Shay A

9.2

Not too often do you get to drink 100% petit Verdot. My last bottle after 2-3 the last few years. Double decanted, then consumed from bottle over the course of 6hrs.

Special anniversary bottling. 36 months in oak. Right off the bat, I’d say the wine likely needed/benefitted from that amount of oak due to how brash PV can be solo, but I’d also say it’s probably going to cause the tannin to outlive the fruit. Not as black as I expected in the glass, more of a deep red-purple. Aromatics of ripe red and black berry fruits, baking spices, dark cocoa, and dark espresso. For being all PV slathered in a lot of oak, it’s very elegant on the palate…seems like a merlot/Mourvèdre hybrid with its black cherry cordial, chocolate and slightly smoked meat notes. There’s a unique tangy-ness to the fruit, and a lot of tannin at the finish. No rush, but if you want a good bit of fruit to balance things out, maybe consume in the next 3-5yrs. — 3 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

Outdid a 2012 Puligny Montrachet. White flowers, peach, hint of herbal on the nose. Entry is full bodied. Peach, mango, melon, hint of butterscotch. Finished with a nice rounded character but also with just enough of a bite that it made the tongue sting. Ample character. Great balance. But, ready to drink now. Very happy with this one. This is the last one of these that I have and I think I finally timed it right! — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

Solid 93, almost 94. This wine is 100% PV. A bit young, this one pours a dark, deep violet to the glass. There is no way light is getting through this monster. The nose is pepper and spice cake. The entry is fruitcake, pepper, allspice. The middle gains a youthful sweet tobacco leaf on top of a fruitcake red and black spice. The finish is tannic without a doubt, and I feel that another year or so would do this one quite well. A 93.45 stunner tonight, with potential to improve over the next 5 years. This one would top the 25th Anniversary William Harrison PV depending upon the style you prefer for PV. Gonna have to acquire a few for the collection! Nice pull @Shay A — 8 years ago

with Shay

Mark Flesher

9.4

I thought long and hard about what I wanted to say about this wine. But...here goes. This has to be one of the worst QPR wines I've ever had, but I'm also taking into account how young this wine is. I have to remember that I'm rating the WINE here, but the price tag and hype just can't help but to get in the way. Drank over 6 days. Poured initially from Coravin and let sit for about an hour. I will tell you that I was excited initially, as the nose of this wine overpowered the grass fed beef burgers that were just cooked about 2 feet away from where the wine was being poured. DENSE blackberry and vanilla rolling out of the glass. The entry of this wine is silky, but also has that gritty Napa youthfulness. POWER. Fruit forward monster, ripe blackberry, graphite, mineral and spice rich middle with cherry blossom and finish with a very deep, dark core of blackberry, black pepper spice. The finish is where chocolate covered blackberries and minty notes come out, but the wine was still rather tannic. Developed a bit more after I uncorked it at the end of the week. I blind tasted my wife on this one who guessed that it was a '13 William Harrison cab (vineyard is only 2 miles away as the crow flies, maybe, although Hall's is elevated 750 feet). That cab is $50. This one still has a **LOT** of integrating to do which I am taking into consideration which is why the other bottle is locked up tight, and this one just might not have been on its A-game. — 8 years ago

Noah Hart

9.5

Drinking well. Dark fruit, tannins softening. Long dusty finish — 10 years ago

Yuki Watanabe

8.9

Ripe fruits, pretty ruby color, light in your tongue with slight tannin finish, rather simple but good conversation wine. — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

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. This is a thoroughbred in a long race! Quintessa is always a treat!! — 7 years ago

with Bradley, Shay and 1 other

Mark Flesher

9.4

Probably a 97 a maturity. Solid 94 today. WOW this wine is young. Nose is reminiscent of a young Malbec. Of course, the Rutherford red blend is always heavy on the Malbec (historically 10 to 15 %) , although the percentage breakdown is not listed on this vintage. Has almost a meaty sort of a nose. Entry is youthful fruit that seems to have ripened just yesterday. Still very astringent black cherry and a little bit of baking spice to the middle. Finishes with a softer texture than expected, but also with some pretty stiff Young Oak tannin. This one definitely did better with dinner to cut through the tannin which made the finish a little more present and that hint of Rutherford dust stick out! But, with this one needs more than anything is about 5 years in the bottle to figure itself out. Looking forward to big things! — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

