This bottle was drunk last night with friends side-by-side a 2018 Vinedo Chadwick. This bottle was very varietal in flavors with medium body. The tannins are firm so this wine will only improve over the next 15 years. This wine was decanted for three hours. Overall this is a good wine - up to expectations. I liked the Chadwick a bit better since it was more elegant in its early age.
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Definitively too young to be opened right now, but altogether a really great bottle with some strong potential behind it. By the end of 7 hours sitting open, it was drinking pretty well. Very fruit-forward, with blackberry and maybe blueberry coming to the fore. Some violet notes, too. Strong structure. It's a big wine, and it needs 5 more years at least to show well
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A really enjoyable wine overall. All of the expected full Napa fruit but in good balance. I'd recommend decanting for an hour. Improvement enjoyed throughout the evening makes me wonder if the best years are ahead.
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From .375, 2 hour decant. Clear, dark purple color, med/long legs. Ideal exceptional nose, Bordeaux Blend plus some Carmenere. This is superb wine. Unbelievable balance and integration, med body with perfect a soft/feminine smoothness. Tannins resolved, incredibly drinkable with no rough edges whatsoever. Mixed fruit profile and so restrained, one could drink an entire bottle with no effort. Delicious and already in a good drinking window. Nothing off with a more restrained almost French style. Exceptional stuff, nothing off. $300 retail, $254 sale.
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Ugh. Meant to open a 14 and grabbed the 18 instead. This vintage needs more time than most quintessa vintages. That said very well structured, beautiful fruit and complex perfumed nose. Back end is still astringent and tannic but it’ll come around.
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Very well balanced with a good amount of extraction offset by good acidity. The fruit is still very fresh and there are no aspects of this wine overwhelming any other.
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PnP - My niece who loves Quintessa asked me if we could do a mini-vertical....I originally could not locate the 13s, so we opened a 2014, a 2016 and a 2018. Of the three, the 2014 was the most approachable, although all three were drinking well, especially if you like hedonistic fruit (which I don't mind, although I slightly prefer a balance between fruit and secondary flavors). The 2016 was the most disappointing (although still good) as it seemed to be slightly shutting down...flavors all there, but slightly muted. There 2018 still had lots of fruit and showed lots of structure. You can tell this will be a great wine, but needs time.
2018 - Nose showed violets, purple and red fruit and spice. Palate was layered with red and blue fruit, bramble, blood and gravel, with tobacco, vanilla and sweet toasted oak. Very structured, but still slightly disjointed (although drinking quite well). You can tell this will get better (my guess is that it will be the best of the three wines in time.) 94+ today, and my second favorite Quintessa of the night!
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Inky black color, no light passes through it. Super concentrated on the palate at first taste. After that, still good but doesn’t have a ton more to offer. Still an excellent wine and very enjoyable but for the price I wouldn't do it again.
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Epic Napa Trip - Day 6: Tasted at Quintessa - We are sitting outside on gorgeous afternoon at Quintessa, in a open glass structure on top of a hill that overlooks the lake and the vineyard...a perfect setting to taste Quintessa!
As a back note, this wine is one of my niece's favorite wines, so I buy it for her (plus I drink it with her, so it is win-win!). I had purchased a case of the 2018, so I was anxious to taste it, especially because I have loved all the 18s I tasted so far! Well, this wine did not disappoint!
Nose was fragrant and showed plenty of red fruit, bramble, slate and spice. Palate showed layers of red and blue fruit, gravel, iron and some violets and hints of anise, vanilla and sweet tobacco. This wine is super structured (like many 18s I have tasted) and, while delicious now, will definitely get better as everything integrates and some secondary flavors start sharing the spotlight.
Tasting this makes me glad I bought some! 95 today and should improve!
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Napa trip day 6: Drank a glass over 45 minutes overlooking the vineyards with a winery rep. Vibrant fruit, pronounced red licorice, tannins are slightly clunky right now. Needs time.
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Pretty dark purple with rose at the edges. A little must with sharp mixed and red berries and black pepper on the nose. Surprisingly thin-bodied with notes of sour cherries, vanillin, bing cherries, and medicinal notes.
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92% Cabernet Sauvignon 2% Merlot 3% Cabernet Franc 2% Carmenere 1% Petit Verdot from estate vineyards at the foot of the Vaca Mountain range, comprising an assemblage of hills and valleys with a variety of soils and micro-climates. Organic and biodynamic farming practiced. Aged 20 months in French oak barrels (62% new). 14.5% Abv. Proprietors: Valeria and Augustin Huneeus Winemaker: Rebekah Wineburg
A(ccuray)=2: Med deep ruby/red. Opulent, fragrant Cab blend. B(alance)=3: Fully integrated components in harmony. C(omplexity)=2: Dark berries, fresh herbs, chocolate, graphite. D(epth)=2: Plush mouthfeel. Expansive palate and finish.
Wine Tally Score [2,3,2,2]= 9/10
Benchmark Napa red.
