2006

The Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Red serves equally well as an introduction to Quilceda Creek’s house style or as a reminder of our approach. It is intended to be enjoyed in its youth and although it is made with declassified fruit, we produced the wine with equal seriousness and intent.

For the 2006, we sourced grapes from the Champoux, Ciel du Cheval, Galitzine, Klipsun, and Tapteil Vineyards and aged the wine in French oak, much of it new, for 22 months. This year’s blend was made from 77 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 percent Cabernet Franc, 10 percent Merlot, 2 percent Petit Verdot, and 1 percent Malbec. It’s a very traditional Bordeaux style combination, and while you may not be able to pick out the individual varietal components, you’d notice their absence if they were missing. We make this wine for our clients’ enjoyment on the early side, and while it is medium bodied compared with the heft of our other wines, it does not lack for complexity and fullness. On release it displayed notes of black cherry fruit, cedar, spice, vanilla, and a hint of savory minerality. It was approachable then, with at least 15 years ahead of it.

Paul Golitzin, Director of Winemaking