PnP. Excellent and open immediately. Smooth tannins, beautiful dark fruit, and some secondary notes of cedar and iron. Good acidity to balance out the darkness of the cab. Had half a glass leftover for night 2 and the secondary notes really came into focus dominated by a strong iron note. Drink or Hold.
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Wow! I thought we sat on this a bit too long…..delicious. Velvet, blackberry, and touch of earth. Bouquet is pleasant and the color is rich. I wish we had more!!
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Decanted for an hour before pouring. Hints of pencil lead, cassis, figs, bing cherries and licorice. Wonderful layers of ripe red nectarines, figs, peppercorns, red licorice and cedar. A very nice wine that has aged well and has 5-7 years left.
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Energetic complex nose with lots of black currents flavours. Full bodied supple taste, lots of fresh berries with an astringent agreeable aftertaste. Aired for one hour before serving it was great accomplying our reindeer filet with a celeriac root ball, mixed vegetables a mushroom sauce and Swedish lingonberry jam. Fantastic wine!
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Drank our last bottle tonight, 2 years to the day since the prior bottle, and man, was it good. Completely harmonious from the nose to the palate, with a medium-long finish that was just perfect. Could not wait to get to the next sip. Opened and decanted one hour before drinking, so this is in its sweet spot, I would not dawdle, maybe give this another 18 months, tops, before it starts to lose its appeal.
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A pnp end of the evening wine that showed great. Not showing it's age, it is a midnight purple with sweet fruit and cedar on the nose. Dried blueberry and a hint of olive showing up, the wine is silky smooth and supple. Lots of primary fruit still showing, the finish kept going and going. Given the great balance, this wine has quite a few years ahead of it.
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Glad we waited. Medium red fruit has given way to dark fruits - more plum and currant. Opened up over 30-45 minute decant. Medium weight, deep dark red color and 30 second finish with peaty leather hints
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A bit rough around the edges but much more life and interest than the 2007 Quintessa earlier in the week. Medium ruby in color. Raspberry, blueberry and white pepper on the palate. Fruit forward but a bit astringent, probably from the unresolved tannins. Full bodied with a medium finish, this just wasn’t quite as sophisticated as an earlier bottle.
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Drank this for Valentines Day. This is my first experience with Quintessa. Decanted this for about 45 minutes prior to serving.
The nose comes across nicely with soft notes of baked cherry pie, black fruits, and hints of pencil shavings, and a touch of oak. The palate I would say is medium bodied, restrained, and tannins are virtually gone at this point. There is a touch too much acid coming from somewhere that takes away from the enjoyable experience. my suspicion is that these should be drank earlier because I could see the acidity pairing nicely with some big fruits on the palate when this is young. The finish is average - nothing memorable. Nonetheless - this is definitely a steakhouse wine.
This is probably starting its gentle decline. I would suggest drinking up over the next year because I do not see this improving anymore with age.
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Drank over two days. First day a bit reticent with some overpowering bitter pencil lead interfering with my enjoyment. Much more relaxed and integrated on second day. These may be better early than at maturity but this was my last bottle so I probably won't have a chance to experience further development. I don't think there is any rush though.
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My first experience with quint. Agree bdx in nature with leathery and gravelly notes while also showing some soft black fruit and cassis notes. Smooth and medium density. Not much tannin left.
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I guess it has been a while since I experienced this one as I cannot find my previous rating here. This was a fun comparison made between this wine and a 2008 William Harrison Rutherford red, a Bordeaux blend made from grapes of Quintessa's immediate neighbor to the north. Styles were extremely different. Whereas the Harrison showed a darker side of Rutherford fruit with distinct Rutherford dust, this to me seemed to have more black cherry, herbal and youthful qualities to it but the backbone did still seem to be youthful blackberry. Still quite a bit of stiff oak astringency on the finish, but Rutherford dust did shine through. I was really amazed how youthful this wine was for 11 years. This thing could go another 15 to 20 years no question. Quintessa is always a treat!!
