More about the 2021 QUINTESSA RUTHERFORD NAPA VALLEY RED (375ML): Quintessa, a beacon of viticultural excellence for over three decades, has meticulously crafted wines that embody the essence of Napa Valley's unique terroir. Nestled in the prestigious Rutherford AVA, the estate's 280 acres are meticulously farmed, showcasing the region's signature complexity and renowned "Rutherford dust" minerality. Each plot is thoughtfully planted with grape varieties that thrive in their specific conditions, resulting in wines that authentically express the land. The winery's crown jewel is its flagship Estate red wine, a Bordeaux-style blend representing the harvest's pinnacle. In 2021, a dry winter, cool spring, and moderately warm summer produced a smaller yet intensely concentrated crop. The 2021 Quintessa Red is an elegant blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Cabernet Franc, Carménère, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Carefully aged in a combination of new and neutral French oak from top cooperates and 3% terracotta amphora, this wine showcases the purity of the fruit, delivering a timeless expression of the estate's character. Additional Reviews: From Decanter, "A compact, coiled-up, polished red. Intensely aromatic and perfumed, it leads with a distinct burst of cast-iron minerality, dusty sage, red and blackberry fruits, and perfumed rose petals. Medium to full-bodied with a dense core of succulent boysenberry fruit, plums, and kirsch, all of which have tremendous staying power matched only by the wine's burly, robust and muscular tannins, which offer a real contrast to the supreme elegance of this wine. More time in the bottle is needed to let these tannins soften. If you open it before 2025, let it breathe several hours ahead of time, perhaps even double-decant it. 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Carmenère, 1% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot aged 22 months in 65% new French oak and 3% terracotta amphora." 98 Points