Moderate ruby/violet hue. Blackberry, graphite, vanilla, and hints of mint are evident on the nose. On the palate, it’s medium to full bodied with bright acidity, 14% alcohol, and a long finish featuring prominent, chalky tannins. It is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from 30 year-old vines in the famed Champoux Vineyard in Horse Heaven Hills. This vineyard is also the source of several 100 Parker point Cabernets from Quilceda Creek Vintners. It’s aged 30 months in 100% new French oak and then in bottle before release. It’s a wine which straddles the poles of New World power and Old World finesse and represents an incredible value for such a high quality terroir. — 5 years ago
A bit of a slow starter but after a couple of hours this one starts to sing. Really impressive winemaking behind this wine. Medium to full bodied. The hang time of these vineyards are really long so the phenolic ripeness is evident. It’s livley, complex with a remarkable intense finish. I get spice, wood, orange peel, mint, pine and an array of berries. Impressive today, probably even more impressive with some additional bottle age. — a month ago
Boca wine dinner. Now this was good... Let it sit for an hour and the air creates an entirely different full bodied taste. Planning on trading Wells a bottle of Quilceda Creek Galitzine for this... — 4 years ago
Wow did this age nicely. Could have kept it for even longer but couldn't wait. Smoothed out the longer it was open. Nice balance of dark fruit with pepper on the finish. Fantastic wine. — 5 years ago
Lovely Merlot. Still a bite on the end to this one. Dark fruit has smoothed out on this one. Nice wine to celebrate with. — 6 years ago
...must be Tuesday night in Boca. 2nd only to Quilceda Creek in Washington State. One of my personal favs... — 3 years ago
The 35 acre Eisele Vineyard has an interesting history, named after its original owners. Originally planted in the 19th Century, the Vineyard became recognised as a special terroir when Ridge and then Joseph Phelps purchased grapes to craft rich complex wines. In 1990 Bart and Daphne Araujo purchased the Vineyard located southeast of Calistoga st the foot of the Palisades Mountains. The wine is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc aged in 100% new French Oak barrels for 22 months. The wine is very dark crimson - amazing for its age. Aromas of Cassis Blackberry with touch of mint which became more apparent with time in Decanter. On the palate Rich profound and concentrated but held in balance finishing with silky supple Tannins. The oak has melded seamlessly. I see from the label they have used Bordeaux based Oenologist Michel Rolland who consults to wineries around the world. Not unlike Quilceda Creek in my limited USA experience. A joy to drink with 5 to 8 more years of great drinking left in it. — 4 years ago
What an interesting nose. Fantastic. Smooth with the slight Cab kick at the end. Great time to open. — 6 years ago
Tom Garland
1 hour decant (decent chunky/fine sediment). A forbidding still inky dark purplish garnet color. On the nose: Beautiful perfumed notes of dark plum, cedar, vanilla, pine, and herbs. Taste: smooth, rich wine with mouth coating silky tannins, black cherry, black pepper, little dark chocolate, smoke, and a blueberry cedar semi dry finish....slight touch of heat on the end?...a RP 100 pt wine tonight. Cheers! — a month ago