1996 Quintessa
Community Tasting Note
NineteenEightyTwo Likes this wine:
Saturday, October 6, 2018 - Bought two bottles off a restaurant wine list. Medium-light rosewood color on both.
The first bottle was astounding - fresh, vibrant, and very elegant. One fellow taster nosed and asked if it was Pinot Noir, not at all in jest. Intense aromas of crushed flower petal, black slate, and roasted fowl. The palate was very elegant, if a bit tightly wound, and mineral driven in a way not typically associated with California wine, much less Bordeaux-style blends.
The second bottle tasted more like mature claret, with aromas of meat drippings and the funky, earthy smell of sous bois. It was still mineral-infused on the palate. I know from firsthand experience that the Quintessa team take their terroir quite seriously; in this case, the less lush vineyards away from Dragon's Lake have been allowed to reign supreme, and to excellent effect.
Astounding evolution on these two, both individually and in comparison with one another. Different types of animals, both pleasing in their own way. If you see a bottle of this around, snatch it up without hesitation. It's one of the better examples of the potential of serious Napa winemaking. Solid "A" grade.
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