Washington wines are getting much more appreciation lately. Recently the 2002 and 2003 Cabernet Sauvignons from Quilceda Creek Vintners of Snohomish became the first wines from Washington state to receive 100-point ratings from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. In over 25 years of wine tastings, Parker has only given his top rating to less than one percent of the thousands of wines he has tasted. Wines from noted vineyards such as Screaming Eagle, Penfold's Grange, Harlan Estate and Chateaux Margaux have been given this honor.

Quilceda Creek is a small, family-owned  winery that recently celebrated their 25th vintage. Alas if you are looking to taste these delicious wines you are going to have to hunt around. The wines, which both cost in the mid $80s, are sold out. They produce approximately 3,400 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon each year which always sell out quickly. You might want to get on their mailing list, in 2007 the winery will offer mailing list customers its first Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the winery's estate vineyard on Red Mountain.