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Took a 1.5 to dinner in Boca Grande, Florida at the Temptation. Fabulous bottle of wine. The mag is drinking perfectly right now. Lots of dark fruit, a bit of chocolate, mild tannins, some graphite and cedar is what I remember. I would advise drinking any magnums in the 1-2 years, I would not hold it any longer as I think it will start fading. It was a beautiful well balanced and approachable wine. We did not decant it. Drank it over about 2.5 hours, we had friends....
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This is a really interesting bottle of Quintessa. I didn’t have high expectations about this wine because many that I’ve had in the past were kind of light, thin and not that robust that typically comes from a good Rutherford fruit. However this 10-year-old wind had notes impressed. Opened for 45 minutes before drinking. Notes of dark fruit graphite, spice box and a long semi rich floral bouquet. Strawberry blackberry and silky notes on the pallet, medium finish. A pleasurable wine
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This wine keeps evolving both through age and throughout the evening. Popped and poured. Full body, restrained fruit, licorice, citrus, acid showing more than I remember. Different notes changed emphasis throughout the evening. A really well made wine.
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Dark and still a bit brooding the nose expresses red fruit, licorice and cedar. Palate still shows significant tannins but has a good minerality that mingles with the fruit. Finishes tannic. This wine still has room to grow (notes from day 2)
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Medium cherry color. Bright and clear. Some blueberry and raspberry on the palate but this bottle reflected more earthiness with notes of tobacco box, forest floor and cola. Seemed a bit "muddy" with indistinct layers. A nice bottle of wine but I have had other vintages that were better.
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2 bottles now. Same and consistent note - on open, huge front, rich and stewed fruit. Fruit just dominates the palate and not very appoachable until after many hours in the decanter. Saved half bottle for next day, and drinking better - fruit still big, but mid palate coming thru to balance with fruit. Be interesting to see if the wine has the acid, tanning and structure to wait out the fruit. will see. Try again in a few years.
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Dark garnet, brick rim, full bodied, lots of sediment Black cherries. Slate. Some 'green moss' terrorir dark berries Tastes like the nose. Soft and elegant. Velvety. Medium + finish
Very good wine for the price. Bought at the winery after a tasting.
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All the right elements with a nice dusty finish. Still has plenty of room to grow. Cassis, blueberry, graphite & dusty leather. Extremely complex and very interesting.
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Birthday dinner for my wife and close friend. Opened and decanted for only 30 minutes and then consumed over 1-2 hours. This was an amazing wine. Smooth, multidimensional and had a long finish. Slighted muted nose. Lots of red fruit, graphite, and some smoke. So enjoyable. Will let my bottle sit for a little more time as I think that the best is yet to com.
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Decent, but not great. Extremely one-noted! Well-made with lots of upfront fruit intensity, without the layers, complexity or intrigue one seeks from a world-class cabernet/blend. I feel like I was missing half the wine.
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Agree with previous notes regarding decanting. Had some off notes on the nose which blew off (possibly a hint of reduction). Wine didn't begin to open up until an hour or two after decanting. No sediment when poured through a metal filter. Nicely balanced Rutherford wine, dark berries, mocha. Round and integrated tannins. Good finish. Fruit starting to go into the background and secondary earthy flavors emerging, nice beginning to the mature phase. For the price point I've been favoring other wines of this vintage from Howell mountain which will outlast the Quintessa in the long run.
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Decanted for about and hour before the first taste. It was pretty good, but not very approachable. Another 30 minutes or so and it opened up phenomenally. I was incredibly impressed. Wonderful wine.
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This bottle took much longer to open up than the previous one. Decanted 90 minutes but took another hour to overcome tightness. Again too much heat, but the balance of flavor outside of that still made the wine exceptional.
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Very good, not as special as the '03 we had a few months back. Will benefit from more time in the bottle and a little longer decant (did 3 hrs this time). Beautiful reddish color, nose not very strong.
