not my style.