2021 Quintus
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Tasting notes
The 2021 Quintus is a pretty and perfumed expression of this estate. It’s the first vintage to combine the vineyards of what was Ch. Grand Pontet, alongside the plots of what was Ch. Tertre Daugay and Ch. l’Arrosée. These new vineyards have brought with it some Malbec – with a tiny portion making it into the blend this year. At 13.3% natural alcohol, this is a seamless wine – with a lifted nose of crushed raspberry, chalk and parma violets. On the palate, it’s sleek – with an elegance and lightness of tough, fine-grained tannins to complement a core of fresh and vibrant red berry fruit. Yields were a normal 35hl/ha. Blend: 68% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec
Critic scores
Average Score
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. Pale. Very dull nose. Stringy and fruitless. (JR)
The brightness and transparency of the aromas are impressive, with fresh flowers, blue fruit, crushed stones, lavender and orange blossoms. Medium-bodied, with a tight and focused palate of linear and integrated tannins. Fresh and tangy. Vivid at the end. A unique expression of the vintage and St. Emilion, with so much crunchy fruit. 68.2% merlot, 31.3% cabernet franc and 0.5% malbec. Best after 2027.
The 2021 Quintus has a tightly packed and quite backward bouquet, mainly black fruit with a light iris flower element, followed later by a touch of leather. The palate is medium-bodied with a pleasant, sapid entry. There is not great depth here, but there is a fine bead of acidity, and the peppery finish is enticing. Overall, it is not a memorable Quintus like other vintages and as such, I suspect it will be for shorter-term drinking that others.
About the producer
Ch. Quintus is the flagship Saint-Emilion estate of Domaine Clarence Dillon (owners of Ch. Haut-Brion and Ch. la Mission Haut-Brion). Following the purchase of Ch. Tertre Daugay in 2011 and Ch. l’Arrosée in 2013, the two were merged to form Ch. Quintus. The first vintage of the wine was 2011.