2012 Quilceda Creek "Palengat Vineyard" Horse Heaven Hills Bordeaux Blend

A single-vineyard blend of 59% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2012 Palengat Vineyard offers a deep, decadent style to go with classic blackberry liqueur, blueberry, graphite, toasted spices and licorice. A big, beefy, layered and full-bodied effort, it has building tannin, a supple mid-palate and terrific length. It should evolve nicely for 2-4 years and hold for a decade or more after that. This is another serious lineup by Paul and Alex Golitzin and I was able to taste their 2012s multiple times, once at my office in Colorado where I was able to follow the wines for multiple days, and then during a visit at the estate just north of Snohomish. In both cases they showed beautifully, with the ripe, exuberant style that's common in the vintage. When speaking about the '12s, Paul told me that it was an "easy growing season and that you had to be selective." In addition, they had more production from Champoux (which was hit hard by frost in 2011) due to their increased ownership in the vineyard after the retirement of Paul Champoux. (JD)