Quintus 2016 (750ML)

97 JS / 95 WI / 95 JD / 95 SEO / 94 VM / 94 DE / 94 WCI / 94 FS / 17.5 JR

#4 out of 48 in the Saint Emilion Oswald's Blind Tasting, London 2022 featuring 2011-2018 Angelus, Ausone, Cheval Blanc, Figeac, Pavie, Quintus

Ripe damson-plum fruit and generous richness make this youthful, high-end St.-Emilion surprisingly easy to drink right now. Underneath the sensual exterior is a serious structure and that becomes ever more obvious as it rolls over the palate. Very long finish that has a certain sweetness, but remains so elegant. Drink or hold. Château Quintus vertical tasting. Stuart Pigott, JamesSuckling .com

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Quintus needs a little swirling and spurring before it gallops out with powerful notes of plum preserves, blueberry pie, and tar, leading to suggestions of star anise, mincemeat pie, and dried roses. Full-bodied, the palate is plush, generous, and expressive, delivering beautifully ripe, soft tannins and a lively backbone to support the rich fruit, finishing long and opulent. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent

The deep ruby-colored 2016 Château Quintus is thrilling stuff, and my money is on it being the finest to date. Saturated purple in color, powerful notes of blackberries, currants, spicy tobacco, and a touch graphite all flow to a deep, rounded, sexy Saint-Emilion that’s beautifully balanced. It shows the class of the vintage and is capable of lasting for two decades or more. - Jeb Dunnuck

The sixth vintage under the wing of Haut-Brion. The vines didn't block in the heat here, which is why the alcohols are generous, but this is absolutely perfectly balanced. The generosity of the ripe blackberry and cassis fruit stretches out with the juice running right through it, joined by some exotic spice and grilled oak touches through the mid-palate. But they never overwhelm the gentle extraction, and overall this is an extremely successful Quintus that leaves a beautifully fragrant quality in the mouth. 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. - Jane Anson, Decanter

The 2016 Quintus has a very noble bouquet with beautifully defined blackberry and briary fruit, wonderfully integrated oak and a genuine sense of focus and poise. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, plenty of freshness and a pure,tensile, focused finish that is very seductive. This is a beautifully crafted Saint-Émilion and one of the best releases of Quintus to date. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. -- Neal Martin, Vinous Media

Tasted blind. Crimson with a pale rim. Supple and quite subtle on the nose. Very juicy. But not very concentrated. Hot finish. Sleek and fresh but tarter than most 2016s. Ch Quintus? - Jancis Robinson