Quilceda Creek (Winery) Scores!

Those of you Pacific Northwest Chowhounds that enjoy wine should take note. Quilceda Creek winery of Snohomish scored two perfect 100's in the Wine Advocate. How rare is that? Only 15 wines have ever received a perfect score from the publication since 1978 and Quilceda Creek has received two of them. Their big cabs should stand up well with your next bowl of Menudo.

Wine Spectator and Parker both steer us away from variety, including wines reflecting terroir ... e.g. try to find a zinfandel with pepper. 20 years ago I could, now they are all raspberry jam because that's what Parker and WS like and so that's what people read and so that's what people buy and so that's all the winemakers make. Fewer choices as we all praise the gods of one common palate.

Before you get ticked -- I've had and have in the cellar some Quilceda Creek wines and they are very nice.

Rent and see Mondovino if you have not. It's about an issue I've watched and decried for more than two decades and I'm please a documentary was done.

Yes, but too bad that the vintages cited are sold out.

I question the statement that only 15 wines have received perfect scores since 1978. That has got to be an oversight. Parker dishes out 100 pointers like no other. Heck, I think 2000 Bordeaux has at least 5-6 100 pointers. I would say he probably has given around 40 wines 100 points. Anyway, I don't mean to take any credit away from Quilceda Creek. They deserve the accolades. As far as paying $95 goes....if you think that is too much, these wines are currently auctioning for over $250!

Yes, but at $95 a bottle, who cares. That is highway robbery.

It's not robbery, it's what the market will bear. It doesn't have anything to do with wine; it has to do with Parkeritis. High-end wine, particularly high-point Parker-scoring wine, is a status symbol. Few of the people paying $250 for a bottle of this stuff can tell the difference -- not just the superiority, but the difference -- between it and a $20 bottle down the shelf. They're buying exclusivity and prestige. Better? Maybe, maybe not. Personally I HATE the kind of wines that Parker enjoys. There is no relationship at all between taste and the price of high Parker scores, none at all. It's nothing really to do with wine in a glass at all.

[The Chowhound Team]

Please move this discussion to the Not About Food board, so we can keep this board focused on chow in the Pacific Northwest. We'll be removing this off topic digression shortly so please, no further responses. Thanks.

Quilceda Creek wine is a local northwest food product.

[The Chowhound Team]

Yes, but the digression about how Parker's scores affect the price of wine isn't a local northwest food discussion. Thanks for helping us keep this forum focused on the great chow in the Pacific Northwest.