Quintessa Proprietary Red 2018 (750ML)

99 JS / 98 WE / 97 WA / 96 DE / 96 JA

#7 James Suckling's Top 100 American Wines of 2021
#40 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of 2021

This is beautifully polished with firm, dusty tannins to the blue fruit, as well as chocolate and cedar character. Some much earthier character, too, from mushrooms to bark. Forest flowers. Perfumed. It’s full-bodied with round tannins and a soft, creamy finish. Some iron and iodine to this. So attractive at the finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Better after 2023. - James Suckling

This is an exceptional vintage of this exceptional wine, its foundation built around 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, with dustings of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Beautiful in berry fruit, textured and refined tannin and hints of lavender, licorice and sage, it has complexity and energy in equal measure, lengthy and beautifully focused, a truly impressive achievement of site, vintage and winemaker. Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Quintessa (Cabernet Sauvignon) sashays out with crème de cassis, blackberry preserves and redcurrant jelly scents, plus wafts of dark chocolate, anise and lavender with a touch of tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, elegantly styled and stunningly energetic, it has a fine-grained texture and long, fragrant finish. – Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate

A less traditional style of wine in Napa Valley, this is lifted and charming with poise, powdery tannins and a chalky finish. Richly perfumed and wonderfully evocative on the nose, it’s seductive and inviting with black cherries, raspberries and blueberries alongside savoury notes of dried herbs. The flavours open and evolve on the palate bringing cocoa, tobacco and pencil lead into play underpinned by supple tannins. It’s powerful but on the leaner side, refined and elegant with a good sense of direction and drive - everything feels well placed and well defined. Tasted twice and both times were highly enjoyable. A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 2% Carmenére and 1% Petit Verdot. Wines are aged for 20 months in oak, 100% French, 62% new. Biodynamically grown and certified organic. Winemaker Rebekah Wineburg and estate director Rodrigo Soto. Drinking Window 2023 - 2040 - Georgina Hindle, Decanter

Slick and well made, with coffee mocha and buttescotch edging right up front. As it opens in the glass, less sweet and more complex notes come through of bitter chocolate, damson, cocoa bean, smoky yet generous, the definition of powefful and playful. Farmed organically since 1989 and biodynamically since 1996. I recently tasted a vertical of the property going back to 2010, and am always impressed by its consistency, and its ability to deliver pleasure while still walking the line of freshness. Third year on the Place for Agustin and Valeria Huneeus, and their impact on this property has been impressive and keeps getting better. Winemaker Rebekah Wineburg.- Jane Anson, Decanter