Thread: Quintessa

I ended up picking my mom up some Quintessa 1999 for her birthday. I'm really not a big wine fan, but after reading the review, it seemed like a great choice. She had a glass last night and let me know that it was great.

I will have to look for it. God I love red wine. The nectar of the gods.

Like I said, it was a bottle of 1999.
http://www.quintessa.com/

"Quintessa, like all classic wines of the world, bears the same name as the vineyard from which it is made. Our goal is to produce the best expression of this extraordinary vineyard each year. In broad terms, Quintessa is a red meritage wine. The vineyard's diversity provides us wide stylistic options for the wine. Fruit from each component block of Quintessa is harvested, sorted, then gravity fed into either oak or stainless steel fermentation tanks. Once fermentation and maceration are complete, each block wine is aged separately for up to two years in french oak barrels in our caves. After this ageing period the components are brought together and the final Quintessa blend is created. The wine is then bottled and laid down for yet another year before release. Although each vintage is unique, we have discovered that finesse and elegance best express the character of the vineyard and as such, we blend for harmony, balance, and length of flavors. Above all, our objective is to make Quintessa a delicious wine that is complementary to food."
Agustin Huneeus
Vintner/Proprietor

Quintessa 2005

Harvest Dates: September 30 - October 27, 2005
Skin contact: 30 days
Time in oak: 18 months
Oak Regime: 100% French, 85% new from diverse forests north of the LoireRiver. Tight grain wood, medium plus toast.
Release Date: April 2008

“In 2005, careful yield management and a truly ideal fall ripening climate gave us wines with structure, refined tannins, elegance and potential for long aging. The 2005 Quintessa opens with beautiful complexity, perfume and nuance on the nose. In the glass, the wine amplifies with time and a quiet entry builds to a structured, solid mid-palate with dense black fruit. Its long finish unfolds with exquisitely supple tannins and a caress of sweet fruit.”

Winemaker
Charles
Thomas

Quintessa 2004

"Due to a very concentrated vintage, the 2004 Quintessa takes a departure into the realm of power, allthe while maintaining the finesse and elegance that have been the signature of the wine from the Quintessa Estate since its inception. An opaque jet black robe leads to a bold attack, transitioning into a weighty layered mid-palette of infinite complexity. The finish is supple and round with good length and exquisitely forged tannins." Aaron Pott, Winemaker

Quintessa 2003

“2003 produced wines of infinite complexity that remind us that vintages do make a difference in California. If some vintages are epic Symphonies that dazzle even the untrained ear with their power and force, then 2003 is an intricate string concerto that astounds us with subtlety and speaks to our soul. Quintessa 2003 is a wine that draws its power not from a single idea of concentration but from layer upon layer of complexity. It is an intellectual wine requiring study to understand its full profound genius.” Aaron Pott, Winemaker

Quintessa 2002

The bouquet of this wine is a rich mélange of floral and black fruits. A delicate brush stroke from Titian, the accent is on opulence tempered by finesse. A bold attack, that astonishes with its richness, and then a seamless segue to an ultra ripe, integrated and well textured mid-palette. A brooding monolithic mass of bold velvet robed tannins, the assurance of graceful aging leading to a finish that lingers and flirts endlessly. The paragon of the Quintessa Vineyard.

Quintessa 2001

Quintessa 2001 has excellent fruit concentration, rich flavors in the mouth and exquisite balance leading to a soft enrobed tannin finish with lingering toffee and chocolate. Quintessa’s signature softness and elegance will continue to develop over the next five to ten years in the bottle.

Quintessa 2000

Quintessa 2000 expresses deep berry flavors and a sweet, broad mouth feel. The wine is young and forward with aromas of black fruit and spice. The tannins are round and concentrated giving it elegant finesse and long lasting impression. This wine will continue to develop and age gracefully for five to ten years.

Quintessa 1999

1999 Quintessa is a beautiful expression of the vineyard. The wine is concentrated and multifaceted, seductive and complex. There is a great depth to this wine that is only beginning to reveal its layers. The aromas are complex with black fruit, floral, and chocolate notes. The tannins are tight and concentrated and they will only get better and more seamless over time. Outstanding finesse was achieved by the meticulous blending conducted by our winemakers…a truly classic wine.

Quintessa 1998

The 1998 has an outstanding structure and mouthfeel with layered bouquet of bright fruit and hints of floral notes. Aromatic cedar with a note of mint and cocoa can are also present. There is a seamless texture to this wine created by soft tannins and a long finish. Perhaps the vintage it most resembles is the supremely elegant 1994, Quintessa’s Inaugural release.

Quintessa 1997

Quintessa 1997 exhibits amazing layers of ripe and concentrated fruit, sweet and long tannins that create richness on the palate. The ripe flavors are also complemented by aromas of bright red fruit that enhances this wine's drinking pleasure. Some refer to this as the vintage of the century - all we know is this lovely wine will stand the test of time and continue to develop for five to ten years in the bottle.

Quintessa 1996

1996 was a warm season and a small crop so there is a ripeness of fruit that shines through in the bouquet. There is a tight concentration on the palate, with soft, ripe tannins and deep fruit and spice flavors. This is a powerful wine that has mellowed with an elegant, silky finish.

Quintessa 1995

Quintessa 1995 is amazing in its intensity. This vintage exhibits a great depth with a bouquet of rich, dark fruit. The tannins are broad and forward, complemented by ripe fruit flavors that linger on the palate with just a hint of coffee and cocoa on the finish.

Quintessa 1994

The 1994 vintage is the premiere release of Quintessa. The wine exhibits vibrant and bright red fruit aromas. The tannins are soft and smooth, creating a seamless finish. There is a harmonious integration of flavor and texture that makes this wine a wonderful complement to food.