Quintessa 2019

Quintessa 2019 is a polished, estate-grown red from the heart of Rutherford in Napa Valley, crafted as a seamless expression of one of California’s most coveted terroirs. This proprietary blend (centered around Cabernet Sauvignon with classic Bordeaux varieties) is both luxurious and finely tuned, delivering depth without heaviness. The 2019 vintage stands out for its openness and early charm, while retaining the structure and poise that have made Quintessa a modern Napa benchmark since the 1990s.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2019 Quintessa shows a deep, saturated ruby to purple hue that hints at its concentration and youth. The nose is immediately inviting: black cherry and cassis unfold alongside notes of blackcurrant leaf, violet, and dark plum, layered with nuances of tobacco, cedar, vanilla, and a hint of cocoa. Subtle floral tones and a whisper of dried herbs add complexity without overwhelming the fruit. On the palate, this is medium to full-bodied, streamlined and silken in texture, with ripe, plush fruit that feels both vibrant and controlled. Black cherries, blackcurrants, and ripe berries are framed by fine-grained, dusty tannins and well-integrated oak. As it moves across the palate, notes of licorice, caramel, and sweet baking spices emerge, leading into a long, soft, and slightly chalky Rutherford finish. Already expressive and approachable, it shows the balance and backbone to evolve gracefully for 12–18 years from vintage, with many bottles drinking beautifully from 2023 onward.

Production
Quintessa is an estate wine sourced from a single, organically and biodynamically farmed property on the famed Rutherford Bench in Napa Valley. This gently sloping terrain, with its gravelly, alluvial soils over clay and volcanic subsoils, naturally limits yields and produces intensely flavored, structured fruit. Grapes are harvested by hand, block by block and often by individual parcel, at optimal ripeness to preserve freshness and nuance. In the cellar, the lots are vinified separately in a combination of stainless steel and oak, allowing for tailored fermentations and gentle extraction. After blending, the wine is matured in French oak barrels (a significant portion new) to add texture and aromatic complexity, while keeping the focus on purity of fruit and a clear expression of place.

Food & Serving
This 2019 Quintessa shines alongside refined, richly flavored dishes: think grilled or roasted lamb, dry-aged ribeye, beef tenderloin with herb jus, or braised short ribs. It also pairs beautifully with truffle-inflected dishes, wild mushrooms, and aged hard cheeses like Comté or mature Gouda. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) for optimal expression. Young bottles benefit from 1–2 hours in a decanter to soften the tannins and open the bouquet; more mature bottles may need a gentler, shorter decant to remove sediment and preserve delicate aromatics.

Producer
Quintessa was founded in the early 1990s by Agustin and Valeria Huneeus, who sought to create a single, estate-grown wine that captured the full character of their remarkable property in Rutherford. From the outset, the estate was conceived as a holistic vineyard, farmed sustainably and later biodynamically, with the goal of expressing a complete, self-contained terroir in one bottling each year. Over the past three decades, Quintessa has become one of Napa Valley’s reference-point estates, known for its elegant, ageworthy reds that bridge Old World balance with New World generosity. Its commitment to meticulous vineyard work, thoughtful environmental stewardship, and restrained, terroir-driven winemaking has earned it a place among the most respected producers in the region.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.