Quintessa, Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford 2016

98 points James Suckling
"Phenomenal aromas of crushed berries, forest fruit, mushrooms and iron. Medium to full body, with layers of soft and refined tannins that follow through to a beautiful finish. Extremely long and refined. This shows depth and structure with balance and harmony. Hard not to open the bottle now and drink it, but it appears to be closing down now. Needs four to five years to show it all."

96 points Jeb Dunnuck
"The 2016 Proprietary Red is a beauty based on 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Carménère, all of which spent 20 months in just over 70% new French oak. This inky purple colored 2016 offers a perfumed, complex bouquet of sweet crème de cassis, Asian spices, lead pencil, and cedarwood. Full-bodied and plenty powerful, it shines even more for its flawless balance, polished tannins, and great finish. This is a quintessential, rich, elegant Napa Bordeaux blend to enjoy over the coming two decades or more."

95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Quintessa's 2016 Proprietary Red Wine boasts relatively youthful, primary fruit, with cherries and black cherries both appearing on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, it's silky and suave on the palate, framed by ripe, supple tannins that linger elegantly on the finish.Best After 2022."

95 points Decanter
"Black cherry, grilled sage and cedar aromatics, smooth tannins and sweet black cherry fruits on the palate. Relatively low acidities but feels well in balance and this is structured and confident with flesh and laid back confident appeal. 70% new oak. Carménère and Petit Verdot complete the blend."

Jancis Robinson
"Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Carmenѐre. ‘2016 was a near-perfect season with budbreak starting moderately early and ideal weather conditions in the spring, continuing throughout the summer and fall. Cooler temperatures in August provided an extended hang time, allowing the fruit to reach peak ripeness and beautiful vineyard expression. Harvest began before dawn on 15 September and continued through 13 October – just before the winter rains began to nourish and replenish our soil.’
Minerally nose with lots of ripe fruit. Complex and rewarding with so many layers and nooks and crannies to it. Fine tannins. A fine future ahead of it. So appetising. 18.5/20 points."