Appy Friday Washington Style!

Quilceda Creek, move over. A new king of Columbia Valley has risen.

This might not yet carry the $250 price tag. But it’s pretty close at $185. And it’s only a matter of when - not if - this tips the scales and pushes the $200+ boundary.

So locking it in for under $100 today? Absolute no-brainer.

Why? It’s not the triple-serving of 95-96 points. That does help push demand and price up though.

It’s all about the winemaking and the vineyards.

Winemaker Alex Stewart was at Quilceda Creek from 2004 to 2021. During his tenure there he racked up over 50 wines in the 96-100 range by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate alone. The man is incapable of making anything that does not flirt with perfection.

So the news was BIG when he jumped ship. But it wasn’t just him.

Wine Spectator wrote “There’s nothing unusual about a winemaker changing jobs, but what happens when an entire winemaking team jumps ship to another winery? That’s just what happened in Washington wine country this week. Three winemakers from Quilceda Creek, the state’s most elite Cabernet producer, were lured away by Matthews.”

They add, “Alex Stewart is the lead winemaker of the team, and he worked with Quilceda Creek for 17 years… If you don’t follow Washington wine, here’s a little background. Few wineries have been as single-minded about Cabernet Sauvignon as Quilceda Creek since its first vintage in 1979.”

Thus this 2021 Reserve is the end result of this coup, and we’re here for it. And it’s magnificent. A “blockbuster” as Owen Bargreen noted. And “world class effort” as the WA review said - furthered by “Bravo, I’m going back for a second and third sip”. And a fourth, and fifth…and so on until you’re staring down the neck of an empty bottle wondering why you didn’t buy more.

As Heraclitus once said, “the only constant is change” and those who act fast win.

96 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate “The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Columbia Valley is juicy, fresh and indulgent with red and black fruit flavors, a firm structure and complex layers. The nose is generous and layered, while the wine hits the palate with a packed, medium to full-bodied profile. Gliding over the palate, it finishes silky-smooth, like chocolate ganache melting on the tongue. This Cabernet Sauvignon aged 21 months in 100% New French oak. Bravo, I’m going back for a second and third sip. Drink 2024-2039.”

96 Points – Owen Bargreen “The blockbuster 2021 Matthews ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a world-class effort that is already drinking beautifully at the two year mark. Once on the nose this offers a massive wall of black and blue fruits that are complimented by graphite and tilled soil accents. The palate comes off balanced and well-poised, with firm tannins holding everything in place. Turkish coffee grounds and creme de cassis notes mingle well with dried sage and shades of Black Forest Cake on the palate. If enjoying now, be sure to give this at least an hour in the decanter. Drink 2023-2038.”

95 Points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous “It was pretty big news when Matthews announced that their new winemaking team was coming from an extended time working at the renowned Quilceda Creek. During my last trip, I visited with the team for the rst time, following proprietor Bryan Otis’s suggestion to wait until spring of 2023 because of the massive sea change that was taking place at the winery. After spending time with the crew at their new winery and tasting room in Woodinville, on the western side of the state, I can see why. Bryan Otis showed a lot of guts to make such signicant changes despite a successful history and fan base, yet he couldn’t pass up the chance to elevate their brand. I tasted alongside winemakers Alex Stewart and Hal Iverson. When asked what’s changed, their answer was, ‘What hasn’t changed?’ At Matthews, the pair have carte blanche to completely rethink the system. Yields, pick dates, fermentation times, macerations and barrel aging were all rethought from the ground up. The focus of their sourcing is throughout the Columbia Valley, with the desire to form long-time contracts with growers that follow their ideals. Bryan Otis commented, ‘We want to be known as the people who care about the Columbia Valley and how it’s treated.’ Frankly, I can’t recall ever meeting a more cohesive team. Alex Stewart and Hal Iverson are so in sync that they stop just short of being able to finish each other’s sentences. The future potential for Matthews is incredibly high. Rosy orals, lavender and licorice complicate dusty black currant as the seductive 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve smolders up from the glass. This is a dark and radiant beauty, with racy red and black fruits energized by brilliant acidity. A bitter cocoa tinge forms toward the close. Classically dry, the 2021 tapers o long and structured, with engrained tannins and a thrust of cola and savory herbs. The Reserve spent 21 months in 100% French new oak. Drink 2026-2034.”

95 Points – Jeb Dunnuck “All varietal, the 2021 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon offers tons of cassis and plum-like fruits as well as some chocolaty oak, espresso roast, and tobacco-like aromas and flavors. With plenty of background oak, full-bodied richness, ripe, velvety tannins, and a great finish, it’s going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and should evolve gracefully over the following two decades. Drink 2027-2049”