Quilceda Creek 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington

Quilceda Creek’s 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is something of a quiet powerhouse. It opens with polished aromas—black currant and blackberry tempered by graphite, tobacco leaf, crushed florals, even toasted walnut and rose petals. The whole thing starts with elegance, not a show‑y gesture. 

On the palate, it remains composed, yet compelling. Dense fruit gains structure from refined tannins and a seamless texture. It’s full-bodied without being heavy—silky, aligned, and built for journey, not jump. 

The blend in your glass reflects Washington’s vigor and finesse. Sourced from Champoux (90%) and Mach One (10%) vineyards, all fruit stands on Columbia Valley’s soaring terrain—sun-warmed days, cooling nights beneath the Blue Mountains—with minimal intervention and 100% new French oak used for 22 months. 

Quilceda Creek isn’t new to precision. Founded in 1978 by Alex and Jeannette Golitzin, and now helmed by winemaker Paul Golitzin (nephew of legendary André Tchelistcheff), the estate defined Washington Cabernet with early perfect scores—and this 2022 continues that tradition.

This is a Cabernet that meets ambition with architecture. It doesn’t demand applause—it earns it, sip by confident sip.

"The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon comes mostly from the Champoux Vineyard plus 10% from the Mach One Vineyard. Initial wafts of glossy oak give way to cassis, blueberry, tobacco, aniseed and garrigue. The full-bodied palate offers powerful blue and black fruit and Goldilocks ripeness. It’s framed by plush, velvety tannins and fireworks of fresh acidity, and it has a long finish with a flourish of exotic spice. It should be long lived in the cellar. 4,850 cases were made.”—Erin Brooks, RobertParker.com