Decanted 1 hour prior. Notes of chocolate, tobacco, dark fruit. Wine significantly improved after the 1.5 hour mark. This is in a great spot right now.
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Double decanted for about 30 minutes and it was a bit acid still. Had it with Reserved Filet Mignon and peppers. It paired much better with the vegetables than the meat.
It got much better towards the end, after the 1 hour mark.
Drink or hold.
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Bright fruit and some dusty spice on the nose. A bit less bold than the last one so maybe showing its age. Tannins are gone and some dark fruit with a lingering finish.
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Wow once again (thanks to Bob D) this was a big time wine. Earthy, some tobacco, currants, blackberry, and fresh asphalt. Such a long finish with a peppery lingering feel.
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Decanted for two hours. Expressive nose consisting of black peppercorns, dried figs, pencil shavings and blueberries. Wonderful mouthfeel consisting of cassis, blueberries, toast, mint and figs. This wine has aged beautifully.
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This was quite enjoyable today. All of the richness you would expect from a Napa BDX blend. Polished and well integrated, still a hint of barrel toast but no outright oaky notes and it remains in balance. If there is a flaw, it’s for being monochromatic, but still quite rich and delicious. Go for it!
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Tasted blind. Bordeaux blend but from where? Lots of fruit here, and fairly ripe. Thinking CA or Washington, perhaps. Very structured and young. Well made, wine.
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Didn't decant. I probably would have enjoyed even more. Regardless, I still enjoy this juice-- still one of my favorites. Dark inky hue. Dark fruity nose, graphite, cedar nose. Dark fruit, well structured, long finish, very enjoyable bottle to drink with or without food.
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2007 I just opened 8/13/21. Very deep rich color with floral notes. Very tight opening this wine at 14 years this needs time to decant and open up. Thick viscosity as this clings to my glass as I swirl around this wine. The cork was still looking like new After 10 minutes a small sip is still very tight and chewy. I notice the oak more than the fruit yet. It’s not very fruit forward yet and very dry but I can already tell there’s some complexity that should come out once this opens up. After opening up for 40 minutes some fruits start to come forward with layers of complexity and lingering but still tight . Now after 1 hour and 10 minutes it’s got some nice layers of fruit and more approachable. Very long lingering finish with some tannins still pronounced Very nice and becoming more enjoyable now Earthy and rich seems full bodied and not super smooth but still very yummy if you like dry wines
After 2 hours it’s delicious and layers of fruits like plum and black cherry nuances and lingering flavors for minutes are forthcoming
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Decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberry, black cherry, currant, cedar, graphite and spice. Black fruit, cedar, graphite, spice on the palate. Finishes with good length. Medium to full bodied. Served with filet Béarnaise.
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Red fruit centric (sweet strawberry). Soft tannins but still some acidity/ harshness on the front. Goof for a pop and pour but could warrant some time open to mellow. Nonetheless it’s time to drink these.
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Nose burst with fruits with a touch of minerality. However, the palette failed to impress and the finish went flat very quickly. I tasted the wine blind and was surprised to find this Quintessa perform so poorly.
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What a beaut! Originally concerned it might be too old given heat of 2007, I was wrong. Can go for another 5-7 years. A sublime example of Napa meets Bordeaux. Plush velvety dark refined fruit, refined Rutherford dusty tannins, hint of mocha, cigar box, and a hit of dry dirt. and enough acid, still, to provide backbone. It’s 13 years old and still chugging along. Quintessential!
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Decanted for 90 minutes. Probably a mistake as this was a bit flat. Medium purple color. Raspberry, blueberry, tea, mushroom and a touch of cedar on the palate. Medium to light in body. Very Bordeaux like as expected with a medium finish.
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Quite surprised as previous bottle lacked the expected flavors. Thought 2007 may have been starting a downhill slide. Took advice of fellow trackers and popped and poured, glad I did. This wine doesn’t need much decant. Think last bottle was decanted too long. Interesting note and thanks to those who suggested.
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In OCNJ for Rowena's birthday celebration. From a magnum, decanted and rebottled, was open for close to 3 hours before drinking. This followed a 2006 Spottswoode.
Vibrant purple/ruby color. Nose was showing red fruits, vanilla oak, earth. Ripe palate showing dark cherry/chocolate, black raspberry, asphalt, oak. Rich through the mid palate, fairly strong acidity still. Full bodied and long finish (30 secs)
Ripe and sweet, less restrained than other Quintessa bottles I have had...more classically "Napa" if trying to find a style definition. I recall 07 being a riper vintage, which may be showing now. Magnum format aged well. Properly stored bottles have a way to go - although not sure this improves much from here
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Decanted 2 hour. I think a splash decant is a better strategy IMO. Too much bitter for me coming out later in the drink with the decant. Good amount of acid on this gal still. Dark ruby red. Big ripe dark red fruit, cherry, cotton candy, powder sugar, vanilla cream on the nose. Flavors, a bit of alcohol and tannins biting. Cherry, raspberry, over ripe strawberry, some bitter vegi broccoli or hint of spinach on the back end, long 25 second finish. Acid medium plus, weight medium. Different than the last bottles.
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Wow this is an awesome experience tonight. Earthy, some tobacco, currants, blackberry, and fresh asphalt. Such a long finish with a peppery lingering feel.
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This wine was fabulous. Opens up with a smooth taste of licorice and Spice. This need to be decanted for at least 6 hours. I found that it tasted even better the following night.
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PNP this half bottle on a special picnic with some good cheese. Great nose of solid blackberries, just a bit of dust/earth. Nice nose right in that first glass.
Nice blackberry taste slightly muted fruit, bit of cassis, maybe some cocoa....really excellent balance, good acidity and a fun long finish. I was laughing at the way the finish marched down my tongue and just turned it all to velvet. Love that!! Not a huge power wine IMO, but worked very well with our late afternoon picnic cheese spread. I was not laughing when I wanted another glass from the half bottle that was now empty. No idea what I was thinking when I bought a half bottle!!
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Splash decanted. This wine is drinking out of this world right now. Big, chewy, black and red fruits. Just a lovely wine for a steak. Acid is integrated well. Seems to be peaking or maybe has a couple more years. IMO drink now and over the next couple years. Very happy I have 4 more.
