Quintessa Estate Proprietary Red Blend 2020

The great wines of the world consistently express the distinct qualities of the estates from which they come. In Napa, Quintessa is such a wine. To preserve the natural mosaic of the vineyard, each small plot is farmed, harvested and vinified individually so that the nuances of the land shine through. Afterward, the best components are brought together to create a wine of elegance and harmony. A timeless classic.

Quintessa enters on a core of cassis, black cherry, and currants enveloped by clove spice and savory dried herbs. Layers of structured tannin and the distinct mineral imprint of the Quintessa terroir give way to a structured and polished finish. Balanced and with well-integrated movement, this elegant and complex wine has plenty of life ahead of it – drinking well now and with cellar potential for at least 20 years.

98 Points - Decanter

Here is one of the stars of this challenging vintage. A muscular wine, leading with tremendous freshness on the palate, restrained red-toned fruit, and very subtle yet elegant cedar wood intermixed with red-rock minerality. Medium to full-bodied, offering more black fruit on the palate, redolent of muddled blackberries and juicy plums. An iron fist in a velvet glove comes to mind, given the tannin texture, which leads with the furry, velvety side of the glove and transitions to an undercurrent of ironclad and dusty minerals. All this turns fresh and lively through the finish. 

94 Points - James Suckling

A lovely red with a pretty core of currants, berries, spices and mushrooms. Medium to full body, layers of polished tannins and a juicy finish. A very balanced and fine wine. A little chewy.