stemor
Collierville, TN
Wine Thief
Posts:2817
 | | 06/16/2003 4:02 AM |
| I bought this for $56 at a local retailer a few months ago. I've never opened one of my QC bottles, so I figured it was time for the experience -- I had this with dinner last night with a '00 Kistler Vine Hill Chardonnay at my favorite local BYOW. It was decanted for almost two hours prior to rebottling and heading straight to the restaurant.
This wine was smooth and youthful upon opening, becoming even more refined with the two hours in a decanter. The inviting nose reminded me of a well-aged Bordeaux -- showing cedar, ripe dark fruits and a whiff of cigar box.
This is not a "fruit bomb", but is shows tremendous fruit. Layer after layer of flavor kept making itself known, starting with waves of the primary flavors of ripe dark fruits (cassis, plum, ripe black cherry and some sweet blackberry) and moving on to some spicy and cedary notes . The lingering finish of over a minute is smooth and shows just how well-integrated this wine is ... it is never out of balance from the nose to the very last hints of the last sip.
I have only two more of these, so I'll wait at least two more years before opening the next one.
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Cheers, y'all | |
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Tim
Barrel Filler
Posts:1465
| | 06/16/2003 8:02 AM |
| | Good to hear, I just won 3 of these last night on Winebid, I only have one other. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Barrel Filler
Posts:1210
| | 06/16/2003 4:06 PM |
| | Curious to hear your thoughts on aging window, steeeeemor. | | | |
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stemor
Collierville, TN
Wine Thief
Posts:2817
| | 06/17/2003 2:26 AM |
| Smaug,
I felt it was fantastic now, with proper decenting, yet seemed to have the character to last for ... well, I simply don't know. This is one area where I won't even try to pretend that I can estimate durability, as I haven't tried these wines with age on them.
Anyone else?
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Cheers, y'all | |
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ItalianWino
Grape Fermenter
Posts:619
| | 06/17/2003 9:35 PM |
| This will age well for another 5-7 years.
IW | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts:19
| | 08/16/2003 11:01 PM |
| | This is a 20 year wine. It won't be ready for a few more years, but should drink well for a long time. There's no reason to think this will fall apart after 7 years. | | | |
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rmkam
Grape Fermenter
Posts:524
| | 01/21/2004 1:44 PM |
| | I just had this wine (the first taste) at a Squires' O/L in Boston. I decanted for 3.5 hours and then back it went into the bottle where it got a good dose of air again. It was opened at the restaurant and it was drunk near the end of the evening (about 9:30-10:00). It was up against an 85 Margaux, a 90 Cos, and an 82 Leoville Las Cases. It showed very well and although the Margaux as the WOTN, I thought the QC had a nose very similar to the Margaux. In fact many commented on how this could be mistaken for a Bordeaux. The palate was intense with lots of blueberry. One taster described it as blueberry Yoplait. I can't imagine how the 99 will taste (and look forward to the 01). | | | |
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Budman
Master of Wine
Posts:11870
| | 01/21/2004 8:11 PM |
| | rmkam... Don't forget the 2000. It's no slouch either!!! | | | |
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rmkam
Grape Fermenter
Posts:524
| | 01/21/2004 8:28 PM |
| Quote:
rmkam... Don't forget the 2000. It's no slouch either!!!
I won't! I have more 2000 than 98 and 99 combined (also will with 2001...on the mailing list now). I have just one 97 but will wait on that. | | | |
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EricLundblad
Grape Fermenter
Posts:557
| | 01/21/2004 8:42 PM |
| In case you haven't seen it, Quilceda had drinking window recommendations on their website:
http://www.quilcedacreek.com/Drink.asp
summary for the wines mentioned:
1998 Cabernet 2005-2020
1998 Merlot 2004-2015
1999 Cabernet 2006-2020
1999 Merlot 2004-2020
2000 Cabernet 2006-2020
2000 Merlot 2004-2020 | |
Ladd Cellars | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts:19
| | 01/26/2004 9:09 PM |
| | Both the blueberry descriptor, as well as the Bordeaux style, are common observations about QC. I think that QC started to get a decent following by doing well in blind tastings against 1st growths. Also, for my palate, the blueberry is most noticable in the 2000. | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12483
| | 06/28/2004 12:59 AM |
| | Had it last night: 93 points, drink or hold. I prefer to hold though... | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12483
| | 06/28/2004 12:59 AM |
| | Had it last night: 93 points, drink or hold. I prefer to hold though... | | | |
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Seek
Upstate NY
Wine Thief
Posts:2772
| | 06/28/2004 11:49 AM |
| | Fabulous. Not the forward style of many wines tasted at the Saratoga Springs offline and perhaps I should have moved it up in the lineup. I sat and enjoyed this wine and my notes just say excellent!!! but keep in bed. This is an excellent wine that needs another 4-5 years in the cellar. 95 points. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 06/29/2004 10:35 PM |
| | thanks for the update. i have 2 buried away in the cellar for a long time. | | | |
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Seek
Upstate NY
Wine Thief
Posts:2772
| | 02/23/2005 1:53 PM |
| 2/22/05
Tried this last night and found this wine not to be as good as the last one I tried. Thought still very good this bottle seemed to lack the wieght and power of every Quilceda I have had. A graceful wine showing nice complexity you'll find suave blackberry cassis, bright red cherry, spice, and toasted oak. The finish is smooth and goes on for 30 seconds. 92 points. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 02/23/2005 4:30 PM |
| seek,
can you think of any reason for this? off bottle? closed down? dare i say cork problem? | | | |
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Quinn_cab
Grape Sorter
Posts:239
| | 04/08/2005 9:03 PM |
| | I had a bottle of the 98 QC in a restaruant in Reno last week. My impressions were pretty much in line with Seek's. The fruit just seemed to be muted. There was none of the wet/musty TCA smells I usually associate with cork problems, but the lack of muscle in this bottle was definitely suprising. Still enjoyable by in large, just not what I was expecting. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Fermenter
Posts:667
| | 04/09/2005 12:30 AM |
| | That is odd. | | | |
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jaimetown
DC area
Wine Bottler
Posts:3484
| | 12/23/2005 6:33 AM |
| | Opened at 10am and recorked (not decanted), and drunk around 730pm. When it was just opened, the nose exploded with dark currant, cassis, blueberries (though not the yoplait level), olive, and plum, and it kept going strong until the evening. A polished wine with lots of class, medium-plus body, delineation and focus and good length. Tannins are gentle and sweet. Perhaps not as powerful on the finish, but still a beguiling wine to smell and drink. This wine is in its early adolescence, and the first QC from my stash that I didn't feel guilty about drinking it "too young." A bonus was that my wife asked to fill her glass more than any other wine (save for champagne) in recent memory, and it was great to see her enjoy a Cabernet this much. 94 points. | | | |
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