Washington Wine, Columbia Valley

About Quilceda Creek Wine

Quilceda Creek is dedicated exclusively to the production of world-class Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon. Founded in 1979, Quilceda Creek has had an unbroken string of highly-rated vintages that has led Robert Parker Jr. to name it Washington State’s premier Cabernet Sauvignon producer.

Great wine begins in great vineyards. Beginning in 1997, Quilceda Creek became a partner in Champoux Vineyard, LLC with a handful of other Washington wineries. To commemorate that event, Quilceda Creek released our first single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon; 1997 Quilceda Creek Champoux Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. This was the first, and only, single-vineyard wine produced by Quilceda Creek from Champoux Vineyard.

In 2001, the Golitzin Family partnered with Jim Holmes of Ciel du Cheval in the Red Mountain AVA to develop the Galitzine Vineyard. This 17-acre vineyard is planted with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

In 2006, Paul Golitzin and brother-in-law John Ware acquired a 5-acre vineyard located next to Champoux Vineyard. Renaming the vineyard Palengat in recognition of the French side of the family, this vineyard produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Wine from this vineyard will debut in the Fall of 2009 with the release 2006 Quilceda Creek Palengat Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.

Snohomish, Wash., June 30, 2008 - The newest issue of Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, one of the most influential wine publications in the world, has rated Quilceda Creek's 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon 100 points. This is the third perfect score awarded the winery in the last four years. The publication also gave 100 point ratings to the 2002 and 2003 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignons in April 2006. The 2004 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon earned 99 points last year.

Quilceda Creek's three 100-point ratings exceed the number of perfect scores the Wine Advocate has awarded such famous California "cult wines" as Abreu (2), Screaming Eagle (1), Colgin (1) and Shafer Vineyards Hillside Select (1). Similarly, Quilceda Creek's track record puts the winery in company with such well-known Bordeaux Chateaux as Margaux, Haut Brion, and Latour. All three First Growths have received three 100-point scores from Parker, though over a longer period of time than Quilceda Creek's unprecedented scores, which were awarded in just four years.

Always with an eye to the future, winemaker Paul Golitzin says the acclaim the winery's newly planted estate vineyards received is equally exciting. Wine Advocate awarded the debut release of Quilceda Creek's 2004 Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 97 points, and subsequently awarded the 2005 vintage of this wine 97 points as well. This puts the Galitzine Cabernet Sauvignon in the same rarified territory as the estate's flagship Cabernet Sauvignon - a remarkable achievement given the youth of these vines. Wine Advocate critic Dr. Jay Miller also noted the exceptional results the winery is achieving from its newest vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills, Palengat, which was first harvested by the winery in 2006. (Palengat is Jeannette Golitzin's maiden name.)

"[Palengat vineyard] is only seven years old but the potential is enormous as a taste from barrel attests," wrote the Wine Advocate. The first wine from this vineyard will be released in fall 2009 and will be offered directly from the winery only. While the mailing list is currently closed, the winery is still accepting waiting list requests via its website, www.QuilcedaCreek.com.

Without fail, it is Quilceda Creek's consistency that seems to impress critics the most. As the Wine Advocate succinctly notes, "Quilceda Creek is a model of consistency." Paul Gregutt, Washington wine expert, critic and author of Washington Wines & Wineries - the Essential Guide, also comments on the winery's track record for consistency. Gregutt writes, "The father-son team of Alex and Paul Golitzin are making, by anyone's standard, as fine a Cabernet Sauvignon as anyone in the world. Their single-minded focus, their ability to make brilliant wine in virtually every vintage, and most impressively their unbroken track record of excellence are unparalleled. Nobody does it better."

Quilceda Creek sold the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon for $115 a bottle from the winery (a fraction of the price of the California cult Cabernets and Bordeaux First Growths). The winery will offer its 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon to mailing list customers in January 2009. Winemaker Paul Golitzin believes it is a wine that rivals the 2002, 2003 and 2005.

Quilceda Creek is Washington State's 12th bonded winery. Founded in 1978, Alex and Jeannette Golitzin dedicated themselves to producing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and have remained true to their vision. In 1992, the Golitzins' son Paul assumed winemaking responsibilities. Paul focused the winery's attention on its greatest asset - the ownership of vineyards in the Columbia Valley. The wines are highly prized by collectors for their consistent quality and age ability.