2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley

After tasting throughout the region for nearly two weeks, I joined head winemaker and owner Paul Golitzin to explore the 2022s. These wines have a cool-toned, classic feel that makes them very compelling. This is not your typical vintage at Quilceda Creek, but that’s not a bad thing in any way. While most years yield dark and brooding wines that I judge on their potential alone, the 2022s are immediately captivating, tricking you into thinking that you should open a bottle sooner rather than later. Don’t let this fool you. The 2022s are intense and will enjoy a long life, but they are more like a well-muscled dancer than a jacked powerlifter. I’m sure the departure of Alex Stewart, Jesse Schmidt and Hal Iverson (who left to join Matthews Winery in 2021) from the winemaking team was deeply felt, yet it hasn't hurt the momentum of this benchmark producer. Paul Golitzin is at the top of his game and made excellent use of this late season, where harvest started nearly two weeks later than usual. In 2022, for the first time since 2019, there is also a Merlot Horse Heaven Hills. As of 2022, Quilceda Creek began using an optical sorter, which may help explain some of the refinement in these wines. This is a vintage that’s not to be missed.