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PNP Wow. Still in very good shape. Alcohol is a bit strong, but drinking extremely well. Pepper, blackberry, black currant, some slate, but very fruit driven nose and flavors. Some smokiness. Long finish, good mouth coating. Some roast meat nose. Very good wine. Several years left IMO.
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Still has a few years for peak tastiness in my opinion. Tannins, alcohol, fruit, acid all wet balanced as you would expect at this price point. We loved it.
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I found this also underwhelming. It was opened and given about an hour of slow ox. Whiff of some alcohol on the aromatic. While not thick or heavy, it did for me exhibit a pruny, sweet quality that I just don't enjoy. Finished with some mint and an inky quality.
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Blake Brown in the OC - Version 2.0 (The Winery, Newport Beach, CA): First thing that caught my eye was the structure. This is a solid built wine and should age, it showed very youthful tonight. It's your classic cocoa and dark cassis profile and enjoyable. If I owned, hold for another 5 years and let the pieces evolve even more. Nice.
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Still drinking very young. Beautiful mountain fruit as always. Decanted and served. It evolved over two hours, never quite coming into balance but still very enjoyable.
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Still had a lot of room to run. Drank beautifully with loads of aroma and lasting finish. You're fine to lay this gem down for another 3-5 with good storage.
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We decanted this bottle for an hour before pouring. Nice color and hue of dark burgundy color. Nice nose consisting of black cherries, mint, toast, red figs and shaved pencils. This wine still has excellent structure but is finessed. The wine has excellent mouthfeel consisting of ripe figs, bing cherries, tobacco, mint, toast and spices. This wine still has 4-6 years left in the cellar.
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this was a little disappointing relative to other quintessas...had the typical elegance, refinement, and linearity....but the flavor profile was all over the place and I couldn't get into it as much as in the past.
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Had side by side with 2005 Meerlust Bordeaux blend- both decanted for 3 hours. Clearly the Quintessa was the favorite. I am sorry to see this as my last bottle. The fruit was strong, good balance of fruit, acid, tannin. Outstanding nose giving pleasant indication of wine to come.
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rank Chateau Margaux 1976; 2007 Neal and 2007 Quintessa side by side over the evening with good wine friends. The Neal cam out slightly ahead of the Margaux although a totally different taste. Unfortunately the Quintessa was slightly corked so it didn't fair well. I think all 3 are ready to drink now.
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Very tight and acidic when first tasted 15 min after opening, but after an hour the deep flavors emerged with a beautiful balance of earth, mocha, dark fruit, and complimentary tannins. This wine should present itself well for another decade.
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Wow! 10 years of aging and this wine has matured beautifully. The dark ruby color, cherry and bark bouquet, and soft, smooth texture from start to finish...no edge, bite or harsh bitter tannins. Perfect 10 year wine for my 10th wedding anniversary.
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Silky black fruit, candied red fruit, cassis, and spice. Fruit seems more lively and fresh than other Quintessa I've had around this age. Still a bit tannic and short on the finish. Would guess it will hit its peak in 2 or 3 years.
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Boy is this a balanced wine at the age. Tannins are very muted after 20 minutes. Black fruit and nice plum in background hints on anise in the mid palate and very light dust in the finish. Not sure if this is going to get much better.
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decanted for 3 hours..very nicely aged, can't imagine it getting much better than this. Had with grilled ribeyes, along with a Caymus Special Selection crowd was split on 'their favorite"
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Wine is about 3-4 years from peak. Wine poured a slight violet color in the glass with a little mild haziness. Wine wasn't too expressive in the bottle, but once it was out of the bottle, it smelled like a Cali cab with some aged blackberry and some earthy funk. On the palate is more of an old world, aged SuperTuscan wine. Blackberry and licorice on the front, with power and intensity. Hint of earthy funk all the way through. The middle is spice, grilled meat... and turned rather dark. Finished with a fine grit tannin and blackberry. Made in an old world style. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed this one. Usually we move on to another, but we stopped at this one and called it good. POWER, and LONG. Wow....I wish I had 12 more of these, but this was my only one. Drink window 2013-2024.
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Always a delight. While this is a comfortable 8 years old, and wonderful, it will improve with more time. I suggest another 2-3 years, minimum. If you pop it, decant it for at least 1-2 hours, it is worth the wait.
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Within the first hour I struggled to give this 91 points, with an over abundance of tart red fruit. Although it exhibited evidence of being well made, it didn't show depth and complexity that was expected.
Fast forward two hours, and that all changed. The red fruits loosened up, and the tannins became really interesting--silky and feminine in the mid palate, yet firm, grippy, and lingering afterward.
Notes of mocha, allspice, cola, graphite, dark cherry.
Appears to have at least 5, and maybe another 10-15 years of aging potential, but no need to hold back. Just be sure to give it a couple of hours of decanting time.
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Drinking beautifully now. Surprisingly lush for Quintessa, which oftentimes has more elegance/restraint. Bright red fruit up front with subtle hints of age in the midpalate. Silky tannin, medium length. Could have held it for another year, but clearly in its window.
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Ready to drink. Will likley develop a little bit more complexity in a year or two but pretty damn good now - still has a little more fruit that time will cure :-)
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Friend opened his 750ml about 7 hrs before it was served. If you're familiar with Quintessa, I'd confirm for you that this showed quite well (coming from an "Old World guy," this is high praise indeed!). It's still so young that I do believe all of that time opened/prepped was quite necessary for peak performance. No rush here!
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This wine is excellent. It may be at the early stage of its drinking window, but the fruity flavors came through consistently throughout our delicious meal at a fine Italian restaurant. The wine worked well with veal, fish and pasta. Only mildly tannic upon opening and smoothed out quickly. Good to the last drop and compared very favorably with a 12 year old Bordeaux that we also drank with this meal.
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An excellent example of (i) Cabernet Sauvignon and (ii) Napa Valley. If someone wanted to know what great Napa Valley Cabernet tastes like, I'd suggest this wine. It shows pure, fresh, Cabernet typicity (i.e., it tastes like Cabernet is supposed to taste). And it has the richness and lushness that Napa Valley should add to the bottle. I like this wine for what it is, and appreciate it for what it isn't -- it is not an over-the-top, pump-up-the-volume, hangover Napa Cab. Oak is well integrated, letting the currants and kiss of sweet cedar show through. It's rounding out nicely, and the tannins are soft. Recommended.