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Have to admit, I really liked this wine. Very nice Bordeaux-style complexity. Terrific fruit. Medium acidity. Smooth, lingering tannins went well with Christmas prime rib. Decanted about 3 hours, which seemed to allow it to open up nicely. Drinking well now, and should keep improving for the next few years.
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Inky red, violet berry nose, beautiful right out of the bottle. Ready to drink although I don't think it's going anywhere anytime soon. Majestic deep extraction, a hint more alcohol than I like but impossible not to like. A special occasion or a guilty pleasure, take your pick.
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This blend has some really good terrior to go along with the fruit. Not a big juicy fruit cab at all rather a really nice balance of all the right characters to make you think Bordeaux if this had been a blind tasting. Very Nice. Drink in next 5 years.
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Decanted for 2 hours. Overall a solid wine but a little underwhelming. Seems like it could improve with a little more time but not certain that it ever gets to where I would expect it to be based on price. This one would lose head to head with several others in the cellar that cost less. To be clear, this is a nice wine but just not a great wine.
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Opened with friends at local Italian rest. Took awhile to open up, but within 45 minutes the rich fruit and long finish asserted itself. Next time I'll decant it for at least an hour.
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91-92+ still a lot of evolution potential left for this- hold another 7 years - the 09 and 10 were definitely more open in this showing..still a beautiful wine.
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Deep purple to the rim. A nose of sweet vanilla, blueberry jam, blackberries, pencil shavings, and cocoa. Full mouth feel, bursting with blueberries, blackberries, milk chocolate, and tar. This wine has a lot of life yet.
Raspberry/strawberry bouquet. Nice cherry/ berry fruit forward with perfect acidity that fades with tobacco earthy flavor. Great balance, very interesting in terms of complexity . Early, approachable with proper decant. Should be fun to try again in few years. I think it will be very different.
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Just so, so good, and with along life ahead. The nose explodes out of the bottle/glass with very dark fruits, tar, earth, and some oak. The oak was definitely present on the palate, but I suspect this will integrate with time. One of the better Napa wines I've tasted in a while.
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Tasted it blind. Rich, rounded, complex yet approachable. Very yummy and drinkeable now, but does not appear to be very age-worthy. One of the top wines of the evening, but not exactly a good QPR.
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Decanted and drank over 2 hours. I really liked this wine. Dark nose of black fruit, some red fruit, chocolate, coffee and a bit of leather. The palate matched and was sweet, ripe and very well balanced. Medium finish. Very full and round. Nice.
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Very well balanced wine between the fruit, acid and tannins. Light oak notes. Personally would prefer a bit more tannic wine. This one definitely benefits from decanting.
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Medium bodied, bright garnet colored wine. Aromas of dark fruit, cherries, light oak, vanilla and leather. Excellent dark fruit flavors with a little pepper and smooth tannins thrown in. The wine is a little hot, yet has a pleasant, long finish.
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This wine was on the list at the book bindery in Fremont. Outstanding buy with only $40 mark up above retail. Very young wine that had more alcohol than fruit at this point but great wine.
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taste: strong tannin structure, good acidity, more fruit than 2007 but still balanced, lingers with tannins overwhelming the finish, could use aging other: 87% cabernet
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infanticide as they say. opened one day after taking delivery, which probably affected the experience. decanted 5 hours. dark mahogany in color. Aromas of black fruit, oak, vanilla, damp stone. the wine is tight, invariably due to its age plus the recent shipping. acid is in balance, but right now the tannins and high alcohol overshadow any fruit. I would purchase this wine, with mid 2012 as the earliest to drink. Probably 88-92 points, drink between 2012 and 2022.
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3/18/2024 - Grapetimescomin Likes this wine: 94 Points
PnP. Excellent and open immediately. Smooth tannins, beautiful dark fruit, and some secondary notes of cedar and iron. Good acidity to balance out the darkness of the cab. Had half a glass leftover for night 2 and the secondary notes really came into focus dominated by a strong iron note. Drink or Hold.