For story-telling label graphics, see: [https://www.instagram.com/p/CUOv5m0LnX7/] [https://www.facebook.com/WineTally/] For a unique multimedia resource, see [https://winetally.wixsite.com/vingnette]
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PnP a 375mL to see what it is all about. Quintessa was one of the wines I bought that was over $100. That was a big deal to me back in the mid 2000s. I recently had that bottle (04 vintage) last year and it was enjoyable.
Unfortunately this is going to be my last purchase from Quintessa. I was told that I need to be more selective about where the "wine budget" dollars go to. So, what do I do? I buy more than what I should have. Lol. Is this a PG site? Well, it reminded me of the time you break up with someone and they ask for one last, you know what...for old times sake. I got the email from Quintessa for the 18' and I obliged with getting two 750s and two 375s...for old times sake. Haha.
Well, I wasn't disappointed. It is very young and quite tannic at this stage. On the nose, bright cherries, iron bar, stone dust, and some beautiful blue fruit as well. Very similar notes on the palate. Nice tannins that indicate it is going to age quite nicely. This feels slightly restrained compared to some other 18s I've tasted. The alcohol was a bit lower than I see in other wines at 14.5% (it felt a bit less than that fyi) in the 18 vintage. The addition of carmanere felt like it gave the wine a different feel. Not quite Bordeaux, not quite Napa meritage, but more like a blend that shows the whole of the Quintessa. As the wine sat in glass, it started to open up a but more as it got to room temp. The wine started to feel like modern Napa and despite the obvious tannins, they were pleasant and the fruit made up for it. 94+. Is it 99JS? No way. Is it 93WS? I say it is better than that. Was it worth it? Ask me in 5 years.
3/30/2024 - DrELW Likes this wine: 93 Points
This bottle was drunk last night with friends side-by-side a 2018 Vinedo Chadwick. This bottle was very varietal in flavors with medium body. The tannins are firm so this wine will only improve over the next 15 years. This wine was decanted for three hours. Overall this is a good wine - up to expectations. I liked the Chadwick a bit better since it was more elegant in its early age.
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2/16/2024 - MAkita Likes this wine: 94 Points
Definitively too young to be opened right now, but altogether a really great bottle with some strong potential behind it. By the end of 7 hours sitting open, it was drinking pretty well. Very fruit-forward, with blackberry and maybe blueberry coming to the fore. Some violet notes, too. Strong structure. It's a big wine, and it needs 5 more years at least to show well
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1/13/2024 - KTelaak_Buffalo Likes this wine: 93 Points
A really enjoyable wine overall. All of the expected full Napa fruit but in good balance. I'd recommend decanting for an hour. Improvement enjoyed throughout the evening makes me wonder if the best years are ahead.
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11/17/2023 - Barry Notes Likes this wine: 94 Points
From .375, 2 hour decant. Clear, dark purple color, med/long legs. Ideal exceptional nose, Bordeaux Blend plus some Carmenere. This is superb wine. Unbelievable balance and integration, med body with perfect a soft/feminine smoothness. Tannins resolved, incredibly drinkable with no rough edges whatsoever. Mixed fruit profile and so restrained, one could drink an entire bottle with no effort. Delicious and already in a good drinking window. Nothing off with a more restrained almost French style. Exceptional stuff, nothing off. $300 retail, $254 sale.
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11/23/2022 - jimyeni Likes this wine: 97 Points
Ugh. Meant to open a 14 and grabbed the 18 instead. This vintage needs more time than most quintessa vintages. That said very well structured, beautiful fruit and complex perfumed nose. Back end is still astringent and tannic but it’ll come around.
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10/16/2022 - cwiebe Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very well balanced with a good amount of extraction offset by good acidity. The fruit is still very fresh and there are no aspects of this wine overwhelming any other.
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10/6/2022 - Mattkrip68 wrote: 95 Points
Getting better as time goes on.
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8/3/2022 - Freestyler1 wrote:
Mike Felix ‘USC Thank you’
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7/20/2022 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 94 Points
PnP - My niece who loves Quintessa asked me if we could do a mini-vertical....I originally could not locate the 13s, so we opened a 2014, a 2016 and a 2018. Of the three, the 2014 was the most approachable, although all three were drinking well, especially if you like hedonistic fruit (which I don't mind, although I slightly prefer a balance between fruit and secondary flavors). The 2016 was the most disappointing (although still good) as it seemed to be slightly shutting down...flavors all there, but slightly muted. There 2018 still had lots of fruit and showed lots of structure. You can tell this will be a great wine, but needs time.
2018 - Nose showed violets, purple and red fruit and spice. Palate was layered with red and blue fruit, bramble, blood and gravel, with tobacco, vanilla and sweet toasted oak. Very structured, but still slightly disjointed (although drinking quite well). You can tell this will get better (my guess is that it will be the best of the three wines in time.) 94+ today, and my second favorite Quintessa of the night!
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7/17/2022 - sh6k Likes this wine: 93 Points
Inky black color, no light passes through it. Super concentrated on the palate at first taste. After that, still good but doesn’t have a ton more to offer. Still an excellent wine and very enjoyable but for the price I wouldn't do it again.
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6/19/2022 - ccbradley Likes this wine: 96 Points
Needs more bottle time or at least 90 minutes in the decanter.
