Château Quintus 2016

Barrel-influenced, licorice and cinnamon, has gained in volume while retaining its angular character and freshness, which slightly softens the fire on the finish.

I have to admit a personal preference for this wine, which is deep-coloured, dense and profound. It has huge fruit weight but elegance as well, the tannins present yet fine. The finish is long and persistent, and there’s refreshment, too. The late-season warmth with cool nights may have contributed to the balance of this wine. The yield was a healthy 45.1 hl/ha.

Ripe damson-plum fruit and generous richness make this youthful, high-end St.-Emilion surprisingly easy to drink right now. Underneath the sensual exterior is a serious structure and that becomes ever more obvious as it rolls over the palate. Very long finish that has a certain sweetness, but remains so elegant. Drink or hold. Château Quintus vertical tasting. SP.

The 2016 Quintus is powerful and fleshy in the glass, with good textural depth and overall radiance. Soft, plush and open-knit, the 2016 will drink well with minimal cellaring. While certainly a very good wine, and perhaps a bit more than that, I expected more.

Still dark in color, the wine is earthy, soft and polished. The truffle and mineral accents are starting to poke through. The finish is juicy with silky tannins and ripe, spicy plums in the finish. Give this 5-7 years and it will really be a lot of fun in your glass.

Roasted, spicy nose with a hint of patisserie, vanilla, and caramel blending with red and dark fruit. Dense palate, layered with elegant red and dark fruit flavors, modest oak underneath, good grip and length, still a youthful and restrained expression needing time to gain roundness and flesh.

The deep ruby-colored 2016 Château Quintus is thrilling stuff, and my money is on it being the finest to date. Saturated purple in color, powerful notes of blackberries, currants, spicy tobacco, and a touch of graphite all flow to a deep, rounded, sexy Saint-Emilion that’s beautifully balanced. It shows the class of the vintage and is capable of lasting for two decades or more.

Deep garnet. Closed nose with red and blue berry fruit, followed by liquorice and plenty of blackcurrant as well as dark tobacco. On the powerful palate, supporting tannins, lots of mulberries and Earl Grey notes on the long finish. A serious gentleman with potential. 17.5/20

Kunz barrel sample 17: (70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc) Closed, spicy bouquet, strawberries, tobacco, wood. Fresh, elegant palate with delicate fruit, good tannins, sweet aromatics, finely muscular structure, long, gently bitter finish.

(70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc) Closed, spicy bouquet with strawberry, tobacco, and wood. Fresh, elegant palate with delicate fruit, good tannins, sweet aromatics, finely muscular structure, and a long, slightly bitter finish. 17/20 2022 - 2036

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Quintus needs a little swirling and spurring before it gallops out with powerful notes of plum preserves, blueberry pie, and tar, leading to suggestions of star anise, mincemeat pie, and dried roses. Full-bodied, the palate is plush, generous, and expressive, delivering beautifully ripe, soft tannins and a lively backbone to support the rich fruit, finishing long and opulent.

The vintage’s contours are well expressed in the wine’s tannic framework, which displays more finesse and grace than the vintage initially suggested.

Not decanted, I rate it 17, and decanted 17.5. Dark, intense, youthful color. Very aromatic, refined nose with very ripe, complex fruit. Broad from the outset, juicy mid-palate, with a silky, airy body; the wine unfolds powerful, rich and noble, with great precision in aromatic brilliance and fine tannins. It’s superb. Blend: 70% merlot, 30% cabernet franc.