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Loads of blueberry and ripe black fruit with adequate acidity and perfect balance and sweet tannins. I would give anther 4-5 years to unwrap the tannins from the pure fruit that the wine carries.
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With about an hour of air time this bottle was amazing. Rutheford all the way on the nose, dust, ash, earth. The palate gave way to cherry earthiness. Medium + finish.
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This wine has put on considerable weight since the last bottle 2 1/2 years ago. PAP but drank over the course of 3 hours (still have some for tomorrow). Blue fruit, very dark purple. Secondary hints of olive starting to show as well as wood. Extremely focused with ginsu sharp precision, so the focus, for me, took away from some of the complexity. Quick finish but not lacking. Good, getting better, heading for great. It will be in an incredible window in another year or two.
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perfectly dusty. big fruit and some caramel and cinnamon as well. very good even right out of the bottle but gets better with a couple hours of aeration
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Decanted for several hours, definitely need it. Solid mid-palate and a long finish. Much better than earlier vintages, yet a bit disappointing for 2007 in general. Not a great value at this price range, could see paying 85 or under.
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Dark ruby-garnet color. Pleasing nose showing molasses, cinnamon, and deep dark fruit. Stemmy, dark fruit on the palate, with silky but firm tannins. This should develop more interest over 6 to 10 years, but there is tremendous potential here. An Old World style that I enjoyed very much and would love to revisit in the future. Very similar to a good Almaviva.
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Oaky, ripe, jammy berries, licorice, medium/full bodied with a jammy finish that displayed a touch of heat. I would not age this wine, as it seems to lack the stuffing for much development.
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Bright, medium garnet color. Aromas of very appealing dark fruit, moderate oak and a sense of sweetness. Fruit is front and center on the palate with an ever so slight tartness. Long finish.
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Slow-O 3 hours. Ripe, sweet and dense with plenty of blackberries, melted chocolate and vanilla bean that lead to a finish that tries to be seamless but has not yet integrated enough. Maybe try it again in 3 or 5 years. Kind of hard to get past all the expensive oak treatment. Right now, it's just not that interesting. Considering the price tag, it's a HUGE pass.
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A little disappointed. I've had several of the other vintages of Q, but this seemed more watered down. No real complexity of flavor. If this was a $50 bottle I'd give it a 93, but at the $100 price point I was no happy.
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This is a a big cab but balanced well, I'll leave the rest for a few years. There is a fair amount of suspended particles that need to settle out...should be no trouble to age for many more years. At this pricepoint the QPR doesn't seem too good...I'd buy more of little brother Faust.
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From Magnum. I had this wine in June from a 750 ml and today's experience was quite similar. Very refined but pure and focused black fruits. Nicely balanced and not flabby whatsoever. Seems ready to go now.
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From a magnum. Decanted and aired for about 1 hour. Still rather closed, but showing big, ripe, lush fruits with a full body, nice balance and a plush mouthfeel. There is just a hint of minerality, earth and oak, but definitely has not yet blossomed into what it will become. 91+ with upside
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Pop and poured which was most likely a mistake. Had that dark, cloudy Quintessa look in the glass. There was very little in this nose. The wine was balanced and complex, but I could not get a definitive flavor profile. Not fruity, not earthy, no minerality that dominated. I will have to try another, as I have always found Quintessa to be an elegant, interesting wine.
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This is a solid napa cab bordeaux blend, fruit was not as forward as others but just did not see the complexity that one would want at this price point. Maybe early to drink but in the low 90s for me for now. -S
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Nice dark nose that draws you into the wine; rich fruits and spicy, and again on the palate with some cocoa and oak - overall nicely balanced and darn smooth for a 2007.
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Black cherries I agree...dark color...big body...not ready for prime time...so close and yet the end disappointed me...definitely must try again...gift from Naveen
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Quintessa tasting at UClub. Terrific nose. This wine seemed open and ready to go. Lovely black fruit profile with good acidity and minerality. Nicely balanced.
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All American Tasting (Binny's on Grand): Good. Blueberry pie. Minerality. More slate than the other big boy cabs. Nice acidity on the back end. Not as textured as I would like to see from Quintessa, but it showed really well.
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Dark purple in color is noted shedding some setiment, medium bodied with hints of chocolate initially noted on the palate. Balanced fruit, acidity, and tannin proceed to leave a nice finish. Drinking well presently, though perhaps somewhat less profound than 1 year ago. This wine should hold well at least another 10 years.
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Decanted an hour. Drank over another two. Deep ruby red in color. Fragrant nose of black fruit, smoky oak and meat. Complex on the palate with blackberries, black currant, black cherries up front. Additional notes of chocolate, cumin spice and mellow oak, maybe a bit of vanilla. Long finish with supple tannins. Plenty of life left for sure. (Celebrating family birthdays - April 2, 2011)
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Rocking- reminded me of '05 Pontet Canet without requiring nearly as much time or a double decant. Big cassis and black fruit aromas, well integrated oak, some herbs and spice character. Round in the mouth and full but not heavy. Not artificially supple but no edges either. Flavors remain consistently through front, mid, and back palate. Finish is long and enjoyable.
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This wine was nice, but not great. I didn't decant but did pour through the vintauri into the glass. Dark fruits were prevalent with a mid-weight mid-pallet and a good finish. Noticeable cocoa powder texture, reminded me a bit of stags leap minus the chalk. I hope it ages well and improves but I have my doubts.
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Boston Wine Festival Opening Night: Very psyched to try when I saw it at one of the tables. However it just didn't do it for me (or my wife). Not bad just didn't stand out. No score since to be fair this was later in the evening when everything was starting to taste a bit the same and don't believe this was decanted at all.
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Opened three hours before drinking. Nicely layered nose of dark red fruits, oak, cocoa. Palate was big but not pushy. Finish was too short. A beautiful, sexy wine that's overpriced.
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Purple, violet colour. Refined nose predominantly with lighter hued fruits but also some blueberry. More red plum in the mouth with good acidity. Medium weight and nice balance.
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Tasted alongside the 06, and like the other reviewer said, this is a vast improvement. Also, where the 05 was elegant, this is more complex. I think this could be a 94-point wine in a few years once things integrate.
