2018 Quilceda Creek "Galitzine Vineyard" Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

“The heady, intense and decadent Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is just an incredible showing from this fantastic vintage on Red Mountain. A glass-staining purple, the bouquet is pure Red Mountain, showing off gorgeous scorched earth with violets, tar and tobacco leaf tones that all work together beautifully. The dense palate is plush and full-bodied taking you on a full-throttle joyride. Gorgeous Turkish coffee and crème de violette flavours deftly combine with blackcurrants, pipe tobacco, and cocoa-dusted black cherry flavours. (OB)” (04/2021)

“Tighter and more backward, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard comes from a great site on Red Mountain and is, I believe, all Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in plenty of new oak. This dense purple/plum-hued beauty offers a decadent, powerful style carrying lots of red and black currants, crushed stone, lead pencil, graphite, and dried herb aromatics. With full-bodied richness, it's wonderfully balanced and has the classic savory, mineral-character of Red Mountain, beautiful structure, and a great finish. There's an almost Château Latour-like sense of structure and minerality, and it's going to benefit from 5-7 years of bottle age and keep for 20-30 years. (JD) 98+” (05/2021)

“Tighter and more backward, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard comes from a great site on Red Mountain and is, I believe, all Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in plenty of new oak. This dense purple/plum-hued beauty offers a decadent, powerful style carrying lots of red and black currants, crushed stone, lead pencil, graphite, and dried herb aromatics. With full-bodied richness, it's wonderfully balanced and has the classic savory, mineral-character of Red Mountain, beautiful structure, and a great finish. There's an almost Château Latour-like sense of structure and minerality, and it's going to benefit from 5-7 years of bottle age and keep for 20-30 years. 98+” (06/2021)

“Beginning with the dusty mineral essence of Red Mountain, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard offers plenty of dark, red-berried expressions with elements of dusty plum and blackberry jus before swaying with gorgeous oak notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and crème brûlée. There are full-bodied, firm tannins across the palate, and the wine is food-friendly now but will be spectacular with an additional year of bottle aging. Concluding with a long-lingering finish, this is yet another stunning bottling of Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Bravo! (AM)” (03/2022)

“There’s an amazing energy and vibrancy encapsulated within the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard that lights up the senses. Its bouquet is pure class, feminine yet impactful, showing crushed raspberry dusted in cocoa and sweet spices complemented by shaved cedar. It’s silky and refined yet racy in style, with depths of dark red fruit and mineral underpinnings accelerated by vibrant acidity and hints of sour citrus. This leaves dusty tannins adding youthful poise without taking away from the pleasure and immediacy of the experience. Tobacco and a bitter balsamic twang punctuate the finale. It will be difficult for collectors to keep their hands off of this rendition of Galitzine, yet patience really is advised, as the balance here is nearly flawless. (EG)” (03/2023)

“This is almost all Cabernet from the winery's vineyard in this tiny appellation, with a pinch from Mach One in the Horse Heaven Hills. The aromas offer notes of black raspberry, cherry, incense and spice. It coats the palate with intense, full-bodied fruit flavors. Highly polished tannins support it all. It's a big, rich, ripe mouthful of a wine with an extended finish. *Cellar Selection* (SS)” (11/2021)