2013 Quilceda Creek "Galitzine Vineyard" Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

An utterly prodigious effort that would most likely be the wine of the vintage if not for its big brother, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard comes all from Red Mountain and was raised in 100% new French oak. Revealing a healthy ruby/purple color and classic notes of sage brush, graphite, black cherries, currants and chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness; building, present, yet ripe and polished tannin; perfect integration of its fruit, alcohol and oak; and awesome length. This is a powerhouse Cabernet Sauvignon that still holds onto a sense of elegance and finesse. (JD)

This 100% Cabernet wine was primarily sourced from their estate vineyard on Red Mountain, with only 5% coming from the Wallula Vineyard. The 2013 'Galitzine Vineyard' Cabernet was aged for 20 months in new French oak prior to bottling in June 2015. Initially aromatically reticent and needing a two plus hour decant, the wine slowly begins to develop with air. As this opens it unleashes exceedingly vivid aromatics of ripe red cherries, crème de cassis, anise, freshly ground coffee and red bell pepper. This leads to a full, voluptuous body with mouth-watering flavors of red cherries, red bell pepper, crème de cassis, anise with suggestions of mocha all coming through beautifully. Somewhat mirroring the Columbia Valley bottling, the texture, fruit weight and intensity of this wine is absolutely superlative. This represents an absolutely gorgeous effort that stands neck and neck with their Columbia Valley bottling and is up there with the best Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet that I've tasted in the past decade. Cellar this impressive bottling for at least two more years as it will certainly continue to evolve gracefully. (OB)