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Pretty darn good for being bottled so recently. Tasted alongside the 05 and the 06 (pop and pour). This vintage is a big improvement on the previous vintages. Much more elegant and structured. Great fruit with medium finish. Approachable now but has the potential to gain a couple points with some cellar time.
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3/23/2024 - Somm Good Wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 1 hour prior. Notes of chocolate, tobacco, dark fruit. Wine significantly improved after the 1.5 hour mark. This is in a great spot right now.
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3/5/2024 - gteran76 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Double decanted for about 30 minutes and it was a bit acid still. Had it with Reserved Filet Mignon and peppers. It paired much better with the vegetables than the meat.
It got much better towards the end, after the 1 hour mark.
Drink or hold.
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12/18/2023 - MLR Likes this wine: 90 Points
Bright fruit and some dusty spice on the nose. A bit less bold than the last one so maybe showing its age. Tannins are gone and some dark fruit with a lingering finish.
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4/21/2023 - tomoem Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow once again (thanks to Bob D) this was a big time wine. Earthy, some tobacco, currants, blackberry, and fresh asphalt. Such a long finish with a peppery lingering feel.
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1/23/2023 - RumRunner wrote:
bad bottle
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12/25/2022 - Snag One Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for two hours. Expressive nose consisting of black peppercorns, dried figs, pencil shavings and blueberries. Wonderful mouthfeel consisting of cassis, blueberries, toast, mint and figs. This wine has aged beautifully.
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10/15/2022 - jviz wrote: 93 Points
This was quite enjoyable today. All of the richness you would expect from a Napa BDX blend. Polished and well integrated, still a hint of barrel toast but no outright oaky notes and it remains in balance. If there is a flaw, it’s for being monochromatic, but still quite rich and delicious. Go for it!
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4/26/2022 - brasstab Likes this wine: 93 Points
Put it up against the '05 at Beverly's on the lake in Coeur d'Alene. The '05 won, but it's a game of inches, folks.
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2/27/2022 - Outplaying wrote:
Tasted blind. Bordeaux blend but from where? Lots of fruit here, and fairly ripe. Thinking CA or Washington, perhaps. Very structured and young. Well made, wine.
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2/26/2022 - williamswhine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Didn't decant. I probably would have enjoyed even more. Regardless, I still enjoy this juice-- still one of my favorites. Dark inky hue. Dark fruity nose, graphite, cedar nose. Dark fruit, well structured, long finish, very enjoyable bottle to drink with or without food.
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12/17/2021 - UBD wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 2 hours. But continued to improved over the next hour. Delicious.
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8/13/2021 - Sampaper wrote:
2007 I just opened 8/13/21. Very deep rich color with floral notes. Very tight opening this wine at 14 years this needs time to decant and open up. Thick viscosity as this clings to my glass as I swirl around this wine. The cork was still looking like new
After 10 minutes a small sip is still very tight and chewy. I notice the oak more than the fruit yet.
It’s not very fruit forward yet and very dry but I can already tell there’s some complexity that should come out once this opens up.
After opening up for 40 minutes some fruits start to come forward with layers of complexity and lingering but still tight .
Now after 1 hour and 10 minutes it’s got some nice layers of fruit and more approachable. Very long lingering finish with some tannins still pronounced
Very nice and becoming more enjoyable now
Earthy and rich seems full bodied and not super smooth but still very yummy if you like dry wines
After 2 hours it’s delicious and layers of fruits like plum and black cherry nuances and lingering flavors for minutes are forthcoming
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5/16/2021 - hoservin wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberry, black cherry, currant, cedar, graphite and spice. Black fruit, cedar, graphite, spice on the palate. Finishes with good length. Medium to full bodied. Served with filet Béarnaise.
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12/25/2020 - Snag One Likes this wine: 93 Points
Silky smooth tannins with layers of black peppercorns, bing cherries, mocha and cassis.
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11/8/2020 - FoxStreet55356 wrote:
- Garnet color.
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10/10/2020 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 93 Points
Red fruit centric (sweet strawberry). Soft tannins but still some acidity/ harshness on the front. Goof for a pop and pour but could warrant some time open to mellow. Nonetheless it’s time to drink these.
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7/28/2020 - eatdrinkrepeat wrote: 88 Points
Nose burst with fruits with a touch of minerality. However, the palette failed to impress and the finish went flat very quickly. I tasted the wine blind and was surprised to find this Quintessa perform so poorly.
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7/27/2020 - lvepicure Likes this wine: 96 Points
What a beaut! Originally concerned it might be too old given heat of 2007, I was wrong. Can go for another 5-7 years. A sublime example of Napa meets Bordeaux. Plush velvety dark refined fruit, refined Rutherford dusty tannins, hint of mocha, cigar box, and a hit of dry dirt. and enough acid, still, to provide backbone. It’s 13 years old and still chugging along. Quintessential!
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7/18/2020 - pinotpounder Likes this wine: 92 Points
92 points
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4/18/2020 - JDR58 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank immediately after opening, no discernible difference on 2nd or 3rd glass. Still tasting very well.
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3/18/2020 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 88 Points
Decanted for 90 minutes. Probably a mistake as this was a bit flat. Medium purple color. Raspberry, blueberry, tea, mushroom and a touch of cedar on the palate. Medium to light in body. Very Bordeaux like as expected with a medium finish.
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2/14/2020 - Peterbob wrote: 91 Points
2007 very fruity smell
Wow valentines
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2/3/2020 - Peterbob wrote: 95 Points
Wonderful celebrated my wives 72nd birthday with this bottle
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12/31/2019 - rfras Likes this wine: 94 Points
Silky elegance in a bottle. Slight decant is advisable.
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12/25/2019 - Rbtrage wrote: 94 Points
I like this wine. Very similar to the 2008 Frontier Justice that I drank right before this in style but had a little more fruit.
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10/6/2019 - chuckos77 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Quite surprised as previous bottle lacked the expected flavors. Thought 2007 may have been starting a downhill slide. Took advice of fellow trackers and popped and poured, glad I did. This wine doesn’t need much decant. Think last bottle was decanted too long. Interesting note and thanks to those who suggested.