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3/10/2024 - bobadopolis Likes this wine: 94 Points
Needed about an hour in the decanter, then spectacular.
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1/26/2024 - Dan & Sharky Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wow! I thought we sat on this a bit too long…..delicious. Velvet, blackberry, and touch of earth. Bouquet is pleasant and the color is rich. I wish we had more!!
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10/7/2023 - awitz78 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking well. Dark fruit, leather, spice and bit of potpourri. Wish I bought more.
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11/6/2022 - Tonythefish wrote: 94 Points
See prior notes - at end of supposed window but I think it still has something left
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6/19/2022 - Tonythefish Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking very nicely right now - see prior notes for more details but has aged gracefully
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3/26/2022 - houstonjeff@hotmail.com Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine is complex and has lots of life left. Lots of dark fruit, tobacco, leather and charred wood. A true treat!
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12/25/2021 - Winning_Wines Likes this wine: 94 Points
This bottle is in a really sweet spot. Absolutely delicious.
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6/28/2021 - Snag One Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for an hour before pouring. Hints of pencil lead, cassis, figs, bing cherries and licorice. Wonderful layers of ripe red nectarines, figs, peppercorns, red licorice and cedar. A very nice wine that has aged well and has 5-7 years left.
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2/19/2021 - wilhelmarnor Likes this wine: 97 Points
Energetic complex nose with lots of black currents flavours. Full bodied supple taste, lots of fresh berries with an astringent agreeable aftertaste.
Aired for one hour before serving it was great accomplying our reindeer filet with a celeriac root ball, mixed vegetables a mushroom sauce and Swedish lingonberry jam. Fantastic wine!
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12/31/2020 - Sugarb Likes this wine: 96 Points
Drank our last bottle tonight, 2 years to the day since the prior bottle, and man, was it good. Completely harmonious from the nose to the palate, with a medium-long finish that was just perfect. Could not wait to get to the next sip. Opened and decanted one hour before drinking, so this is in its sweet spot, I would not dawdle, maybe give this another 18 months, tops, before it starts to lose its appeal.
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10/24/2020 - Thirsty1 Likes this wine:
A pnp end of the evening wine that showed great. Not showing it's age, it is a midnight purple with sweet fruit and cedar on the nose. Dried blueberry and a hint of olive showing up, the wine is silky smooth and supple. Lots of primary fruit still showing, the finish kept going and going. Given the great balance, this wine has quite a few years ahead of it.
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10/14/2020 - joraesque wrote: 89 Points
Seemingly sweeter than I remembered, and the half bottle started going down hill after 2 hours. I suspect these are best enjoyed fresh.
89-90+
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8/27/2020 - Tonythefish wrote: 94 Points
Glad we waited. Medium red fruit has given way to dark fruits - more plum and currant. Opened up over 30-45 minute decant. Medium weight, deep dark red color and 30 second finish with peaty leather hints
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5/10/2020 - LASF Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine has aged well. Smooth and supple. Lovely black fruits with a beautiful finish.
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3/21/2020 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 88 Points
A bit rough around the edges but much more life and interest than the 2007 Quintessa earlier in the week. Medium ruby in color. Raspberry, blueberry and white pepper on the palate. Fruit forward but a bit astringent, probably from the unresolved tannins. Full bodied with a medium finish, this just wasn’t quite as sophisticated as an earlier bottle.
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3/10/2020 - Winning_Wines Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking quite well right now. Very well balanced.
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2/14/2020 - pgrzesik Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank this for Valentines Day. This is my first experience with Quintessa. Decanted this for about 45 minutes prior to serving.
The nose comes across nicely with soft notes of baked cherry pie, black fruits, and hints of pencil shavings, and a touch of oak. The palate I would say is medium bodied, restrained, and tannins are virtually gone at this point. There is a touch too much acid coming from somewhere that takes away from the enjoyable experience. my suspicion is that these should be drank earlier because I could see the acidity pairing nicely with some big fruits on the palate when this is young. The finish is average - nothing memorable. Nonetheless - this is definitely a steakhouse wine.