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5/30/2022 - Cabforme Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still too young way too tannic. Try again in 3 years or so.
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12/30/2021 - KendraPM wrote: 92 Points
Enjoyed with petite filets at Flemings great body and finish. Balanced fruit
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12/11/2021 - jimyeni Likes this wine: 94 Points
Ok this bad boy is very tannic at this point but the potential is super clear. Precise and layered. This will reward the patient.
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12/10/2021 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 95 Points
Epic Napa Trip - Day 6: Tasted at Quintessa - We are sitting outside on gorgeous afternoon at Quintessa, in a open glass structure on top of a hill that overlooks the lake and the vineyard...a perfect setting to taste Quintessa!
As a back note, this wine is one of my niece's favorite wines, so I buy it for her (plus I drink it with her, so it is win-win!). I had purchased a case of the 2018, so I was anxious to taste it, especially because I have loved all the 18s I tasted so far! Well, this wine did not disappoint!
Nose was fragrant and showed plenty of red fruit, bramble, slate and spice. Palate showed layers of red and blue fruit, gravel, iron and some violets and hints of anise, vanilla and sweet tobacco. This wine is super structured (like many 18s I have tasted) and, while delicious now, will definitely get better as everything integrates and some secondary flavors start sharing the spotlight.
Tasting this makes me glad I bought some! 95 today and should improve!
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12/10/2021 - galewskj wrote: 91 Points
Napa trip day 6: Drank a glass over 45 minutes overlooking the vineyards with a winery rep. Vibrant fruit, pronounced red licorice, tannins are slightly clunky right now. Needs time.
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11/14/2021 - WineFrog09 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very young but still approachable. Tasted alongside 2011, 2014 and 2016.
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10/21/2021 - Tdamato wrote:
Whoops.
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10/9/2021 - TexasBob Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pretty dark purple with rose at the edges. A little must with sharp mixed and red berries and black pepper on the nose. Surprisingly thin-bodied with notes of sour cherries, vanillin, bing cherries, and medicinal notes.
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9/29/2021 - 559Cheers Likes this wine: 92 Points
Best tasted today. Very expressive, nice showing. Nose showing well, palette as well. Savory aspect, nori, subdued fruit.
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9/4/2021 - gjsolis wrote: 92 Points
Delish! Great color, fruit forward, oak tint, great with seafood/meat.
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9/3/2021 - WineTally Likes this wine:
92% Cabernet Sauvignon
2% Merlot
3% Cabernet Franc
2% Carmenere
1% Petit Verdot
from estate vineyards at the foot of the Vaca Mountain range,
comprising an assemblage of hills and valleys with a variety of soils and micro-climates.
Organic and biodynamic farming practiced.
Aged 20 months in French oak barrels (62% new).
14.5% Abv.
Proprietors: Valeria and Augustin Huneeus
Winemaker: Rebekah Wineburg
A(ccuray)=2: Med deep ruby/red. Opulent, fragrant Cab blend.
B(alance)=3: Fully integrated components in harmony.
C(omplexity)=2: Dark berries, fresh herbs, chocolate, graphite.
D(epth)=2: Plush mouthfeel. Expansive palate and finish.
Wine Tally Score [2,3,2,2]= 9/10
Benchmark Napa red.
For story-telling label graphics, see:
[https://www.instagram.com/p/CUOv5m0LnX7/]
[https://www.facebook.com/WineTally/]
For a unique multimedia resource, see
[https://winetally.wixsite.com/vingnette]
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8/23/2021 - bsumoba Likes this wine: 94 Points
PnP a 375mL to see what it is all about. Quintessa was one of the wines I bought that was over $100. That was a big deal to me back in the mid 2000s. I recently had that bottle (04 vintage) last year and it was enjoyable.
Unfortunately this is going to be my last purchase from Quintessa. I was told that I need to be more selective about where the "wine budget" dollars go to. So, what do I do? I buy more than what I should have. Lol. Is this a PG site? Well, it reminded me of the time you break up with someone and they ask for one last, you know what...for old times sake. I got the email from Quintessa for the 18' and I obliged with getting two 750s and two 375s...for old times sake. Haha.
Well, I wasn't disappointed. It is very young and quite tannic at this stage. On the nose, bright cherries, iron bar, stone dust, and some beautiful blue fruit as well. Very similar notes on the palate. Nice tannins that indicate it is going to age quite nicely. This feels slightly restrained compared to some other 18s I've tasted. The alcohol was a bit lower than I see in other wines at 14.5% (it felt a bit less than that fyi) in the 18 vintage. The addition of carmanere felt like it gave the wine a different feel. Not quite Bordeaux, not quite Napa meritage, but more like a blend that shows the whole of the Quintessa. As the wine sat in glass, it started to open up a but more as it got to room temp. The wine started to feel like modern Napa and despite the obvious tannins, they were pleasant and the fruit made up for it. 94+. Is it 99JS? No way. Is it 93WS? I say it is better than that. Was it worth it? Ask me in 5 years.
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2/6/2021 - Kthorpla Likes this wine: 99 Points
Excellent vintage and possibly the best I’ve tasted from this winemaker.
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