Chateau Quintus 2021

JAMES SUCKLING: "Extremely focused and refined, with firm tannins that run the length of the wine. Medium-bodied with lovely length and juiciness. Blackberry and earth with mushroom and bark. Hints of orange peel, too. 68.2% merlot, 31.3% cabernet franc and 0.5% malbec."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Kräuterwürzig im Duft, Minze, Traubenzucker, frisch und klar. Im Mund zeigt der Wein einen Extrakt, der reif, unforciert, griffig und sehr natürlich wirkt. Alles ist in passendem Maße geschmeidig grundiert, die Säure gibt Frische und ist gut integriert. Elegant und pur und für diesen Jahrgang auch ungewöhnlich homogen im Gaumenverlauf. Kräftige taktil-mineralische Kalkkomponenten zuletzt."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2021 Quintus shows considerable promise, displaying more concentration and character than the 2017, combined with appreciably lower alcohol than intervening vintages. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, plums, loamy soil, raw cocoa and a deft framing of new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, with good concentration and a seamless, complete profile. It's a blend of around 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc from the limestone slopes."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Deeply colored, the wine is packed with nuances of crushed rocks, black raspberries, flowers, plums and forest leaves. Extremely poised and polished, the silky palate offers purity in the fruit, length and the sense of minerality, finishing with an array of red pit fruits, cocoa and salty tannins. This is the first vintage to include from the recently purchased vineyards formerly belonging to Grand Pontet. The wine blends 58% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. 13.3% ABV. Drink from 2023-2040."

DECANTER: "Fragrant and perfumed strawberries and red cherries on the nose, they have a sweet note to them, so welcoming, really bursting out of the glass. Smooth but also quite sharp on the palate with a rush of red fruits - cherries, raspberries, redcurrants and plums fill the palate with mouthwatering acidity balanced by touches of wet stone minerality that have an iodine, graphite and pencil touch. You definitely get the feeling of the terroir here in the chalky, saltiness as well as the stalky, bramble, spiced Cabernet Franc giving the backbone and direction. Quite a bit of smoked cedar spice comes in on the end just overshadowing the brightness and overall sense of fun to this. Well worked with promise."