2016
Quilceda Creek
“Galitzine” Cabernet Sauvignon
This richly intense vintage is redolent of intense blackberry, cassis, and fig fruit, with touches of black walnut, cocoa nib, soy, and a floral element that’s reminiscent of hyacinth. A warm summer and a cool fall made 2016 a stellar growing season, with a long hang time that gave our grapes the opportunity to fully develop their aromatics and flavors. The wine is a blend of 95 percent Cabernet Sauvignon from the Galitzine Vineyard (in the Red Mountain AVA) and 5 percent Cabernet Sauvignon from the Lake Wallula Vineyard (in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA). We find that the differences between the Cabernet grapes from the two regions add complexity and dimension to the finished wine. The wine was aged in 100 percent new French oak for 20 months, and although it shows well now, its components will become more integrated with additional time in the cellar. Drink through 2040.
Paul Golitzin, Director of Winemaking
98 points
"From a site on Red Mountain, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine is a deeper, richer, more mineral-laced red and has a huge nose of dark chocolate, smoked earth, graphite, black licorice, and black fruits. It’s full-bodied, has tons of concentration and depth, as well as building tannins, yet it still stays seamless and elegant on the palate, with an incredible texture. It's another full-bore, powerful, brilliant wine from this team that's going to benefit from short term cellaring and cruise for two decades."
98 points
"The 2016 Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet is a simply magical effort which blends 5% Lake Wallula Cabernet Sauvignon into the Galitzine Vineyard fruit. The wine was entirely aged in new Darnajou French barrels prior to bottling. Heady aromatics greet you with nuances of creosote, deep red rose petals, mocha, cigar ash and shades of black forest cake that all develop in the glass. The flavors are absolutely marvelous, as is the silky texture. Decadent flavors of crème de cassis, blueberry compote and blackberry pie come together with black tea, Asian spices. The dark fruit, tar and mineral-driven finish culminates this scintillating wine. While marvelous in its youth, this will only continue to become more compelling with some time in the bottle. 98pts. Drink 2020-2040"
96 points
"Red fruited and expressive, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard opens with the classic Red Mountain rusticity on the nose along with rich and elegant dark red fruits. Full-bodied, the palate has a crunchy minerality and firm tannins that will mellow in time. The focus here is clearly on the fruit, with the impressively well-integrated 100% new French oak lending seductive baking spices accents to the dark cherry and black raspberry expressions, followed by a slight tartness on the finish. This will do best after a few years in the cellar and will go for a decade or two. I look forward to revisiting this bottling over the next decade. Absolutely stunning! Only 1,050 cases made. Drink 2021-2038"