TN: 1996 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, Washington)

[Eric_LeVine]

• 1996 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, Washington (11/15/2009)
  Consumed across two days. On day 1 the nose was bright and promising, but the palate was lean and tough, showing lots of acidity. Probably 88-89 points. With a day of air this had blossomed quite nicely, very classic Quilceda. Bright, floral nose. Racy acidity. Silky palate yet with fine, chewy tannins. This still seems pretty wound up, but it is lovely wine. (92 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

[Colin_Haggerty]

@Eric LeVine

• 1996 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, Washington (11/15/2009)
  Consumed across two days. On day 1 the nose was bright and promising, but the palate was lean and tough, showing lots of acidity. Probably 88-89 points. With a day of air this had blossomed quite nicely, very classic Quilceda. Bright, floral nose. Racy acidity. Silky palate yet with fine, chewy tannins. This still seems pretty wound up, but it is lovely wine. (92 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

Eric-

I am a fairly recent purchaser of their wines. It seems to me that they are the Washington equivalent of Montrose. Am I correct in my assumption that (in general) these are big wines that can be drunk young but are masculine and will reward long-term cellaring?

Colin

[Eric_LeVine]

Either drink them very young RIGHT on release, or lose them for 10-15 years. Their first commercial vintage was 1979, and the oldest I have had are 1982 (a little over the hill) and 1983 (still big and masculine). There was a pretty clear style change starting with 1998 as the wines have gotten bigger and riper (and consequently moved from low to mid 90’s to very high 90’s from the Wine Advocate).