97 points - limited Quintessa is one of Napa Valley's most collective Cabernets year-in and year-out and the 2016 is no exception. Extremely limited. 98 Points James Suckling: "Phenomenal aromas of crushed berries, forest fruit, mushrooms and iron. Medium to full body, with layers of soft and refined tannins that follow through to a beautiful finish. Extremely long and refined. This shows depth and structure with balance and harmony. Hard not to open the bottle now and drink it, but it appears to be closing down now. Needs four to five years to show it all." 97+ Points Robert Parker: "The 2016 Proprietary Red Wine is blended of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Carménère, with all fruit coming from the Quintessa estate, and it aged for 20 months in 73% new French oak. Very deep purple-black in color, it comes bounding out of the glass like a pedigree pup with exuberant notions of crème de cassis, warm blueberries and black cherries with hints of redcurrants, kirsch, candied violets, crushed rocks, cigar box and fallen leaves plus a waft of truffles. Full, rich and beautifully laced with layers of floral notes and fragrant earth, the profound black and blue fruits build slowly in the mouth, achieving great energy and depth with a beautiful velvety frame, finishing long and perfumed."
Steven Gullo
Tasted alongside barrel samples of the 2018 vintage. Still a baby, but such an expansive palate of cassis, sweet tobacco and violets. Pretty fascinating to explore how each individual parcel contributes to the final blend. Fruit for the ‘16 vintage is mostly from Dragon’s Terrace, Mt. Calisse and Corona vineyards. Such a great example of Rutherford terroir.
Tasted alongside barrel samples of the 2018 vintage. Still a baby, but such an expansive palate of cassis, sweet tobacco and violets. Pretty fascinating to explore how each individual parcel contributes to the final blend. Fruit for the ‘16 vintage is mostly from Dragon’s Terrace, Mt. Calisse and Corona vineyards. Such a great example of Rutherford terroir.
9.4Paul K
Closed. This will benefit from time. Note to self not before 3 more years.
Closed. This will benefit from time. Note to self not before 3 more years.
9.3Adam Gäfvert
Full bodied with classic Napa charactaristics. This one displays a bit more earth in and fine mineral notes. Really great finish. Not flashy like some of its peers. More graceful and sofisticated.
Full bodied with classic Napa charactaristics. This one displays a bit more earth in and fine mineral notes. Really great finish. Not flashy like some of its peers. More graceful and sofisticated.
9.3Paul K
Still needs time
Still needs time
9.1Skip Smyser
Discovered another amazing breakfast wine. Doing tasting at Quintessa and this is probably one of the three best Cabernet’s I’ve had while in Napa Valley. Huge red fruit with chocolate hints. Big Big CAB
Discovered another amazing breakfast wine. Doing tasting at Quintessa and this is probably one of the three best Cabernet’s I’ve had while in Napa Valley. Huge red fruit with chocolate hints. Big Big CAB
9.5Douglas Profenius
Hubby hubba
Hubby hubba
9.4William Goldsmith
Very Napa
Very Napa
9.2Skip Smyser
New bright forward fruit light tannins. Ready to drink. Will improve over time.
New bright forward fruit light tannins. Ready to drink. Will improve over time.
9.3WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.