2013 Quillia Red Wine Blend Columbia Valley 750 ml

The NDA-Cloaked Washington Red That Stole The Show...

The competition at the tasting table that afternoon was stiff: a few Napa bottles approaching California cult status, a cadre of well-regarded Oregon Pinots, a handful of releases that had already racked up 92+ scores from the critics. But by the time the last bottle had been uncorked, a shocking winner emerged from this eminent company: the 2013 Quillia Red Blend.

A négociant-assembled wine, NDAs prevent this producer from revealing sources their grape sources, but suffice it say, the grapes that compose this Bordeaux-meets-Rhône blend hail from some of the best vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA, an appellation renowned for top producers like Chateau Ste. Michelle and Quilceda Creek. From a vintage that Wine Spectator rated “outstanding,” this bottle boasts the kind of depth, richness, and aromatic elegance you’d expect for triple the price. 

At the end of most tasting sessions, our staff is able to amicably sort out who takes which bottle home. But an awkward silence reigned the afternoon we tasted this rich, supple stunner—everyone wanted to make off with the $17 bottle that tasted like a $70 Napa red. Unlike many of the well-known wines on the table, this one was shrouded in mystery, its fruit sources cloaked by confidentiality agreements. There’s no getting around those—but what remains crystal-clear is what an incredible value this bottle offers, loaded with black cherries, raspberries, kirsch, and cocoa.

Especially since the smash-hit success of Washington’s 2012 vintage, buyers are beginning to catch on to just how common it is for the region to produce fantastic steals like this one. The Evergreen State lies on the same latitude as Bordeaux, and the Columbia Valley AVA—headed by likes of Cayuse, Gramercy Cellars, and Quilceda Creek—offers a comparable level of consistency. This is a remarkably dry area, defined by long, warm summers, and up to 300 days of sunshine a year. As a result, the appellation is a gold mine for under-$25 reds defined by perfectly balanced ripeness, firm tannins, and fantastic structure.

2013 was one of the warmest growing seasons on record. The best growers calmed their nerves, avoided picking early, and let Mother Nature run her course. It was the right move: in the last few weeks before harvest in mid-September, conditions suddenly cooled off, extending the growing season just a bit longer for the nearly-ripened Cabernet, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Petit Verdot.

The négociant behind Quillia signed his name on the dotted line; in return for silence, he secured juice from the finest growers in the state. The resulting bold, juicy blend from this superb growing season is yours for a fraction of the price of the competition.