This is probably starting its gentle decline. I would suggest drinking up over the next year because I do not see this improving anymore with age.
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2/10/2020 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank over two days. First day a bit reticent with some overpowering bitter pencil lead interfering with my enjoyment. Much more relaxed and integrated on second day. These may be better early than at maturity but this was my last bottle so I probably won't have a chance to experience further development. I don't think there is any rush though.
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2/8/2020 - T.E.D. wrote: 92 Points
My first experience with quint. Agree bdx in nature with leathery and gravelly notes while also showing some soft black fruit and cassis notes. Smooth and medium density. Not much tannin left.
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11/3/2019 - GFischmann Likes this wine: 94 Points
Well balanced
Oak, dark berries, leather
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10/4/2019 - BobbyN wrote:
Amazing! super silky smooth
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9/21/2019 - mflesh wrote: 94 Points
I guess it has been a while since I experienced this one as I cannot find my previous rating here. This was a fun comparison made between this wine and a 2008 William Harrison Rutherford red, a Bordeaux blend made from grapes of Quintessa's immediate neighbor to the north. Styles were extremely different. Whereas the Harrison showed a darker side of Rutherford fruit with distinct Rutherford dust, this to me seemed to have more black cherry, herbal and youthful qualities to it but the backbone did still seem to be youthful blackberry. Still quite a bit of stiff oak astringency on the finish, but Rutherford dust did shine through. I was really amazed how youthful this wine was for 11 years. This thing could go another 15 to 20 years no question. Quintessa is always a treat!!
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5/5/2019 - chuckos77 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Holding up nicely. Compared to 2012, this wine was much softer and group agreed, better flavors.
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2/17/2019 - BBerzin Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking perfectly right now, no decant necessary. Will do my best to drink remaining bottles this year. Doubt it'll improve further.
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1/11/2019 - Dooms Likes this wine: 96 Points
Took a 1.5 to dinner in Boca Grande, Florida at the Temptation. Fabulous bottle of wine. The mag is drinking perfectly right now. Lots of dark fruit, a bit of chocolate, mild tannins, some graphite and cedar is what I remember. I would advise drinking any magnums in the 1-2 years, I would not hold it any longer as I think it will start fading. It was a beautiful well balanced and approachable wine. We did not decant it. Drank it over about 2.5 hours, we had friends....
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1/1/2019 - Sugarb Likes this wine: 94 Points
Superb. Drinking perfectly right now. Balance is spot on, finish is long. Did not require much decanting.
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12/24/2018 - Snag One Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nice balance of smooth tannins and acidity. The third best of the 2007, 2008 and 2009 vertical tasting. We voted the 2007 and 2009 slightly better.
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11/17/2018 - Mortgage92 Likes this wine: 92 Points
flavors of black fruit and low acidity with very little tannins, long finish and smooth.
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10/21/2018 - napasoutherner Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is a really interesting bottle of Quintessa. I didn’t have high expectations about this wine because many that I’ve had in the past were kind of light, thin and not that robust that typically comes from a good Rutherford fruit. However this 10-year-old wind had notes impressed. Opened for 45 minutes before drinking. Notes of dark fruit graphite, spice box and a long semi rich floral bouquet. Strawberry blackberry and silky notes on the pallet, medium finish. A pleasurable wine
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9/23/2018 - Quiet Lion wrote:
This bottle didn't show well, perhaps a bit cooked although the cork looked good. Compact and tart, didn't improve over several hours in the decanter.
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4/21/2018 - cawineaux wrote: 94 Points
Decanted and drank over three hours. Perfect!
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4/19/2018 - michael47 Likes this wine: 94 Points
At 10 years percetly ready to drink. Sumptuous.