LOCKED. UP. Tasted three 14 Cabs over 3 nights: 1 from Montagu, 1 from William Harrison and this one. Out of all 3, this one is the most tannic. The most restricted. And the one with perhaps the most potential. Opened with a great red berry nose, herbal. Middle is black cherry, olive, medium to full bodied. After 2 hours, showing more in the front. Will be more integrated in 2020. — 8 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.5

This wine is in a GOOD spot right now. CT Average of about 93, and I'd say that this is about right. 93-95 as this one still has probably 7-8 years before it is pop and pour. Acidic at the opening, but the patience (which we didn't have) would have served us well. Cabernet power from the front. Blackberry preserves, hint of mint, white pepper, hint of clove, middle that goes a little bit herbal, but still very considerable black fruit. Finishes strong, with pepper, spice. I know the last 750 I have is in danger, and hopefully I can also lay off the mag for at least a couple of years. — 8 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

Nice SB from Rutherford. Perfect pair to a lighter pork fare. Nose of lemon. Palate is lemongrass, granny smith apple, nice acidity and nice length. Minerality on the finish. Can't really ask for more. Best part? 28 bucks for a SB that would go toe to toe with SB'S at twice the price! — 9 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

Not much age between the Napa wines in the 15-wine lineup tonight. An 06 Bucella, a 74 BV Georges Latour, a 95 Seavey, a 2011 Wm. Harrison, and this one. This one won the "youthful ager" award of the night. Decanted in a swan-neck decanter, this wine had immense fruit forward notes and spice. Edges had rounded nicely. This wine was dark, full bodied, dense, and tasted like a 2010 or 2012. Excellent wine. The finish was still a bit tannic although an hour in the decanter really did help to elongate the finish. With the way this one was drinking tonight, this one has probably 10-20 years ahead of it. Drink or hold! — 9 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.5

With family roots to BV over decades of winemaking, the style shows in this wine. A black fruit dominant wine. The finish on this wine makes SURE you don't miss the Rutherford dust, as it is ABUNDANT. For someone wanting to learn about Classic Napa and, further, classic Rutherford wine, **THIS** is the wine to serve. This wine is right on par with Wm. Harrison for Rutherford gem deluxe. And crafted in the nuclear style. This one can hold for 20 years easily. Well done Raymond and Steve. Fantstic Napa cab. — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

A nice PV. William Harrison anniversary PV outdoes it quite easily, but this wine is delish. Pours like ink! Nose is a mix of floral and candied black fruit. Darker mulberry cassis(?) and violets. Thick and dense wine. Finishes with a mixed bag of dense black fruits and pepper. Going to hold nicely for the next 5 to 7 years but I think drinking these now wouldn't be a bad idea! — 7 years ago

with Dan, Bradley and 2 others

Mark Flesher

9.5

Unanimous number 1 vs a Spoto secret acre Cab a year older and a Rutherford blend from Wm Harrison. This wine was decanted 6 hr ahead of enjoying. Wow man. Black licorice. Black fruit, cassis, fig, youthful oak. Full bodied. This could have been a pop and pour and probably would have kicked just as much ass. The comprehensive cab blend that is in a very sweet spot right now. Oakville, To Kalon but is probably a "secret" in and of itself. Tons of life left. — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

Waited to get home to try this one. The last bottle was corked. This bottle, not nearly so much!After the last bottle was corked, this bottle was opened the next night. Poured a light straw color. Nose of lemon and herbed buttered popcorn. The entry was acidic and dominated by lemon and Asian pear. Middle of this wine is where the buttered popcorn and kernel notes kicked in. The wine finishes rather acidic, but with good weight and density. I still think this one has quite a few years left in it. The next one to drink is the last 2013 for sure. Drink or hold this one another 3 to 5 years. — 8 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

Umm... yeah..... so the last one of these I had didn't seem to be THIS good. I'd incite a riot if I gave this one what I really wanted to give. What a massive bouquet and palate of strawberry puree, crushed rock, pomegranate. Not too acidic. Rather full and viscous for a Rose.....aaaaand it's my last as well. — 8 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

Needs 3 years in bottle. Double decanted and was a nice dusty blackberry front, a little darker and floral in the middle. Finish is also quite floral, still rather acidic and lots of stiff oak tannin. Dusty and shale stone rich finish. Enjoyable classic Rutherford cab that doesn't try to be something it isn't. GREAT family owned boutique winery off the Silverado Trail. — 9 years ago

Michael Seely

8.9

Tim's birthday set — 9 years ago

with Joe

schmidt

9.0

Luscious cherry with hints of cedar and fresh picked, wet tobacco. Smooth, clean, and light/medium-body. Carneros AVA. — 10 years ago