2016 Quintessa Proprietary Red Napa Valley 1.5L
With some of the best estate fruit grown in the Napa Valley, Quintessa has produced yet another stunner. Aromas of cassis, blackberry, red currant, crushed rocks and rose petals expand in the glass with notes of citrus, clove and bright fruit.
Most easily identified by its breathtaking stone wall that fronts the property on the Silverado Trail, this remarkable 280-acre Rutherford estate is the crown jewel in Agustin Huneeus’ kingdom. The last great “undiscovered property” in the Valley when it was purchased in 1989, the amazing potential of this heavenly plot of Earth gave them reason to believe that it could be one of the great wine estates of the world. Possessing a lake, its own minivalley, five hills, a river, four microclimates and numerous different soil types, few vineyards anywhere encompass such diversity. With a little hard work, serious winemaking talent in Charles Thomas, and a commitment to results in the bottle, Quintessa was born. One vineyard, one singular estate wine… the results speak for themselves!
James Suckling
Phenomenal aromas of crushed berries, forest fruit, mushrooms and iron. Medium to full body, with layers of soft and refined tannins that follow through to a beautiful finish. Extremely long and refined. This shows depth and structure with balance and harmony. Hard not to open the bottle now and drink it, but it appears to be closing down now. Needs four to five years to show it all.
Wine Advocate
The 2016 Proprietary Red Wine is blended of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Carménère, with all fruit coming from the Quintessa estate, and it aged for 20 months in 73% new French oak. Very deep purple-black in color, it comes bounding out of the glass like a pedigree pup with exuberant notions of crème de cassis, warm blueberries and black cherries with hints of redcurrants, kirsch, candied violets, crushed rocks, cigar box and fallen leaves plus a waft of truffles. Full, rich and beautifully laced with layers of floral notes and fragrant earth, the profound black and blue fruits build slowly in the mouth, achieving great energy and depth with a beautiful velvety frame, finishing long and perfumed.