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2/19/2018 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine keeps evolving both through age and throughout the evening. Popped and poured. Full body, restrained fruit, licorice, citrus, acid showing more than I remember. Different notes changed emphasis throughout the evening. A really well made wine.
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12/29/2017 - JMFWC Likes this wine:
Dark and still a bit brooding the nose expresses red fruit, licorice and cedar. Palate still shows significant tannins but has a good minerality that mingles with the fruit. Finishes tannic. This wine still has room to grow (notes from day 2)
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11/24/2017 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 89 Points
Medium cherry color. Bright and clear. Some blueberry and raspberry on the palate but this bottle reflected more earthiness with notes of tobacco box, forest floor and cola. Seemed a bit "muddy" with indistinct layers. A nice bottle of wine but I have had other vintages that were better.
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11/11/2017 - TheThirstyYau wrote:
2 bottles now. Same and consistent note - on open, huge front, rich and stewed fruit. Fruit just dominates the palate and not very appoachable until after many hours in the decanter. Saved half bottle for next day, and drinking better - fruit still big, but mid palate coming thru to balance with fruit. Be interesting to see if the wine has the acid, tanning and structure to wait out the fruit. will see. Try again in a few years.
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10/19/2017 - Genghis88 Likes this wine: 94 Points
@ Homer with Rar + Betty
Dark garnet, brick rim, full bodied, lots of sediment
Black cherries. Slate. Some 'green moss' terrorir dark berries
Tastes like the nose. Soft and elegant. Velvety. Medium + finish
Very good wine for the price. Bought at the winery after a tasting.
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8/15/2017 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opening up nicely after its dumb phase. Much more complex now and delicious, the Rutherford fruit still showing off.
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8/13/2017 - jfaulk Likes this wine: 95 Points
All the right elements with a nice dusty finish. Still has plenty of room to grow. Cassis, blueberry, graphite & dusty leather. Extremely complex and very interesting.
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5/13/2017 - newkid17 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Birthday dinner for my wife and close friend. Opened and decanted for only 30 minutes and then consumed over 1-2 hours. This was an amazing wine. Smooth, multidimensional and had a long finish. Slighted muted nose. Lots of red fruit, graphite, and some smoke. So enjoyable. Will let my bottle sit for a little more time as I think that the best is yet to com.
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3/6/2017 - rlleigh wrote: 94 Points
Excellent
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2/20/2017 - j@$0n p€++y wrote: 91 Points
Decent, but not great. Extremely one-noted! Well-made with lots of upfront fruit intensity, without the layers, complexity or intrigue one seeks from a world-class cabernet/blend. I feel like I was missing half the wine.
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1/29/2017 - Trolson wrote: 89 Points
I agree with review below: never opened up with nose or taste.
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1/22/2017 - Pluecht Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fantastic full bodied 60 second finish bold wine. Hold.
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1/1/2017 - eteyemd wrote: 94 Points
Always over delivers. We let this decant for 2 hours and it opened up wonderfully. Truly enjoyed this one.
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12/25/2016 - Vietty Likes this wine:
Agree with previous notes regarding decanting. Had some off notes on the nose which blew off (possibly a hint of reduction). Wine didn't begin to open up until an hour or two after decanting. No sediment when poured through a metal filter. Nicely balanced Rutherford wine, dark berries, mocha. Round and integrated tannins. Good finish. Fruit starting to go into the background and secondary earthy flavors emerging, nice beginning to the mature phase. For the price point I've been favoring other wines of this vintage from Howell mountain which will outlast the Quintessa in the long run.
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11/2/2016 - Quiet Lion wrote:
This wine may be in a dumb phase right now, as the last two bottles didn't seem to open up over two hours of decanting and drinking.
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8/3/2016 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 93 Points
Suggest one-hour decant.
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5/28/2016 - srubinsky wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for about and hour before the first taste. It was pretty good, but not very approachable. Another 30 minutes or so and it opened up phenomenally. I was incredibly impressed. Wonderful wine.