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7/28/2019 - GranadaPedroAlarcon Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine is at its best enjoyable drinking stage. Drink right if the bottle. VERY smooth
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7/4/2019 - walkerjfw wrote: 92 Points
In OCNJ for Rowena's birthday celebration. From a magnum, decanted and rebottled, was open for close to 3 hours before drinking. This followed a 2006 Spottswoode.
Vibrant purple/ruby color. Nose was showing red fruits, vanilla oak, earth. Ripe palate showing dark cherry/chocolate, black raspberry, asphalt, oak. Rich through the mid palate, fairly strong acidity still. Full bodied and long finish (30 secs)
Ripe and sweet, less restrained than other Quintessa bottles I have had...more classically "Napa" if trying to find a style definition. I recall 07 being a riper vintage, which may be showing now. Magnum format aged well. Properly stored bottles have a way to go - although not sure this improves much from here
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6/21/2019 - RickyT12 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 2 hour. I think a splash decant is a better strategy IMO. Too much bitter for me coming out later in the drink with the decant.
Good amount of acid on this gal still. Dark ruby red. Big ripe dark red fruit, cherry, cotton candy, powder sugar, vanilla cream on the nose. Flavors, a bit of alcohol and tannins biting. Cherry, raspberry, over ripe strawberry, some bitter vegi broccoli or hint of spinach on the back end, long 25 second finish. Acid medium plus, weight medium. Different than the last bottles.
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6/7/2019 - tomoem Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wow this is an awesome experience tonight. Earthy, some tobacco, currants, blackberry, and fresh asphalt. Such a long finish with a peppery lingering feel.
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5/26/2019 - GranadaPedroAlarcon Likes this wine: 96 Points
This wine was fabulous. Opens up with a smooth taste of licorice and Spice. This need to be decanted for at least 6 hours. I found that it tasted even better the following night.
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4/28/2019 - Insane Diego wrote: 93 Points
PNP this half bottle on a special picnic with some good cheese.
Great nose of solid blackberries, just a bit of dust/earth.
Nice nose right in that first glass.
Nice blackberry taste slightly muted fruit, bit of cassis, maybe some cocoa....really excellent balance, good acidity and a fun long finish.
I was laughing at the way the finish marched down my tongue and just turned it all to velvet. Love that!!
Not a huge power wine IMO, but worked very well with our late afternoon picnic cheese spread.
I was not laughing when I wanted another glass from the half bottle that was now empty. No idea what I was thinking when I bought a half bottle!!
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4/18/2019 - RickyT12 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Splash decanted. This wine is drinking out of this world right now. Big, chewy, black and red fruits. Just a lovely wine for a steak. Acid is integrated well. Seems to be peaking or maybe has a couple more years. IMO drink now and over the next couple years. Very happy I have 4 more.
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3/30/2019 - RickyT12 Likes this wine: 95 Points
PNP
Wow. Still in very good shape. Alcohol is a bit strong, but drinking extremely well. Pepper, blackberry, black currant, some slate, but very fruit driven nose and flavors. Some smokiness. Long finish, good mouth coating. Some roast meat nose. Very good wine. Several years left IMO.
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2/27/2019 - chuckos77 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drink up, maybe past it’s prime
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1/11/2019 - Dooms Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened for our Christmas Wine Extravaganza on 12/8/2018. Lovely bottle of wine and many enjoyed it.
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1/9/2019 - clydescellar wrote:
Drank from a half bottle. Was in a beautiful place. Tannins have softened and a long finish. Developing secondary aromas. Wish I had more of these
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12/24/2018 - Snag One Likes this wine: 95 Points
My tasting notes from March still apply. However, I changed the score. Tasted as a vertical of 2007, 2008 and 2009. This was the best of the three.
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9/3/2018 - Murf130 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Still has a few years for peak tastiness in my opinion. Tannins, alcohol, fruit, acid all wet balanced as you would expect at this price point. We loved it.
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8/7/2018 - cawineaux Likes this wine: 96 Points
Amazing. Pop n pour. Fragrant, red and black fruit. Very elegant, great balance and integration. Awesome!
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7/27/2018 - Pquaker wrote: 94 Points
Ruby red, getting more fragrant. Can last another several years
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5/31/2018 - Frank Murray III wrote:
I found this also underwhelming. It was opened and given about an hour of slow ox. Whiff of some alcohol on the aromatic. While not thick or heavy, it did for me exhibit a pruny, sweet quality that I just don't enjoy. Finished with some mint and an inky quality.
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5/31/2018 - brigcampbell wrote:
Blake Brown in the OC - Version 2.0 (The Winery, Newport Beach, CA): First thing that caught my eye was the structure. This is a solid built wine and should age, it showed very youthful tonight. It's your classic cocoa and dark cassis profile and enjoyable. If I owned, hold for another 5 years and let the pieces evolve even more. Nice.
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5/17/2018 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still drinking very young. Beautiful mountain fruit as always. Decanted and served. It evolved over two hours, never quite coming into balance but still very enjoyable.
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4/8/2018 - cincybt Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still had a lot of room to run. Drank beautifully with loads of aroma and lasting finish. You're fine to lay this gem down for another 3-5 with good storage.
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3/3/2018 - Snag One Likes this wine: 94 Points
We decanted this bottle for an hour before pouring. Nice color and hue of dark burgundy color. Nice nose consisting of black cherries, mint, toast, red figs and shaved pencils. This wine still has excellent structure but is finessed. The wine has excellent mouthfeel consisting of ripe figs, bing cherries, tobacco, mint, toast and spices. This wine still has 4-6 years left in the cellar.
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2/3/2018 - richshoes Likes this wine: 92 Points
this was a little disappointing relative to other quintessas...had the typical elegance, refinement, and linearity....but the flavor profile was all over the place and I couldn't get into it as much as in the past.
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1/21/2018 - smithto Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice complexity and drinking well, but not sure this one lived up to my expectations. I think there are better wines for the money.
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12/31/2017 - dalemosier Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had side by side with 2005 Meerlust Bordeaux blend- both decanted for 3 hours. Clearly the Quintessa was the favorite. I am sorry to see this as my last bottle. The fruit was strong, good balance of fruit, acid, tannin. Outstanding nose giving pleasant indication of wine to come.
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12/20/2017 - dalemosier wrote:
rank Chateau Margaux 1976; 2007 Neal and 2007 Quintessa side by side over the evening with good wine friends. The Neal cam out slightly ahead of the Margaux although a totally different taste. Unfortunately the Quintessa was slightly corked so it didn't fair well. I think all 3 are ready to drink now.
