QuFormed back in 1989, Agustin and Valeria Huneeus found an enticing property in the Rutherford AVA spanning 280 acres of rolling hills and small valleys. What was initially a rather slow growing project, the Quintessa now has 160 acres planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carménère on 26 vineyard blocks. Having visited the property on several occasions you are awestruck with the hills and valleys of the land. The modern style winery is pushed against the hillside, and has sweeping views of the beautiful property. It is a great property to visit when in Napa.
Their proprietary red wine, Quintessa, Quintessa may include some or all of the five Bordeaux varietals. Wine from each plot is aged separately for two years in French oak and then blended. Rebekah Wineburg has a long-standing history in the wine industry previously working at famed Italian property Tenuta dell’Ornellaia. Returning to the U.S., she served as enologist for the Staglin Family Vineyard in Napa Valley and then moved to Rudd Winery in Napa, serving assistant winemaker and working with famed enological consultant Michel Rolland. In 2015 she was promoted to head winemaker at Quintessa. Her new release was a stunning wine that has a marvelous sense of place. The terroir in the wine is truly remarkable as is the blending. The 2015 Quintessa Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 95) is a proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Carmenere. It is a seriously good wine that is absolutely delicious in its youth but will continue to gain complexity with five to ten years in the bottle. Simply put, this is one of the best from the Rutherford AVA. Learn more about this famed Napa winery at https://www.quintessa.com/ Here is my review of the 2015 Quintessa Red Wine.
2015 Quintessa Red Wine- The 2015 Quintessa Red Wine is shows good richness and wonderful poise from this great vintage in Napa Valley. The wine is a silky proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Carmenere. The wine starts off with an ultra dark fruit profile with mocha, tar, sweet pipe tobacco and creme de cassis. The palate reveals an incredible mouthfeel and texture. Beautifully balanced, this shows ripe Turkish coffee, black tea, rich tobacco leaf and black cherry compote flavors. This is a stunner that will age for decades. If enjoying young give this a three plus hour decant. Drink 2018-2040- 95