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5/27/2016 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 93 Points
This bottle took much longer to open up than the previous one. Decanted 90 minutes but took another hour to overcome tightness. Again too much heat, but the balance of flavor outside of that still made the wine exceptional.
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5/1/2016 - Sugarb Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very good, not as special as the '03 we had a few months back. Will benefit from more time in the bottle and a little longer decant (did 3 hrs this time). Beautiful reddish color, nose not very strong.
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3/15/2016 - KendraPM wrote: 95 Points
Wow! As perfect as a wine can get.
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1/16/2016 - jimyeni Likes this wine: 91 Points
For wife's birthday. Lots of fruit, nice acidity, wish it was a touch more silky. Very good.
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12/24/2015 - NapaInBaltimore Likes this wine: 96 Points
Have to admit, I really liked this wine. Very nice Bordeaux-style complexity. Terrific fruit. Medium acidity. Smooth, lingering tannins went well with Christmas prime rib. Decanted about 3 hours, which seemed to allow it to open up nicely. Drinking well now, and should keep improving for the next few years.
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12/19/2015 - napasoutherner wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful and well structured wine. Still a little tight and needs a couple of more years. Light oak and notes of blue fruit. Medium finish
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12/16/2015 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 96 Points
Inky red, violet berry nose, beautiful right out of the bottle. Ready to drink although I don't think it's going anywhere anytime soon. Majestic deep extraction, a hint more alcohol than I like but impossible not to like. A special occasion or a guilty pleasure, take your pick.
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12/13/2015 - MemorialWineFan Likes this wine: 92 Points
Started off very inky. With time became even better. Tried it with a 2000. Hang onto these. The 2000 was wonderful which such a great nose to it.
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11/28/2015 - BordeauxBoy Likes this wine: 94 Points
This blend has some really good terrior to go along with the fruit. Not a big juicy fruit cab at all rather a really nice balance of all the right characters to make you think Bordeaux if this had been a blind tasting. Very Nice. Drink in next 5 years.
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11/11/2015 - janthony20 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Really great nose. Opened beautifully and was amazing. Soft yet still so flavorful. Jammy and full. Wish I had more!
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9/16/2015 - chuckos77 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great balanced blend that always delivers. Big nose and is drinking nice right now but could stay laying down for another 3-5 years for sure.
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4/26/2015 - Acohen Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great purity of fruit with deep plum, cassis, berry and fabulous rich finish
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1/25/2015 - LarryEsh wrote: 94 Points
Loved it. Shared with friends. Always as good as it gets.
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1/1/2015 - Encinitas_Joe wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Overall a solid wine but a little underwhelming. Seems like it could improve with a little more time but not certain that it ever gets to where I would expect it to be based on price. This one would lose head to head with several others in the cellar that cost less. To be clear, this is a nice wine but just not a great wine.
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11/29/2014 - chuckos77 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 2 1/2 hours. Drank elegantly with good balance. Always one my favorites.
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10/11/2014 - darrenmass wrote: 92 Points
Excellent after 30-45 mins decanted. One of my favorite.
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8/17/2014 - jfox724 wrote: 91 Points
Went great with some steak tonight.
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7/26/2014 - mchanin4 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened with friends at local Italian rest. Took awhile to open up, but within 45 minutes the rich fruit and long finish asserted itself. Next time I'll decant it for at least an hour.
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3/1/2014 - CultJunkie03 wrote: 91 Points
91-92+ still a lot of evolution potential left for this- hold another 7 years - the 09 and 10 were definitely more open in this showing..still a beautiful wine.
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2/19/2014 - phattyjrb wrote: 88 Points
Decanted for 1.5 hrs. Looking forward to trying again in 3 years.
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2/15/2014 - Pluecht wrote: 94 Points
What else could you expect from this vintner. Stunning.