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10/3/2017 - timdrex wrote: 94 Points
Very tight and acidic when first tasted 15 min after opening, but after an hour the deep flavors emerged with a beautiful balance of earth, mocha, dark fruit, and complimentary tannins. This wine should present itself well for another decade.
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9/15/2017 - Mrdundon Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking great now. Opened up after 1 hour of decanting. Tastes of blackberry, mocha and chalk.
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7/23/2017 - Dan & Sharky wrote: 95 Points
Wow! 10 years of aging and this wine has matured beautifully. The dark ruby color, cherry and bark bouquet, and soft, smooth texture from start to finish...no edge, bite or harsh bitter tannins. Perfect 10 year wine for my 10th wedding anniversary.
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5/13/2017 - Winiac wrote: 94 Points
This bottle was amazing. Pure fruit and solid structure. Long and pleasant finish.
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9/4/2016 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 94 Points
Showing well. Swirling pastiche of flavor and texture, feminine and delicious. Good value.
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6/11/2016 - wine4lux Likes this wine: 94 Points
Reaching prime drinking time- aromas, flavors, and textures are woven together beautifully. Very extended and polished finish.
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6/3/2016 - bmartz1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Has to be peaking right now. Texture and balance are outstanding, no harsh tannin edge at all but not flabby either. Drink up.
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4/23/2016 - lynrdt Likes this wine:
Nice bottle of wine! Drank side by side with a 1999.
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12/30/2015 - mchanin4 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Liquid gold.
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12/13/2015 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 94 Points
Silky black fruit, candied red fruit, cassis, and spice. Fruit seems more lively and fresh than other Quintessa I've had around this age. Still a bit tannic and short on the finish. Would guess it will hit its peak in 2 or 3 years.
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11/26/2015 - MLR Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fantastic wine. From 1st taste at noon to last sip at 9 pm this wine was silky. Bright fruit and well blended tannins. This wine will go the distance.
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9/11/2015 - dtmcellar wrote: 94 Points
Boy is this a balanced wine at the age. Tannins are very muted after 20 minutes. Black fruit and nice plum in background hints on anise in the mid palate and very light dust in the finish. Not sure if this is going to get much better.
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9/4/2015 - iwadasn wrote: 95 Points
PNP. Right time to enjoy this bottle. Open and slightly fruity, juicy and fragrant. Long aftertaste, rich and velvety. Wish I had more.
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5/24/2015 - Vailman Likes this wine: 94 Points
WOTN. Young wine but you can tell this is on an upward trajectory. Rich notes, integrated tanins, long finish and wonderful bouquet.
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5/16/2015 - bsmall Likes this wine: 93 Points
decanted for 3 hours..very nicely aged, can't imagine it getting much better than this. Had with grilled ribeyes, along with a Caymus Special Selection crowd was split on 'their favorite"
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5/10/2015 - mflesh wrote: 94 Points
Wine is about 3-4 years from peak. Wine poured a slight violet color in the glass with a little mild haziness. Wine wasn't too expressive in the bottle, but once it was out of the bottle, it smelled like a Cali cab with some aged blackberry and some earthy funk. On the palate is more of an old world, aged SuperTuscan wine. Blackberry and licorice on the front, with power and intensity. Hint of earthy funk all the way through. The middle is spice, grilled meat... and turned rather dark. Finished with a fine grit tannin and blackberry. Made in an old world style. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed this one. Usually we move on to another, but we stopped at this one and called it good. POWER, and LONG. Wow....I wish I had 12 more of these, but this was my only one. Drink window 2013-2024.
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5/4/2015 - bluedog Likes this wine: 94 Points
Always a delight. While this is a comfortable 8 years old, and wonderful, it will improve with more time. I suggest another 2-3 years, minimum. If you pop it, decant it for at least 1-2 hours, it is worth the wait.
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12/14/2014 - timdrex Likes this wine: 94 Points
Within the first hour I struggled to give this 91 points, with an over abundance of tart red fruit. Although it exhibited evidence of being well made, it didn't show depth and complexity that was expected.
Fast forward two hours, and that all changed. The red fruits loosened up, and the tannins became really interesting--silky and feminine in the mid palate, yet firm, grippy, and lingering afterward.
Notes of mocha, allspice, cola, graphite, dark cherry.
Appears to have at least 5, and maybe another 10-15 years of aging potential, but no need to hold back. Just be sure to give it a couple of hours of decanting time.
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11/24/2014 - BadOyster wrote: 94 Points
Drinking beautifully now. Surprisingly lush for Quintessa, which oftentimes has more elegance/restraint. Bright red fruit up front with subtle hints of age in the midpalate. Silky tannin, medium length. Could have held it for another year, but clearly in its window.
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11/19/2014 - winelover1 wrote: 94 Points
Just divine..Wish I had more...
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11/17/2014 - Gator96 wrote: 95 Points
With YPO forum.... Thanks Ty.
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10/9/2014 - bobv Likes this wine: 93 Points
Another superb red. Very refined. Great fruit flavor. Tangy tannin, not too sharp. Succulent, rich. Very enjoyable.
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9/14/2014 - 2loyal Likes this wine: 92 Points
Significantly improved over the last two years. Rich and smooth. Hoping my last bottle gets even better.
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6/29/2014 - RJandGB Likes this wine:
We had the 2006 and 2007 side by side. Both were good but the 2006. Was preferred. It had more depth of flavor.
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2/23/2014 - Jordan7T wrote: 93 Points
Ready to drink. Will likley develop a little bit more complexity in a year or two but pretty damn good now - still has a little more fruit that time will cure :-)
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2/20/2014 - nortonnose wrote: 93 Points
Friend opened his 750ml about 7 hrs before it was served. If you're familiar with Quintessa, I'd confirm for you that this showed quite well (coming from an "Old World guy," this is high praise indeed!). It's still so young that I do believe all of that time opened/prepped was quite necessary for peak performance. No rush here!
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1/12/2014 - mchanin4 wrote: 94 Points
This wine is excellent. It may be at the early stage of its drinking window, but the fruity flavors came through consistently throughout our delicious meal at a fine Italian restaurant. The wine worked well with veal, fish and pasta. Only mildly tannic upon opening and smoothed out quickly. Good to the last drop and compared very favorably with a 12 year old Bordeaux that we also drank with this meal.
