Why does everyone seem to hate Quilceda Creek these days?

WINE TALK
1

I don’t, by the way, and my highest rating of a cab that got a formal note in 2014 was the 2007 QC Cab. Probably my top 5 cabs of the year when I consider those that did not get formal notes. BUT everyone seems to trash the post-2000 QCs and it got its fair share of mentions in the “Wine mistakes I have made” thread. Just curious what people don’t like? Adverse allergic reaction to high Parker scores? [stirthepothal.gif] I’ve stopped buying, but only because I have enough of them already.

2

Jay,

Unfortunately, I just haven’t much liked any of the post-2000 wines. They seem very jammy/unctuous/over-the-top ooze monsters which I hate. This is in stark contrast to the pre-2000 wines which never seemed to have that character. While I haven’t made an effort to sit down with a cross-section of my Quilceda collection to examine what the issue is (and how much it affects each different vintage), I can say that my experience of the wines has been consistent – i.e. pre-2000 wines have been nice, post-2000 wines have been ooze-monster messes.

As for adverse allergic reaction to Parker scores, I seem to have that, as many of his highly rated wines – particularly those from Australia – have been terrible, over-ripe, messes (at least for my palate). As such, a high Parker rating usually reduces my interest in any given wine, rather than increases it.

BTW, my discovery of Quilceda came with the 1997 vintage, which I liked a lot. I got on the list after being shut out of the 99 vintage (as far as availability in my local market) when it got such high scores. I quit buying with the 2006 vintage – partly because I had so many, partly because I was concentrating my wine budget on other wines. Now I wish I had just stopped buying after being shut out of the 99 vintage locally.

3

I recently sprang for the 1979 on Winebid. Has anyone tried that vintage, or really old QC more generally? I’d love to hear thoughts on how they’ve held up over the decades.

4

My sample size is small. 1 bottle of 2005 and it was disgusting for me. Not flawed, just too much too much, very vegetal but ripe at the same time. The impression it left me with told me to not ever try another.

5

Maybe this is a good time to ask. I have a few bottles, but only consumed 1 or 2. Been holding onto these based on conventional thought that these all need time. If I were to pop one to see how they are matching my tastes, which should I open?

2011 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
2010 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
2009 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
2007 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
2006 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
2004 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
2010 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard Red Mountain
2009 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard Red Mountain
2008 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard Red Mountain
2007 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard Red Mountain
2011 Quilceda Creek Palengat Red Wine Horse Heaven Hills Red Bordeaux Blend
2010 Quilceda Creek Palengat Red Wine Horse Heaven Hills Red Bordeaux Blend
2009 Quilceda Creek Palengat Red Wine Horse Heaven Hills Red Bordeaux Blend

6

I was just thinking about this the other day. Not hate necessarily, but a decade ago, this was the cheap track into 100 point territory and got lots of love. Now, it gets little attention.

7

I think there are plenty of people on this board who still like and buy QC. The wine is so polarizing though that talking about it on this board is like peeing into the wind. There are other wines that fall into this category like KB, Caymus, etc.

Tom

8

That makes it sound like it’s a bit of critic hating. WS obviously loves KB because every time I pick up an issue there’s a picture of them in it, and there’s always the WA/RMP hatred factor.

9

It is legendary. Their first vintage. The oldest I have had are 1982 and 1983, and they are amazingly pure and clean Cabernet.

10

NOT ENOUGH! I’m trying to GIVE some away in CC. [wow.gif]

This one has definitely gone from favorite wine to favorite target. Pride, Paloma, KB . . . there are a few that have gone through the same cycle

11

Thanks very much, Eric. Do you happen to know if it’s legendary because it’s delicious, or merely because it was first? I’m rather unfamiliar with the weather conditions in eastern Washington state in the summer of 1979…

12

Never had it before. Send some bottles my way and I’ll let you know if I hate it or not.

13

You would hate it.

14

Come west across the pond and I’ll open one for you. Or two.

15

This is curious…this descriptor of “very vegetal but ripe at the same time.” My mind usually sorts to one place or the other for Cabernet…hmmm…interesting to find them together.

16

Hate to call you out man but selling the 2003 and 2005 for $200 per bottle is far from ‘giving away’. Not a bad deal at all, to be sure, but based on the release price still a huge mark up.

17

I’ve never understood why people criticize wines they don’t like because they don’t “aline with their palate”.

Big deal. Some like big, new world wines, some like earthy, old world wines. Just because that pizza has pepperoni on it instead of your beloved Sausage, does that make it bad?

I tend to prefer French and Italian for most of my drinking pleasures, but every once in a while, I crave a nice big, over the top Cabernet. That’s where wines like Quilceda Creek come in. They fit the bill.

Every wine has it’s place in this world. If you want to grow your wine knowledge and palate in the wine world, the sooner you understand all styles of wine, the better it will be to appreciate each style for what they are, rather than thinking that only wines that fit into your narrow likes and dislikes are good.

18

Because they’ve had a chance to taste it?

Jay - you probably remember when one showed up in one of our blind tastings and it led to a bunch of people unloading theirs.

I, of course, am hipster enough to have disliked them before everyone else did. [gen_fro.gif]

19

Ha! I deny being called out! 25% off lowest retail isn’t a deal? What wine can you buy now based on the release price 10 years ago?

20

“What is hip? Tell me, tell me if you think you know. What is hip? You into a hip trip? Maybe hipper than hip?”

Tower Of Power, 1973

RT