Quintessa - Napa Valley 2018

Jeb DUNNUCK

96

byJeb Dunnuckthe2/26/2024

The 2018 Proprietary Red is 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Carmenere and Petit Verdot raised in 62% new French oak. It's a gorgeous wine revealing remarkable purity in its bright blue and black fruits as well as graphite, gravelly earth, and some chalky minerality. I love its purity, it's medium to full-bodied, has integrated acidity, and a balanced, layered, incredibly seamless style. It will evolve for another 20-25 years.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

96

byJane Ansonthe1/19/2022

Wine Advocate

97

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe10/29/2021

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.

Anthocyanes

94

byYohan Castaingthe10/4/2021

Nez profond et dense. Des notes de fruits noirs, de fruits frais, d'épices et une pointe boisée. Belle matière, de l'acidité et des tanins structurants sans être ni lourds, ni trop boisés. Belle bouteille pleine de charme et de potentiel de garde.

Wine Spectator

93

byJames Molesworththe7/22/2021

Very fresh in feel, with a racy and refined core of cassis, damson plum and raspberry reduction notes inlaid with black tea and anise hints. A subtle mineral edge adds length to the finish, with the fruit showing nice restraint despite its youth. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Carmenère. Drink now through 2035. 10,000 cases made. — JM

Jamessuckling.com

99

byJames Sucklingthe1/7/2021

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.

Vinous

93

byAntonio Gallonithe1/1/2021

The 2018 Red Wine is a powerful, driving Napa Valley wine. Scorched earth, iron, chocolate, and leather give the red cherry/plum fruit distinctly savory accents. This is an especially tight wine in a vintage that yielded generally more supple, open-knit reds. Quintessa is one of the first Napa Valley estates I visited, many years ago. Since then, the property has undergone several stylistic phases. It will be interesting to see where things go over the next handful of years here.