Quintessa 2018 Red Blend, Rutherford, Napa Valley

The Iconic Napa Valley red, Quintessa is a Cabernet Sauvignon blend from estate vineyards in the heart of the Rutherford Bench district. The estate is farmed using organic and biodynamic techniques, and each year they make a deeper connection between the soils and the terroir, interpreting the property holistically.

The wine is a blend that can include some or all of the five varietals grown on the estate: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenere. Fruit from each component block of Quintessa is harvested, sorted, then gravity fed into either oak or stainless steel fermentation tanks. Once fermentation and maceration are complete, each block of wine is aged separately for up to two years in French oak barrels. After aging, the components are brought together and the final blend is created.

This 2018 is the latest release. It's a blend of  92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Carmenere and 1% Petit Verdot aged 20 months in 62% new French oak barrels.

James Suckling scored this 99 points saying "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."

Wine Enthusiast Magazine scored this 98 points saying "This is an exceptional vintage of this exceptional wine, its foundation built around 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, with dustings of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Beautiful in berry fruit, textured and refined tannin and hints of lavender, licorice and sage, it has complexity and energy in equal measure, lengthy and beautifully focused, a truly impressive achievement of site, vintage and winemaker."