QUINTESSA RUTHERFORD RED 2023

If you are looking for a Perfect 100 Point Wine, please don’t miss this 2023 QUINTESSA Napa Valley Red Blend!

99 Decanter A marvelously bright red from winemaker Rebekah Wineburg, remarkably fragrant in its mineral elegance of the dusty red pulverized earth that is so characteristic of the Rutherford AVA, also appearing on the palate as fine, gravelly, cocoa-powder infused tannins. Pure-fruited, with ripe cassis and blackberry notes, salted dark chocolate, and a full-bodied personality, radiant with exotic floral notes of hibiscus and red rose, with a touch of dried sage and rosemary that adds further complexity. Incredibly elegant and built for long-term cellaring. The full blend includes: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Carménère, 2% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot. After 20 days of maceration, the wine was aged for 22 months in 60% new French oak barrels and 3% in a terracotta amphora.

99 James Suckling Luscious dark fruit that’s soft and supple. Aromas of blackberries, currants, violets, graphite, licorice, spices, dried flowers and chalk. The palate is densely packed, with dark fruit, fine minerally tannins and bright acidity, bringing a rustic, ferric feel and a bright, fresh and focused profile. What an exceptional release. Made from 90% cabernet sauvignon, 5% cabernet franc, 2% carmenere, 2% merlot and 1% petit verdot. Aged in 60% new French oak.

98 Wine Enthusiast The 2023 Quintessa shines with clarity, detail, and poise. A remarkable wine. Violets and lavender lift from the glass, carrying with them aromas of black currants, tobacco and cedar. Cashmere like tannins join brightening acidity delivering elegance, restraint, and durability for aging. Will benefit from decanting if opening now, but will develop in bottle beautifully.

96 Jeb Dunnuck Pure crème de cassis, graphite, tobacco leaf, and violet nuances all define the aromatics of the 2023 Quintessa, another gorgeous wine from this talented winemaker. Based on 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Carménère, 2% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot aged 22 months in 60% new French oak with a portion resting in terracotta amphora, it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with remarkable purity, ultra-fine tannins, and nicely integrated acidity. This pure, balanced, graceful, seamless beauty is delicious today yet won't hit its prime for a decade. Drink 2026-2036.
Rating: 96+

95 Wine Spectator Juicy, focused and vivid flavors of blackberry and boysenberry paste stretch out steadily, while iris, anise and singed apple wood notes fill in liberally. Fine-grained, with a ping of iron echoing through the fruit at the tail end of the lengthy finish. Shows lovely purity and persistence. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Carmenère, Merlot and Petit Verdot.