Quintessa Rutherford Red 2019 (750ML)

99 Points, James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com: (James Suckling #84 Wine of 2022) "So much earth and spice with walnut and wet earth. Like fog laying over the valley in the morning. Black fruit. Medium-to full-bodied with super-fine tannins that are long and persistent, with graceful progression and length on the palate. So long, with real definition. September 2022 release. From biodynamically grown grapes. Hard not to drink now, but will age wonderfully." 01/22

100 Points, Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast: (Wine Enthusiast's #23 Cellar Selection of 2022) "This is a winemaker's master class in blending and understanding of a long-standing site. Dried herb, cedar and pencil shavings accent lifted red fruit and brilliant acidity on the palate, with a supple yet still youthfully grippy texture that is framed by structured, graceful tannins. Enjoy from 2029–2039." 07/22

96 Points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter: "Dark chocolate, violets and blackcurrants on the nose. Sticky, sweet, full, plush and ripe, fruit is dark - blackcurrant, black cherry and plum with lots of sweet liquorice and some earthy notes that give it a savoury touch. A bold and powerful style, you can feel the alcohol a bit and the wood still but there is good vibrancy and energy with a chiselled frame and generous freshness. Still extremely youthful with the structure fully on show, still settling and finding its refinement. 2% Carménère completes the blend. Ageing 22 months in French oak (60% new)." 07/22

Composed of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 2% Carmenere, and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple colored. It explodes from the glass with bombastic scents of blackcurrant cordial, baked plums, and blueberry preserves, giving way to a fragrant undercurrent of dried roses, cedar chest, camphor, and Sichuan pepper. The full-bodied palate reveals impressive restraint, offering a refreshing backbone and loads of savory accents to counter the generous fruit, finishing with a quiet intensity and great plushness. The result is a very cleverly done Cabernet!" 08/22