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1/2/2014 - THA Likes this wine:
An excellent example of (i) Cabernet Sauvignon and (ii) Napa Valley. If someone wanted to know what great Napa Valley Cabernet tastes like, I'd suggest this wine. It shows pure, fresh, Cabernet typicity (i.e., it tastes like Cabernet is supposed to taste). And it has the richness and lushness that Napa Valley should add to the bottle. I like this wine for what it is, and appreciate it for what it isn't -- it is not an over-the-top, pump-up-the-volume, hangover Napa Cab. Oak is well integrated, letting the currants and kiss of sweet cedar show through. It's rounding out nicely, and the tannins are soft. Recommended.
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12/8/2013 - kota8 wrote:
Bolgers
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11/24/2013 - Winiac wrote: 93 Points
Loads of blueberry and ripe black fruit with adequate acidity and perfect balance and sweet tannins. I would give anther 4-5 years to unwrap the tannins from the pure fruit that the wine carries.
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11/17/2013 - cawineaux wrote: 93 Points
With about an hour of air time this bottle was amazing. Rutheford all the way on the nose, dust, ash, earth. The palate gave way to cherry earthiness. Medium + finish.
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8/17/2013 - Thirsty1 Likes this wine:
This wine has put on considerable weight since the last bottle 2 1/2 years ago. PAP but drank over the course of 3 hours (still have some for tomorrow). Blue fruit, very dark purple. Secondary hints of olive starting to show as well as wood. Extremely focused with ginsu sharp precision, so the focus, for me, took away from some of the complexity. Quick finish but not lacking. Good, getting better, heading for great. It will be in an incredible window in another year or two.
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4/27/2013 - Peterbob wrote: 92 Points
Wow wow excellent. Played 36 holes of golf. Wife grilled steaks and opened a bottle of this wine.
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3/11/2013 - sjdcellar wrote: 94 Points
perfectly dusty. big fruit and some caramel and cinnamon as well. very good even right out of the bottle but gets better with a couple hours of aeration
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3/10/2013 - BadOyster wrote: 92 Points
Still so young - needs at least 2 more years to begin to appreciate its elegance.
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2/10/2013 - bobv Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice right after decanted. Smooth, elegant flavor, good tannin, nice finish!
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2/10/2013 - The P's wrote:
Delicious, very balanced. Big fruit, benefits from some aeration
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1/27/2013 - bmurph29 Likes this wine: 98 Points
This was amazing. Better than I remember it at the winery. Decanted for an hour.
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12/25/2012 - 2loyal wrote: 89 Points
Very enjoyable, but disappointing (particularly in light of the vintage). I never would have put this price tag on it in a blind tasting.
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12/24/2012 - timdrex wrote: 91 Points
Reasonably good complexity, but a bit more tight than expected, even after decanting for 2 hours.
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12/20/2012 - Hedge872 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for several hours, definitely need it. Solid mid-palate and a long finish. Much better than earlier vintages, yet a bit disappointing for 2007 in general. Not a great value at this price range, could see paying 85 or under.
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11/11/2012 - bobv wrote: 89 Points
Decanted several hours. Complex flavor but a bit tart, even the next day. Compared to other Quintessa's we've had, this was disappointing.
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9/8/2012 - petitblanc wrote: 93 Points
Dark ruby-garnet color. Pleasing nose showing molasses, cinnamon, and deep dark fruit. Stemmy, dark fruit on the palate, with silky but firm tannins. This should develop more interest over 6 to 10 years, but there is tremendous potential here. An Old World style that I enjoyed very much and would love to revisit in the future. Very similar to a good Almaviva.
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9/2/2012 - Double D wrote: 94 Points
Very well constructed Cab...maybe a value at $60-$75....but not over $100
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8/8/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
Oaky, ripe, jammy berries, licorice, medium/full bodied with a jammy finish that displayed a touch of heat. I would not age this wine, as it seems to lack the stuffing for much development.
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6/11/2012 - Peterbob wrote: 96 Points
Unbelieveable how great it was rating 95 and above my wife and I shared a bottle with a very fine Angus Filet.
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6/8/2012 - FriendsInTown wrote: 96 Points
My Favorite Wine
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5/16/2012 - FriendsInTown wrote: 96 Points
Excelllent wine it doesn't get better than this
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5/2/2012 - Lee Fining wrote: 93 Points
Bright, medium garnet color. Aromas of very appealing dark fruit, moderate oak and a sense of sweetness. Fruit is front and center on the palate with an ever so slight tartness. Long finish.
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4/24/2012 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Slow-O 3 hours. Ripe, sweet and dense with plenty of blackberries, melted chocolate and vanilla bean that lead to a finish that tries to be seamless but has not yet integrated enough. Maybe try it again in 3 or 5 years. Kind of hard to get past all the expensive oak treatment. Right now, it's just not that interesting. Considering the price tag, it's a HUGE pass.
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4/22/2012 - sbtoby wrote: 91 Points
A little disappointed. I've had several of the other vintages of Q, but this seemed more watered down. No real complexity of flavor. If this was a $50 bottle I'd give it a 93, but at the $100 price point I was no happy.
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12/24/2011 - Double D wrote: 93 Points
This is a a big cab but balanced well, I'll leave the rest for a few years. There is a fair amount of suspended particles that need to settle out...should be no trouble to age for many more years. At this pricepoint the QPR doesn't seem too good...I'd buy more of little brother Faust.
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12/22/2011 - Brsed wrote: 93 Points
From Magnum. I had this wine in June from a 750 ml and today's experience was quite similar. Very refined but pure and focused black fruits. Nicely balanced and not flabby whatsoever. Seems ready to go now.
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12/18/2011 - creedc wrote: 94 Points
Fantastic. Decant for 1hr. Crushes it.
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12/17/2011 - rickspicks wrote: 91 Points
From a magnum. Decanted and aired for about 1 hour. Still rather closed, but showing big, ripe, lush fruits with a full body, nice balance and a plush mouthfeel. There is just a hint of minerality, earth and oak, but definitely has not yet blossomed into what it will become. 91+ with upside
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11/5/2011 - AGee wrote: 90 Points
Pop and poured which was most likely a mistake. Had that dark, cloudy Quintessa look in the glass. There was very little in this nose. The wine was balanced and complex, but I could not get a definitive flavor profile. Not fruity, not earthy, no minerality that dominated. I will have to try another, as I have always found Quintessa to be an elegant, interesting wine.
