Quintessa Rutherford Red Wine 2016

Winery Notes

EACH VINTAGE OF QUINTESSA IS AN OPPORTUNITY to listen to the unique voice of this property that is shaped by the soils, vines, climate, and human element. Every year has a distinct personality, and with each vintage we are working to make a deeper connection between the soils, their terroir, and our practices so that we can interpret the property holistically. In order to bring about the purest expression of this special place, we farm using organic and biodynamic farming techniques, and each year, we learn more about the land’s personality and how it reacts to the different conditions of each season. After thirty years, we have come to realize that the more we know about this estate, the humbler we feel as we understand and accept the power of nature.

Tasting Notes

The 2016 Quintessa is a generous wine, with complex and elegant layers that envelop you from the first sip. Welcoming with aromas of cassis, blackberry, red currant and undertones of sage, thyme, crushed rocks, and rose petals, the 2016 Quintessa continues to expand in the glass as notes of exotic citrus, clove and fresh tobacco mingle with bright fruit. Full and rich, the wine is held together with fine-grained tannins that interweave beautifully with flavors of dark chocolate, crushed rocks, black cherry, and blueberries. The wine is distinct for its energy and depth of flavor, and will leave a lasting impression with its velvety texture and intoxicating perfume.

Vintage Notes

2016 WAS A NEAR-PERFECT SEASON, with bud break 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 September 15th and continued through October 13th—just before the winter rains began to nourish and replenish our soil.

Vineyard Notes

In descending order: Dragon’s Terrace, Cruz del Sur, Mt. Calisse, Bench, Las Casas, Corona, Riviera, Monte Cruz, Limelight, Howard’s Million, Pedraza, Silver South, Alcántara, Tesoro, Canyon, Corral.