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12/26/2013 - Tonythefish wrote: 93 Points
Strawberry/cherry overtones. Really deep purple red color. Opened nicely over the hour - balanced and smooth tannins. Still has time to get better
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11/28/2013 - M. Anthony Lee Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep purple to the rim. A nose of sweet vanilla, blueberry jam, blackberries, pencil shavings, and cocoa. Full mouth feel, bursting with blueberries, blackberries, milk chocolate, and tar. This wine has a lot of life yet.
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6/28/2013 - rhialto wrote: 94 Points
Dynamite. Tasty and balanced. Really swell.
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5/22/2013 - K28226 wrote: 93 Points
Raspberry/strawberry bouquet. Nice cherry/ berry fruit forward with perfect acidity that fades with tobacco earthy flavor. Great balance, very interesting in terms of complexity . Early, approachable with proper decant. Should be fun to try again in few years. I think it will be very different.
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5/8/2013 - 88rebel wrote: 94 Points
Enjoyed at del Frisco's in new York. Awesome wine
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3/29/2013 - jefe-alto wrote: 93 Points
Soft and plush. Really opens up after an hour.
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3/3/2013 - mfrankel2 wrote: 92 Points
Very well balanced. Just the slightest hint of tannins and oak. Lots of dark fruit. Soft, round finish.
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2/2/2013 - RyanJames Likes this wine: 93 Points
Just so, so good, and with along life ahead. The nose explodes out of the bottle/glass with very dark fruits, tar, earth, and some oak. The oak was definitely present on the palate, but I suspect this will integrate with time. One of the better Napa wines I've tasted in a while.
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1/13/2013 - TannicBeast Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasted it blind. Rich, rounded, complex yet approachable. Very yummy and drinkeable now, but does not appear to be very age-worthy. One of the top wines of the evening, but not exactly a good QPR.
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12/15/2012 - johnh1001 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted and drank over 2 hours. I really liked this wine. Dark nose of black fruit, some red fruit, chocolate, coffee and a bit of leather. The palate matched and was sweet, ripe and very well balanced. Medium finish. Very full and round. Nice.
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10/15/2012 - Tres wrote: 95 Points
Very well balanced wine between the fruit, acid and tannins. Light oak notes. Personally would prefer a bit more tannic wine. This one definitely benefits from decanting.
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5/2/2012 - Lee Fining wrote: 92 Points
Medium bodied, bright garnet colored wine. Aromas of dark fruit, cherries, light oak, vanilla and leather. Excellent dark fruit flavors with a little pepper and smooth tannins thrown in. The wine is a little hot, yet has a pleasant, long finish.
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4/1/2012 - tp096255 wrote: 89 Points
Wally's California All-Stars 2012
Disappointing. Bad QPR for all.
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11/25/2011 - tonysmith72 wrote: 92 Points
This wine was on the list at the book bindery in Fremont. Outstanding buy with only $40 mark up above retail. Very young wine that had more alcohol than fruit at this point but great wine.
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10/23/2011 - CultCabKing wrote: 90 Points
GREAT structure, fruit balance is really good. long, long finish. very light nose.
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10/1/2011 - pizzasomm wrote:
taste: strong tannin structure, good acidity, more fruit than 2007 but still balanced, lingers with tannins overwhelming the finish, could use aging
other: 87% cabernet
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9/16/2011 - eteyemd wrote: 92 Points
Better than expected opening this soon. Will probably lay it down for another year before having another bottle.
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5/7/2011 - thash wrote: 91 Points
Excellent. Pepper nose. A point lower than the 2007 in my book.
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4/7/2011 - asaselzer Likes this wine:
infanticide as they say. opened one day after taking delivery, which probably affected the experience. decanted 5 hours. dark mahogany in color. Aromas of black fruit, oak, vanilla, damp stone. the wine is tight, invariably due to its age plus the recent shipping. acid is in balance, but right now the tannins and high alcohol overshadow any fruit. I would purchase this wine, with mid 2012 as the earliest to drink. Probably 88-92 points, drink between 2012 and 2022.
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