2001
Quilceda Creek
Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2001 vintage produced the finest raw material we had ever seen at Quilceda Creek. It was warmer than usual, giving us riper fruit, and due to the heat, we were able to harvest earlier yet still achieve physiological ripeness in the fruit. It was exciting to go through the various vineyard sections and select only the very best lots to go into our Cabernet Sauvignon. We used 97 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 3 percent Merlot, sourced from the Champoux, Ciel du Cheval, Klipsun and Tapteil vineyards, to make 3,150 cases. We knew we had a very special wine from the start and it has more than fulfilled our hopes.
Paul Golitzin, Director of Winemaking
98 points
"The dark ruby-colored 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon (3,150 cases) contains 3% Cabernet Franc. This spectacular wine explodes from the glass with loads of flowers (mostly violets), cassis, black cherries, blackberries, and underlying fresh herbs. Feeling like liquid satin on the palate, it is broad, densely-packed, and has stupendous depth. A refined effort, its medium to full-bodied personality is crammed with highly-detailed black fruits and loads of exquisitely ripe tannin. In addition, the taster has the distinct feeling that this wine is holding much of its fruit in reserve... This blockbuster has it all." Projected maturity: 2007-2018."
97 points
"A smidge more evolved than the 2002, the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc, mostly from the famed Champoux Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. It offers a rock star bouquet of blackberry liqueur, cassis, dried licorice, spice and roasted meats to go with a full-bodied, concentrated, yet incredibly polished and elegantly textured mouthfeel. Blockbuster stuff that has everything, it is still youthful and vibrant and has another decade or more of longevity, although I see no reason to delay gratification." Drink now-2023.
94 points
"Intense and remarkably harmonious, this one hangs its broad, cherry, currant and herb flavors on a fine, polished texture."
93 points
"Good full ruby color. Deep, nuanced nose combines roasted black fruits, brown spices and tobacco leaf; very cabernet. Wonderfully silky and sweet but given shape and definition by fine, racy acidity. Vibrant, concentrated flavors of dark berries, licorice, shoe polish and minerals. Conveys an impression of strong extract and expands impressively in the mouth. Finishes with thoroughly ripe, very suave tannins and excellent persistence. Offers superb potential. Across the board, the 2001 Quilceda cuvees seem even stronger than the 2000s."