There are 975 cases of the 2001 Red Wine, a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, and 11% Cabernet Franc. This “second wine” sports an elegant nose of violets, roses, and black fruits. Medium to full-bodied, it is broad, structured, suave, and velvety-textured. Pure and refined, it offers flavors reminiscent of blueberries, blackberries, and cassis. A hint of alcoholic warmth was detected in the finish. Drink it over the next 8-9 years. They’ve done it again!Each year, as I get set to write about Quilceda Creek’s newest releases, I find myself at a loss for words since Robert Parker and I seem to have exhausted all the superlatives at our disposal over the years. Therefore, I must repeat myself: There is no producer in the world that fashions Cabernet Sauvignons as consistently extraordinary as Quilceda Creek.Tel. (360) 568-2389 www.quilcedacreek.com

Quilceda’s second wine is gorgeous, supple and sweet with lovely Cabernet cassis and smooth hints of licorice and chocolate. Though not as concentrated as the Cabernet, it is immediately delicious, and would put to shame most wines in its price category.——P.G.(9/1/2004)—— 92