Decanter: 95 Punkte
As Napa’s 2014 vintage continues to age in the bottle, top producers like Quintessa show that this underdog vintage may yet outshine the highly-praised 2013 vintage. Nearly a decade on, it is still totally youthful with exuberant toasty oak notes and inky black fruit marred in a bed of sagebrush and bay laurel. It’s an aromatic walk in the woods around the hills of Rutherford. Medium to full-bodied with supple dark-berry fruit redolent of black cherry, blackberry and boysenberry, dusted with Indian spices of cumin and cardamon, laced with vanilla and dark chocolate. While drought conditions led to seriously concentrated flavour, the tannin profile benefited from some extra skin tannin, showing powerful and supple with length and building on the finish. Will continue to improve with cellaring. 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Carménѐre. Harvest: September 5 – October 6, 2014. 21 months in 80% new French oak barrel.
- Jonathan Cristaldi (02/2023)