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11/4/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote: 92 Points
Really really tight now. Needs a few more years in the bottle.
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10/23/2011 - CultCabKing wrote: 87 Points
less fruit than the 2008. fair finish, not as long as 08. light nose.
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10/1/2011 - pizzasomm wrote:
nose: dusty and dry with forest scents
taste: soft acidity, mid-palate explosion of fruit
other: pairs well with cow's milk cheese
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9/13/2011 - sasvino wrote: 92 Points
This is a solid napa cab bordeaux blend, fruit was not as forward as others but just did not see the complexity that one would want at this price point. Maybe early to drink but in the low 90s for me for now. -S
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9/1/2011 - Old Doug wrote: 93 Points
Nice dark nose that draws you into the wine; rich fruits and spicy, and again on the palate with some cocoa and oak - overall nicely balanced and darn smooth for a 2007.
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7/25/2011 - willthethrill wrote: 89 Points
Black cherries I agree...dark color...big body...not ready for prime time...so close and yet the end disappointed me...definitely must try again...gift from Naveen
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6/30/2011 - Brsed wrote: 93 Points
Quintessa tasting at UClub. Terrific nose. This wine seemed open and ready to go. Lovely black fruit profile with good acidity and minerality. Nicely balanced.
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5/14/2011 - wineotim wrote: 91 Points
Some sweet oak, black cherry and currants, good depth...but overpriced. Tasted at B-21.
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5/7/2011 - ews3 wrote: 93 Points
2011 Philadelphia Wine Festival (Marriott, Philadelphia PA): really nice chocolate, black fruit, and spice profile. awesome finish.
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5/5/2011 - beezer6 wrote: 91 Points
All American Tasting (Binny's on Grand): Good. Blueberry pie. Minerality. More slate than the other big boy cabs. Nice acidity on the back end. Not as textured as I would like to see from Quintessa, but it showed really well.
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4/23/2011 - markcvino wrote: 93 Points
Dark purple in color is noted shedding some setiment, medium bodied with hints of chocolate initially noted on the palate. Balanced fruit, acidity, and tannin proceed to leave a
nice finish. Drinking well presently, though perhaps somewhat less profound than 1 year ago. This wine should hold well at least another 10 years.
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4/2/2011 - dontime wrote: 93 Points
Decanted an hour. Drank over another two. Deep ruby red in color. Fragrant nose of black fruit, smoky oak and meat. Complex on the palate with blackberries, black currant, black cherries up front. Additional notes of chocolate, cumin spice and mellow oak, maybe a bit of vanilla. Long finish with supple tannins. Plenty of life left for sure. (Celebrating family birthdays - April 2, 2011)
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3/5/2011 - SB_Spakrs wrote: 95 Points
Terrific!
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3/3/2011 - beezer6 wrote: 92 Points
California Night (Binny's South Loop - Chicago, IL): Really nice lush ripe fruit. What you would expect from Quintessa. Consistent as always. Just a tad over the top.
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1/27/2011 - murmenlove33 wrote: 94 Points
This wine rocks my world
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1/14/2011 - BigShlo wrote: 94 Points
Rocking- reminded me of '05 Pontet Canet without requiring nearly as much time or a double decant. Big cassis and black fruit aromas, well integrated oak, some herbs and spice character. Round in the mouth and full but not heavy. Not artificially supple but no edges either. Flavors remain consistently through front, mid, and back palate. Finish is long and enjoyable.
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1/8/2011 - Thirsty1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
This wine was nice, but not great. I didn't decant but did pour through the vintauri into the glass. Dark fruits were prevalent with a mid-weight mid-pallet and a good finish. Noticeable cocoa powder texture, reminded me a bit of stags leap minus the chalk. I hope it ages well and improves but I have my doubts.
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1/7/2011 - yeti575rider wrote:
Boston Wine Festival Opening Night: Very psyched to try when I saw it at one of the tables. However it just didn't do it for me (or my wife). Not bad just didn't stand out. No score since to be fair this was later in the evening when everything was starting to taste a bit the same and don't believe this was decanted at all.
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12/20/2010 - Michael6296 wrote: 93 Points
Syracuse. Dinner with the Brangs. Great Italian food and a 2007 Quintessa. Holly cow. What more could you want?
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11/10/2010 - beezer6 wrote: 92 Points
The Ultimate Wine Experience (Binny's South Loop - Chicago, IL): Plush and velvety nose. Some spice, jammy candied fruit.
Roasted red peppers, stewed tomato as well on the nose.
Palate is culty and creamy. Really nice wine.
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10/31/2010 - tlinch wrote: 92 Points
Opened three hours before drinking. Nicely layered nose of dark red fruits, oak, cocoa. Palate was big but not pushy. Finish was too short. A beautiful, sexy wine that's overpriced.
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10/25/2010 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
All in all this is over priced to me. Frankly, I think Honig (at 1/3 the price) does relatively the same thing but without the pretty bottle.
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7/14/2010 - Capt Cutlass wrote: 90 Points
Purple, violet colour. Refined nose predominantly with lighter hued fruits but also some blueberry. More red plum in the mouth with good acidity. Medium weight and nice balance.
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7/3/2010 - asaselzer wrote: 91 Points
room to grow,will be awesome.
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5/2/2010 - PeteNJ75 wrote: 92 Points
Tasted alongside the 06, and like the other reviewer said, this is a vast improvement. Also, where the 05 was elegant, this is more complex. I think this could be a 94-point wine in a few years once things integrate.
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4/28/2010 - asaselzer wrote: 91 Points
Drank 3 bottles at a going-away party. Consistent between the 3 bottles: chocalate, dark fruit, good comleciry.
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9/21/2009 - Seo wrote: 90 Points
Pretty darn good for being bottled so recently. Tasted alongside the 05 and the 06 (pop and pour). This vintage is a big improvement on the previous vintages. Much more elegant and structured. Great fruit with medium finish. Approachable now but has the potential to gain a couple points with some cellar time.
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